DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL

Job Description

Job Description

Position Purpose

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) is a member of the clinical team that provides compassionate care and assistance to individuals who struggle with intellectual, developmental, and behavioral health challenges and require assistance to achieve their fullest potential. The DSP provides the assistance necessary to allow the clients we serve to live independently and ensure their wellness, health, and safety. The DSP, in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, provides a wide range of services to meet the environmental, physical, psychosocial, and personal needs of the individuals in our care. The DSP embraces the mission of organization by fostering a culture of compassion, hope, service, and collaboration.

Major Responsibilities

• Supports the independence of individuals served by providing the assistance necessary to maximize their quality of life. 
• Models hope and optimism when encouraging individuals served to achieve their potential. 
• Guides participants in achieving artistic, social, and independence goals to reach their potential as professional artists. 
• Supports persons served in developing relationships and becoming involved in their communities. 
• Cultivates a safe and supportive relationship and environment.  
• Cultivates an inspiring and inclusive environment for artistic expression.
• Provides supervision and guidance to individuals served to build skills and competence. 
• Documents interactions and activities per policies and procedures. 
• Monitors and responds to crisis situations or potential crisis situations consistent with best practice, policies, and procedures. 
• Utilizes skills and competencies to respond to crises. 
• Reports suspected incidents of neglect, abuse or mistreatment consistent with the organizations policies and procedures. 
• Maintains client confidentiality and adheres to the organization’s ethical code. 
• Assists in maintaining the well-being and safety of individuals served both at the day program and in the community.
• individuals served with daily medication administration.
• Perform the delivery of services with this organization and our consumers to include:
• Consumer transportation includes, but not limited to, community activities.
• Perform all daily activities within the day program and community setting including, but not limited to, meal preparation, activities of daily living, shopping, day program cleaning and maintenance, leisure activities, and consumer outcomes.
• Assist with day program licensing annually and home community activities as prescribed in operating regulations.
• ISP development and outcomes.
• Accurate completion of required paperwork to include but not limited to medication logs, daily logs, goal logs, incident reports, BM charts, fire drill logs, seizure logs, behavior plan documentation, gas receipts, vehicle logs, consumer funds.
• Accurate completion of Electronic Health Record documentation for each assigned consumer/client before the end of each shift.
• Accurate completion of hours worked through HRIS system to clock in/out
• Completion of required training hours on an annual basis according to the Training year
• Completion of Competency Based Training as needed.
• Attend all scheduled day program and office staff meetings.
• Assist with on call activities and emergency situations as requested by the Program Manager.
• Responsible for the safety and well-being of all the individuals in attendance at the day program. 
• (Redundant, stated above)
• Work with Lead DSP and Program Management/Program Director to ensure that all the needs of the individuals are met according to their ISP.
• Follow all supervision requirements of consumers as noted in consumer ISP/BSP.
• Assist the Program Management/Program Director or Studio Coordinator with special projects related to the Agency.
• Other duties/tasks as assigned or requested by supervisor or Lead DSP or Studio Coordinator.

Job Qualifications

• Education and Experience:
• High School Diploma, GED or equivalent certificate (required)
• Associate or bachelor's degree (preferred)
• Minimum one (1) year direct experience working with individuals with intellectual disabilities or human services field
• 3-year clean motor vehicle record and valid driver’s license

Job Competencies

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong visual and/or performance art and design skills.
• Computer literacy, experience with Microsoft Office, email, time-recording and other applications.
• Knowledge of trauma, trauma-informed care, and the creation of trauma-informed environments.
• Knowledge of and ability to work with developmentally disabled individuals.
• Excellent documentation and financial/mathematical skills.
• Strong documentation skills.
• Excellent judgment, problem solving, organizational, and time management skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with individuals with disabilities, families, co-workers, staff, supervisors, funding sources, and other social service agency personnel;
• Physical ability to fulfill job duties and requirements.
• The ability to supervise and/or assist individuals served  by the  day program
• The ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Physical ability to fulfill job duties and requirements.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with individuals with disabilities, families, co-workers, staff, supervisors, funding sources, and other social service agency personnel.
• Excellent judgment, problem solving, organizational and time management skills.
• Schedule flexibility.
• Stress Tolerance: Recognize crisis situations and react to such in a calm, mature manner; accept criticism and deal calmly and effectively with high stress situations; and the ability to identify, react to, and report security concerns.  
• Completion of all required training including but not limited to CPR and First-Aid.
• The ability to facilitate a variety of group activities included but not limited to: art activities such as drawing, painting, ceramics, printmaking; social skills, self-esteem, moderate exercise, and community outings.

Who we are: Advancing Opportunities, Inc, an affiliate of Apis Services, is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization providing services and supports to people with disabilities and their families so they can live independently. Recognized as one of the leading disability service providers in the state of New Jersey, the agency is committed to person-centered services delivered in the community.

Apis Services, Inc. provides administrative services, including recruiting and onboarding new team members for more than 30 for profit and non-profit organizations across the United States so they can focus on their all-important missions. APIS Service, Inc. is a progressive corporation with over 3500 employees nationwide and growing.

The employment opportunities we have to offer dedicated and caring career seekers are endless. Join us in helping to make a difference in the lives of the people we serve by providing good people to support the missions they serve.

Apis Services, Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Inperium, Inc.) provides a progressive platform for delivering Shared Services to Inperium and its Constellation of affiliate companies.

Apis Services provides equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment in compliance with all federal and all applicable state and local laws and regulations, including nondiscrimination in hiring and employment.

All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy/childbirth, veteran status or any other basis protected by law. This policy of non-discrimination and equal employment opportunities extends to every phase and aspect of hiring and employment.