The Direct Support Professional provides supervision and training to individuals in home and community settings to help them reach their highest potential. Responsibilities include assisting with daily living activities, administering medication, maintaining program documentation, and ensuring the general welfare of individuals.
Requirements summary
Candidates must have a high school diploma or GED and be at least 18 years old. A valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and the ability to pass background, drug, and motor vehicle checks are required.
high schoolCommunicationDocumentationCPRTransportationBehavioral supportRecord keepingTime managementFirst aidMedication administrationSafety complianceCrisis preventionPersonal careDirect supportLifting and transferringIndividual service planning
Job description
"Colorado Residents
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1. SUMMARY
The Direct Support Professional is responsible for providing 24-hour supervision of individuals in service primarily in the home setting and the community, as well as the day habilitation/program sites and work sites, as needed. The Direct Support Professional works in a Personal Care Alternative setting or Group Home setting, as needs require. The Direct Support Professional provides training and teaching for individuals in activities of daily living and works with the individuals to reach their highest potential, while maintaining their independence. The Direct Support Professional will provide for the general welfare of individuals in service in a person-centered environment. This position is also responsible for maintaining program files and assisting in achieving program goals as needed to maintain program accreditation.
1. Essential duties and minimum qualifications
2. Train and teach Individual in accordance with the Individual Plan (IP) and the Individual Services and Support Plans (ISSP), increasing independence and social skills as the individual's needs dictate. 3. Promote reasonable and appropriate supervision for individuals in service in accordance with the IP. 4. Pass the Medication Administration test with no more than two attempts and administer medication to individuals according to physician orders and using appropriate administration techniques as outlined in the Medication Administration course. 5. Respond to medical and other emergencies appropriately. Communicate individual health concerns to the agency's nurse or other designated personnel. 6. At various sites, provide help in cooking, cleaning, personal hygiene and incontinence care of individuals, light snow removal, vehicle cleanliness, ect. 7. Must be able to perform Lifting and Transferring techniques as trained and pass written and performance testing. The employee will occasionally lift and/or push and pull up to 100 pounds. Lifting may require floor to waist, waist to shoulder, or shoulder to overhead movement. 8. Driving of agency vehicles (and personal vehicles) as necessary for transportation of individuals in service and to perform other agency business. 9. Must, with or without reasonable accommodation,
Able to regularly sit, walk, stand, climb up and down stairs, physically restrain individuals pursuant to training (when necessary) and sit at a computer for long periods of time and repeat the same hand, arm, or finger motion many times (typing, data entry).
Communicate through speech with individuals in service and public in both quiet and noisy environments.
Operate a personal computer and related software.
Tolerate various levels of stress and meet deadlines with severe time constraints.
Demonstrate specific vision abilities which include close, distance, and depth perception and able to read handwritten or typed material, and able to adjust focus.
Work and concentrate in both noisy and quiet environments.
Squat, stoop, kneel, and reach above the head. Forward motion will occasionally be required.
1. Essential Duties include the Physical Demands listed below.
Additional duties and responsibilities
1.
Assess, train, teach, and assist individuals with various skills or employment-related skills individually, or in small group settings via direct modeling of work skills; computer-related software; verbal or other demonstrated methods of training.
2.
Monitor individual's personal hygiene and provide training and support as needed.
3.
Follow menus to ensure that well-balanced meals are prepared and served.
4.
Provide documentation as required by the Program Standards, which includes, but is not limited to: monitoring and tracking documentation in accordance with the IP or ISSP, attendance forms, time sheets, incident reports, counting and ordering medications, supply ordering and within identified budget, filing data in each individual's personal file, summarizing of training plans, re-ordering forms as needed, following procedures as required by local, county, state, and federal licensing agencies, and other required documentation.
5.
Assess individual progress regularly and participate in all assigned individual meetings, providing required written and verbal reports.
6.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of daily work by communicating clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
7.
Maintain the physical facility both interior and exterior, in a clean, safe and orderly fashion.
8.
Maintain strict confidentiality of information learned regarding individuals, program issues, and staff information.
9.
Perform light cleaning to the vehicle, both interior and exterior, as needed.
10.
Assist with overall, general organization and flow of activities in assigned programs.
11.
Responsible for conducting, evaluating and documenting evacuation drills per state licensing requirements and or Individual Safety Plan.
12.
Participate in staff training activities and staff meetings, as outlined in the agency's staff development curriculum and as required.
13.
Maintain certifications for First Aid, CPR, crisis prevention and other courses as required.
14.
Work multiple sites or work flexible schedules as agency and supervisor deems necessary.
Staff attendance and promptness to assigned shifts is essential.
The responsibilities of this position may require staff to be able to work irregular, extended, and/or be available for on-call work hours.
Staff will be required to work evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, overnight shifts and remain awake for up to 16 hours, as individual needs require.
15.
Due to the nature of this position, staff attendance and promptness to assigned shifts is essential.
16.
Assist with the development of annual assessments and Individual Service and Support Plans and track the programs as indicated for assigned individuals.
17.
Safeguard all agency funds and property.
18.
Plan and implement recreation activities and provide community access for individuals.
19.
Provide transportation for individuals as needed.
20.
Follow agency policies and procedures in carrying out duties.
21.
Perform other duties as assigned by supervisory staff and/or designee.
22.
Other reasonable duties as may be assigned.
Qualification requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Minimum/Preferred qualifications
Minimum
This position requires a high school diploma or GED. Must be at least 18 years of age. Persons hired into this position must be licensed drivers and have reliable transportation. If current license is from out-of-state, a valid Colorado Driver's License is required within ten days of hire. Background check, drug and alcohol check, reference check, and motor vehicle checks must be passed. Current motor vehicle insurance is required. Driving is an essential job duty.
Preferred
Six months experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities.
Physical demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee will regularly sit, walk, and stand.
Occasionally, movement that requires twisting at the neck and/or trunk more than the average person, squatting/ stooping/kneeling, reaching above the head, and forward motion will be required.
The employee will continuously be required to repeat the same hand, arm, or finger motion many times.
Manual and finger dexterity are essential to this position.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, depth perception and telling differences among colors.
The employee must be able to communicate through speech with individuals and public.
Hearing requirements include conversation in both quiet and noisy environments.
The employee will occasionally lift and/or push and pull up to 100 pounds.
Lifting may require floor to waist, waist to shoulder, or shoulder to overhead movement.
This position demands tolerance for various levels of stress.
Work environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. Working conditions include both inside and outside environments. Occasionally this position requires working irregular or extended work hours and meeting deadlines with severe time constraints. The employee is directly responsible for the safety and well-being of individuals.
Skill/Ability requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Language skills
Able to read, analyze, and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Able to write routine reports and correspondence. Able to respond to common inquires or complaints from individuals, regulatory agencies, guardians, etc. Able to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of administrators, managers, employees, individuals, individual's parents, etc. is required.
Mathematical skills
Able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
Reasoning ability
Able to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Supervisory responsibilities:
The Program Supervisor or Program Director provides the bulk of supervision required. In general, this position requires that the individual work independently approximately 85% of the time.
1. Other skills
Able to work with others, with system issues, and within designated time frames.
Patience in dealing with individuals, parents, employees, etc.
Able to develop effective working relationships with a variety of people.
Able to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Able to perform duties in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
Statement of understanding
I have read this job description and understand its contents. I also understand that this job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all the responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with my position.
Inspiration field is an "at will" employer. Employment between the parties is indefinite and is terminable at the will of either of the parties and may be terminated at any time for any reason.
