Direct Support Professional

Job Description

Job Description

Direct Support Professional

Our Mission is to support life transformations of the people we serve by promoting new opportunities for growth. Our vision is to be a community where every person's life has meaning, value, purpose, and deserves dignity and individual choices. Our beliefs/values are putting people first. We are guided by a commitment to accountability, compassion, excellence, integrity, and respect.

The Gardens of Arkansas strives to create an exciting, challenging and rewarding work environment that allows you to flourish. We want you to build a long and successful association with The Gardens of Arkansas and be a happy productive member of our team. Through your dedication, creativity, perseverance and efforts, our company will continue to grow and excel, and the people we serve will continue to live happy, productive lives in the community. Although we certainly value previous experience in the field, we prefer to hire bright and caring people who are motivated to help others lead successful lives in the community.

Job Title: Direct Support Professional (DSP)

FLSA Classification: Non-exempt

Reports To: Clinical Director

Last Updated: 5/27/2025

Job Overview: The DSP is an essential worker who helps to serve adults with developmental disabilities and mental illness. As a DSP, you will help people become integrated and engaged in the community while fostering the development of independent life skills. The DSP will provide people with care, keeping all aspects of health and safety at the forefront. The DSP will provide or assist with personal care activities. The DSP will provide or assist with personal care activities. The DSP will increase the independence of the individual by providing training and assistance on individualized goals and objectives for daily life skills in a supportive and positive learning environment. The ideal candidate is good at problem solving, prioritizes and plans work efficiently, demonstrates a spirit of service, is empathetic, and is dependable and on-time. The ideal candidate is good at problem solving, prioritizes and plans work efficiently, demonstrates a spirit of service, is empathetic, and is dependable and on-time. Some requirements are to ensure the well-being of people and provide a positive, supportive, and structured environment, responsible for conducting safety checks and ensuring that supervision is conducted at assigned intervals, and document timely, accurate and appropriate clinical information in people's service record.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

People Care

· Treat people with dignity and respect in all interactions. Remember that the staff are professionals, and we are in their homes.

· Provide person supervision per the person’s Individual Service Plan (ISP)

· NEVER leave a site/ program without staff coverage.

· Ensure that medication is being ordered and logged in and administered as ordered by the physician.

· Assist person with budgeting purchases, ensuring that receipts are obtained for all transactions and that accounts are balanced.

Health + Safety

· Ensure the facility is always kept clean and tidy.

· Report any maintenance concerns directly to the Program Administrator.

· Ensure hygiene of each person receiving services and follow through with all scheduled medical and psychiatric appointments.

· Respond to person’s behavioral and medical crisis immediately and according to policy.

Self-Focus + Values

· Be always a positive representative of The Gardens.

Qualifications

· Must be 18 or over.

· GED or High School diploma required.

· Have at least 1 years’ experience working with people with developmental disabilities and or people with behavioral support needs.

· Must have a valid driver’s license for all positions that require transporting people.

· Exceptional people service skills/interpersonal skills with all staff/employees.

· Must have the ability to clearly communicate with people in English both verbal and written.

· Ability to pass DHS background check, drug screen and maintain background clearance.