Direct Support Professional

Direct Support Professional

Division: School for Adaptive and Integrative Learning

Category: Human Services

Position: Direct Support Professional IRA

Description: Direct Support Professionals perform various person-centered supports and services, emphasizing personal choice for individuals with developmental disabilities. These supports and services include advocating for, encouraging, guiding, and teaching individuals to express personal choice, developing daily living skills and habits, taking care of their personal needs, assuring community integration, ensuring their health and safety, and maintaining a healthy, safe home environment. The supports and services performed depend upon the specific needs and abilities of each student and the nature of the setting where the activities are performed.

Working as a critical member of a staff team managed by the Hall Supervisor and led by Department leaders, the DSP is an inclusive motivator, empathetic caregiver, capable mentor, and engaging activity facilitator to every student at SAIL. The DSP is a connected, respectful, selfless, and approachable team player, intrinsically driven to help others achieve the highest personal fulfillment, enjoyment, and functional independence possible.

The DSP provides direct care in all facets of daily living, assists and inspires individuals through guided practice to develop improved skills in their activities of daily living, and helps every learner to acquire and develop the vocational, nutritional, social, communicative, and self-management skills necessary to achieve the highest possible level of independence in life, in the least restrictive environment.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Direct Support Professional staff provide physical and cognitive support to individuals with developmental disabilities to help them lead better lives. In accordance with Individualized Program Plans (IPP), DSPs guide and teach individuals to safely live the lives they choose to live.
• Incumbents perform and/or take a lead role in one or more of the following duties within a work site:
• Residential DSP Evening Shift: (3:00PM-8:00PM and 8:00AM to 8:00PM)
• Assist individuals to transition from school bus/van into assigned hall after school
• Review evening staff assignment and obtain report since last worked
• Assist individuals with personal hygiene (including washing hands, checking appearance)
• Assist in performing ADL duties: tooth brushing, face washing, toileting, and perform IPP PBIS goals according to plans and prescribed steps for each skill being learned
• Set up, actively participate in, and motivate student engagement in activities for active treatment, i.e., puzzles, board games, coloring, playground etc.
• Follow mealtime schedule for designated hall and promote independence by encouraging individuals to eat safely and independently, and clean up after meal time
• Accompany individuals to participate in community inclusion as scheduled
• Prepare for snack in dining room and sanitize when completed
• Sanitize all high-touch surfaces and areas, perform PICA Sweeps, and reinforce and maintain required levels of supervision
• Accurately complete BM book, food log, and complete forms in the intervention binder prior to end of shift as required
• Prepare for end of shift and transfer of responsibilities to staff of night, whom arrive at 8:00PM. Remain in assigned location until relieved by incoming staff and/or Supervisor (never leaving an assigned location or individual/group unattended)
• Residential DSP Night Shift: (8:00PM to 8:00AM)
• Review staff assignments and obtain report since last worked
• Completion of ADLs and follow toileting plans for each individual
• Work with individuals to select clothing, pack a bag (if needed), and prepare the ADL kit etc., for the morning
• Identify individual's clothing, belongings, and shoes/laces are where they should be (not lost/missing)
• Ensure that wardrobes and beds are clean; no garbage inside or clothing unfolded, etc.
• Ensure that ADL kits are complete, clean and accessible
• Halls are sanitary and free of food items, dining room is prepared for the following shift for morning seating time
• Identify Adaptive equipment such as arm stabilizer, helmet and Posey mitts. Follow protocols for each according to plan as needed
• Complete PICA Sweep, BM log, bed check and complete forms in the intervention binder prior to end of shift
• Night residential team on-site through the morning is responsible for preparing residents for school.
• Prepare for end of shift and transfer of responsibilities to staff of night, whom arrive at 7:45AM. Remain in assigned location until relieved by incoming staff and/or Supervisor (never leaving an assigned location or individual/group unattended)
• Assist to transition individuals onto school bus or designated van(s)

Hiring Manager(s): Carla Jones, Djenane Cordova, Ebony Henry

Exempt/Non-Exempt: Non-Exempt

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time and/or Part-Time

EOE Statement: We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Position Requirements - Qualifications: Possession of a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma such as a GED or commensurate experience in the field of ID/DD support services. Successful completion of the SAIL Direct Support Professional orientation. Candidates will be required to meet additional requirements to provide care to the developmentally disabled including: Clearance through the New York State Justice Center Criminal Background Check system, NYS Child Abuse Registry Clearance, Staff Exclusion List Check, MHL check.