Direct Support Professional DSP

The Adult Day Program Direct Support Professional (ADP-DSP) is responsible for providing quality person-centered services to assigned individuals.  Although this is an entry-level position, it carries a great deal of responsibility, because the ADP-DSP must maintain the proper balance between individual growth / dignity of risk and the supports and services needed to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of specific individuals served, according to their person-centered plans. The ADP-DSP is responsible for meeting service expectations of their assigned individuals, as well as that of funders and licensing entities, under the supervision of the Senior Direct Support Professional.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

n general, the work of a (ADP-DSP) includes the provision of direct supports to individuals served, which could include lifting and other physical activity.  The ADP-DSP may also be required to perform some light office duties, requiring the ability to sit and/or stand for long periods of time.  The ability to drive individuals served from program sites to community activities is required. 

The following is required:

• The physical ability and manual dexterity to physically assist individuals, assist individuals in taking their medications, perform CPR, administer First Aid, and push or pull a wheelchair as needed.
• The physical ability to safely operate vehicles, including passenger cars, vans and vehicles equipped with a wheelchair lift.

.     Completes medication administration records properly.

b.     Monitors medication errors and reports errors as identified according to agency policy and procedures.

2.     Observes and implements appropriate actions to promote healthy living and to prevent illness and accidents. 

a.     Observes, documents, and reports signs and symptoms of illness, as appropriate, according to the agency’s health care guidelines.

b.     Communicates necessary medical information to all support network members, agency staff and others as identified in the individual’s plan.

3.     Uses appropriate first aid / safety procedures when responding to or preventing emergencies.

a.     Demonstrates CPR procedures.

b.     Implements first aid in an emergency when someone is hurt or ill.

c.      Implements emergency procedures in the community when necessary in accordance with agency policies and procedures.

d.     Implements seizure protocols.

e.     Implements universal precautions by using personal protective equipment and using proper disposal techniques in accordance with agency policies and procedures and OSHA regulations.

f.       Uses emergency telephone numbers appropriately.

g.     Encourages individuals to maintain personal safety according to their vulnerability (e.g., using appropriate adaptive equipment, using safe procedures for crossing streets, etc.).

h.     Provides necessary supports for individuals to use sunscreen or to wear protective clothing during extreme weather conditions (e.g., follows the individual’s person-centered plan).

i.       Provides a safe environment based on assessed risks for consumers as indicated in their person-centered plan, to prevent medical emergencies.

4.     Assists individuals, as needed, in completing personal care (e.g., hygiene and grooming) activities during the day.

a.     Provides individuals with as much privacy as possible in completing needed personal care as identified in their person-centered plan.

b.     Provides personal care, as appropriate for the program environment (e.g., assists with using the restroom in community environments, as needed).

5.     Assists with identifying the need for, securing, and using needed adaptive equipment (i.e., Hoyer lifts, hearing aids, etc.) and therapies (e.g., physical, occupational, speech, respiratory, behavioral/psychiatric). 

C.     Facilitation of Services – The ADP-DSP demonstrates sufficient knowledge to fulfill his or her role related to individual service plan development, implementation, and review:

1.     Demonstrates an understanding of the person-centered planning process.

a.     Identifies how goals/objectives are developed and who is involved in developing program goals, based on individual preferences for meaningful activities.

2.     Maintains collaborative professional relationships with the individual served and all support team members (including family/friends), follows ethical standards of practice (e.g., confidentiality, informed consent), and recognizes his or her own personal limitations. 

a.     Identifies and reports important information to coworkers, supervisors and extended interdisciplinary team members as needed.

b.     Communicates with, asks questions of, and receives feedback from Senior DSPs, the Day Program Administrator, and Regional Center Service Coordinators.

c.      Maintains a positive relationship with members of the individual's support networks and community entities.

3.     Implements the person-centered plan based on the individual's preferences, needs and interests. 

4.     Assists and/or facilitates in the achievement of the individual’s outcomes as identified in the person-centered plan.

a.     Implements individualized plans that address the challenging behaviors of the individuals supported, if needed.

b.     Implements individualized activities with accuracy and consistency.

c.      Identifies and respects individuals’ right to refuse participation in programs, without using that right as an excuse not to encourage and guide their participation.

d.     Organizes time and efficiently to implement various activities.

e.     Maintains records of activity participation on data sheets or in progress notes.

f.       Records behavior incidents on behavioral data sheets / incident report forms, as directed by the Senior DSP.

g.     Records necessary information in daily logs in a timely manner.

h.     Records and summarizes program data on monthly summaries, when required to do so.

D.   Assessment – ADP-DSPs are knowledgeable about the formal and informal assessment practices used to respond to the needs, desires and interest of the individuals:

1.   Demonstrate their understanding of how the assessment process is used to discover the needs, preferences, and capabilities of the program participants and how assessments are used in the development and review of the person-centered plan. 

2.   Assist, complete. or arrange for specific assessments, based on the training that has been given to all DSPs, to determine the needs, preferences, and capabilities of individuals served, by gathering information, informing the individual about what to expect throughout the assessment process, and assisting the individual throughout the process, as directed by the Senior DSP.

E.   Communication – ADP-DSPs are knowledgeable about the range of effective communication strategies and skills necessary to establish a collaborative relationship with the individual:

1.     Use effective, sensitive communication skills to build rapport and channels of communication by recognizing and adapting to the range of individual communication styles.

a.     Identifies one or more techniques or alternative communication strategies that staff should use, if having difficulty communicating with a person.

2.     Use modes of communication that are appropriate to the communication needs of individuals, including sign language, facilitated communication, electronic communication boards, etc.  

F.   Crisis Intervention – The ADP-DSP is knowledgeable about crisis prevention, intervention, and resolution techniques and should match such techniques to particular circumstances and individuals, to maintain the safety of individuals served and the community:

1.     Identifies the potential for crisis for specific individuals.

a.     Knows the legal requirements regarding responding to individuals in crisis.

b.     Provide appropriate supervision to individuals based on their individual behavior support plan.

c.      Recognizes and responds to signs of impending crisis based on the unique characteristics of specific individuals.

2.        Monitors crisis situations, discusses incidents with authorized clinical support staff, adjusts support techniques and the environment as needed, and complies with regulations for reporting incidents.

G.  Vocational, Leisure, Education and Career Support – The ADP-DSP is knowledgeable about the career, leisure, and education-related interests of individuals:

2.     Knows the individual's vocational, leisure time, and educational interests and works with the interdisciplinary team to identify opportunities to provide support in fulfilling their interests.

3.     Observes and identifies consumer vocational, leisure, and educational preferences, needs, and choices.

4.     Identifies vocational, leisure or service options for individuals within their communities of choice.

II.     Community and Service Networking / Advocacy - ADP-DSPs are knowledgeable about the formal and informal supports available in his or her community and are skilled in assisting the individual to identify and gain access to such supports:

A.     Help identify the needs of individuals for community supports, by working with individuals and their interdisciplinary teams to identify resources, places, events, etc., and by assisting them to initiate community connections.

1.     Research, develop, and maintain information on community and other resources relevant to the needs of individuals.

2.     Ensure that individuals have access to needed community resources, coordinating supports across agencies. 

B.     Assist the individual in leading a self-determined life by providing the support and information that helps them build self-esteem, and the assertiveness needed to make decisions.

1.     Assist and support individuals in making informed choices, following through on their responsibilities, and trying new experiences.

2.     Promote individual participation in support services, consulting the person and involving him or her in the support process (e.g., daily support of consumer's emotional needs). 

3.     Provide opportunities for the participant to be a self-advocate, encouraging and assisting the individual to speak on his or her on behalf.

4.     Provide information about human, legal, civil rights and other resources, facilitate access to such information, and assist the participant to use information for self-advocacy and decision making about living, work and social relationships.  

III.  Transportation/ Vehicle / Facility Maintenance

A.   Follows all agency procedures for using vehicles.

1.     Uses approved gas purchasing procedures for vehicles.

2.     Secures people who use wheelchairs to ensure their safety.

3.     Uses lifts on vehicles appropriately.

4.     Assists individuals in arranging transportation for appointments and events.

5.     Maintains legal driver's license and informs agency immediately if license is suspended or revoked.

6.     Knows individual needs while riding in a vehicle (e.g., behavior management, safety, etc.) and arranges for additional supports when transporting a group of people, if needed.

7.     Drives vehicle safely (e.g., especially during inclement weather conditions or congested traffic) by practicing defensive driving.

8.     Understands and follows vehicle maintenance lists.

9.     Participates in cleaning and maintenance tasks in the program, as directed by the Senior DSP.

IV.  Documentation / Administrative Requirements – ADP-DSPs are aware of the requirements for documentation and are able to meet these and other administrative requirements efficiently:

A.   Maintains accurate individual records, collecting, compiling, and evaluating data and submitting records to appropriate sources in a timely manner.

B.   Carries out safety and risk management requirements, according to the agency’s expectations, as directed by the Senior DSP and Service Coordinator.

V.   Organizational Participation – The ADP-DSP is familiar with the organizational mission of The Roland Center:

A.   Demonstrates awareness of the organizational mission and priorities and how the mission relates to their job roles/responsibilities. 

A.     Maintains awareness of and implements all organizational policies and procedures.

B.     Pursues knowledge and information necessary to perform job duties.

C.     Interacts with individuals, coworkers, supervisors, and all others in a professional manner. 

D.     Performs other duties to fulfill the organization’s mission, as may be assigned by the Senior DSP, such as participating on agency committees, etc.