Direct Support Professional

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) is part of the staff at the Adult Foster Care (AFC) Home providing care and training to the individuals living there. The DSP will provide the necessary assistance in carrying out a program designed to promote maximum development of each resident's capabilities.

RESPONSIBLE TO:

Program Administrator and/or Director of Residential Services.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Minimum of a high school diploma.
2. A demonstrated ability to relate to persons with disabilities.
3. An awareness of the psycho-social and physical needs of persons with developmental disabilities.
4. Physical ability to handle the work.
5. Possess a valid Michigan Driver's License with good driving history.

NON-TASK EXPECTATIONS:

1. Regular and predictable attendance, including training courses, and home staff meeting.
2. Demonstrate agency core values:

• Integrity
• Best effort
• Respect for others - includes, individuals served, leadership, and co-workers.

1. Ability to accept and apply feedback.
2. Critical thinking.
3. Ability to work independently and show initiative in completing tasks without prompting.
4. Minimal errors.
5. Provide excellent care of Individuals.

DUTIES/RESPONSABILITIES MAY INCLUDE:

1. Assist in planning and implementing individual program goals designed to promote maximum independence.
2. Assist in training of self-care skills and supervise daily self-care activities.
3. Assist each resident as necessary in all activities of daily living.
4. Within the structure of the individual program plan, assist the residents in planning and utilizing leisure time activities. Includes providing outings in the community which requires driving agency vehicles.
5. Assist in doing daily domestic chores to ensure the group home remains neat, clean, and orderly. This also includes helping with each resident's laundry.
6. Properly clean and/or maintain some Agency property including; vehicles, lawns, flower beds and keeping porches clear of ice and snow at all times.
7. Maintain a good relationship with parents, guardians, office staff, and employees from other Mental Health Programs.
8. Give residents appropriate choices and include them in the decision-making process.
9. Assist in Doctor appointments which may require driving an agency vehicle.
10. Carry out any other duties assigned to them by the Resident Manager, Home Supervisor, Director of Residential Services, or other agency Administrator.

RESIDENT TRAINING - SPECIFIC DUTIES:

• Self-care Skills
• Grooming
• Personal hygiene
• Appropriate behavior
• Appropriate social interaction
• Language development
• Small and large muscle movement
• Arts, crafts, and other activities
• Minimal domestic skills

Resident Training Duties by Time of Day:

1. Morning Hours

Personal Hygiene - Utilization of feminine hygiene products; creaming of skin; brushing of teeth and denture care; shaving; combing hair; washing hands and face; showering; cleaning eye glasses.

Dressing - Wearing clean clothes; buttoning; doing zippers; buckling belts; tying shoelaces; doing snaps; color coordination of clothing; appropriate clothing for seasons; and appropriate clothing for activities.

Toileting - Flushing of the toilet; use of toilet tissue; washing of hands.

Domestic Skills - Making of bed; putting dirty laundry in hamper; cleaning and picking up bedroom; straightening or closets and dresser drawers.

Preparation for Breakfast - Assisting in breakfast preparation; appropriate table manners; cleaning up after breakfast.

Other duties may include:

• Supervise preparation for transportation to programs.
• Additional duties assigned to DSPs by the Resident Manager, Home Supervisor, Residential Director, or other agency Administrator.

1. Afternoon and Evening Hours

Showering and Bathing - Train residents to bathe themselves and shampoo hair.

Preparation for Dinner - Setting table; minimal food preparation; appropriate table manners; appropriate eating skills (use of utensils, pouring from containers, passing of food, putting food on plate); eating with dentures; clean-up (assigned chores).

Next day Lunch - Assist in training of residents in preparing their own lunches.

Other duties may include:

• In-house Activities (Schedule and Supervise)
• Preparation for Programs - Washing of residents, clean clothes and appropriate clothing for seasons.
• Teaching residents' socialization skills.
• Supervision of residents at programs and activities.
• Administering medications.
• Additional duties assigned to DSPs by the Resident Manager, Home Supervisor, Housing Director, or other agency Administrator.

1. Weekends

Saturday - Duties include:

• Those duties assigned during morning hour.
• Additional Domestic Skills: Cleaning of house; straightening of closets and dresser drawers.
• Those duties assigned during afternoon and evening hours.
• Assist in the organization and supervision of in-house and out-of-house activities.
• Assisting Residents in preparation for religious activity if applicable.
• Additional duties assigned to DSPs by the Resident Manager, Home Supervisor, Director of Residential Services, or other agency Administrator.

Sunday - Duties include:

• Those duties as assigned during the morning, afternoon and evening hours.

• Assisting Residents in preparation for religious activity if applicable.
• Additional duties assigned to DSPs by the Resident Manager, Home Supervisor, Director of Residential Services, or other agency Administrator.

1. Additional Responsibilities as Needed

Duties Include:

• Stripping and re-making beds.
• Cleaning and caring of private bathrooms.
• Preparation for and supervision of special out-of-house activities.
• Responding to Emergencies

• Understanding of medical procedures
• Knowledge of fire safety procedures.

• Doing some of the duties assigned to resident managers if they are ill or are unable to do

them, as during an emergency, according to the Residential Services Policy and Procedure Manual.

• Attend all staff meetings and required in-service training.
• Additional duties assigned to DSPs by the Resident Manager, Home Supervisor,

Director of Residential Services, or another agency Administrator.

• Must be willing and able to transport individuals served using the organization's vehicle, in accordance with agency policies and safety standards.

1. Individualized Resident Training Approach

Since the residents in the AFC Group Home function at different levels and some have learned more skills than others, the above-listed duties will not apply to every resident. Some of the residents have been trained and have learned some of the skills mentioned above. This means each resident will have to be assessed individually and goals and training will have to be established individually.

Each resident will be evaluated and goals will be established based on these evaluations. Program administrators, with assistance from the DSPs, will evaluate each resident as appropriate. This will provide us with the necessary information to enable us to determine the training the resident requires. The job of the DSP is to provide this training under the supervision of the Program Administrator, Assistant Program Administrator, with direction and support from the Supports Coordinators, and others on the care team.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to communicate effectively in spoken and written English, including appropriate speech volume and clarity.
• Proficient in mathematics.
• Normal hearing required for conversation, telephone use, and emergency information systems.
• Visual acuity, depth perception, and field of vision within normal range.
• Must be independently ambulatory and able to move safely across all surfaces and throughout the work environment.
• May be required to lift up to 50 pounds, up to four times per shift.
• Must have the physical stamina to work shifts of up to 16 hours, including the ability to stand for at least four hours and sit for at least one hour per shift.
• Must have full active range of motion in all extremities, including the ability to reach above shoulders, turn head 180 degrees, and frequently bend, squat, twist, kneel, and climb steps and ramps.
• Must be able to taste/smell.
• Must be authorized for coverage under agency insurance if operating agency vehicle.
• Must be able to perceive/discriminate size, temperature, shapes, and/or textures.
• May be required to transfer residents from a wheelchair in a safe manner.
• Must be able to tolerate heat and humidity.