Direct Support Professional (Full-Time Day Shift - Variable Hours

Direct Support Professional

The primary Direct Support Professional caregiver is responsible for daily care, instruction, and assistance for individuals with special needs living in a GIL-operated community residence. Caregivers also provide for and protect each individual's rights, safety, and personal property. This job is considered a safety-sensitive position due to the nature of caring for high-risk, disabled individuals in their home.

Directly responsible to residential management. Overall responsibility to perform job duties & essential functions, including but not limited to the following:

• Provide individuals care and treatment for maintaining health and wellness
• Promote and encourage individuals to make informed personal choices and decisions in life
• Promote and encourage the development of healthy relationships for the individuals served
• Medication administration, documentation, and monitoring for treatment and effect
• Assisting individuals with adaptive services, devices, special equipment, and therapies
• Assisting individuals with daily routines and living skills – includes personal care and hygiene
• Completing written documentation, daily logs, charts, and other required paperwork
• Completing assignments for household management, maintenance, and housekeeping tasks
• Assisting individuals in program facilitation, planning, teaching strategies, and activities
• Recreation and activity facilitation and planning with the individuals – in house
• Recreation and activity facilitation and planning with the individuals – in community
• Provide crisis management & intervention for medical needs, behaviors, and other challenges
• Communication and interaction with individuals and families being served
• Communication and interaction with co-workers in a home-like working environment
• Meal planning and preparation in accordance with dietary guidelines
• Participate in all staff training, meetings, and in-service requirements
• Assisting individuals with shopping and purchasing needs for personal & house supplies
• Assisting individuals with money management, documentation, and financial responsibilities
• Provide transportation – includes driving the vehicle and securing individuals safely
• Assisting in the orientation and mentoring of new employees to the residential program
• Conducting and participating in fire & safety drills, evacuation, and precautionary exercises
• Having to lift, stabilize, and transfer individuals during activities of daily living
• Working independently, and at times with minimal supervision while on assignment
• Working with multiple people, and at times with close supervision while on assignment
• Working in an environment where at times it may be loud, noisy, and exciting
• Working in an environment where at times it may be quiet, serene, and unexciting
• Working in the facility and/or in the community, in multiple settings, and going on outings

The following physical demands must be met by an employee, with or without reasonable accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

The employee must be able to speak, see, focus, and hear. The employee is frequently required to sit, walk, stand, bend, twist, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, push, pull, and reach. The employee must have fine manipulation ability of both hands. The employee must, occasionally to frequently, lift and/or move up to 100 pounds and be able to maneuver a manual wheelchair. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move residents of any weight, with assistance of a Hoyer lift or other protective equipment, and use all equipment effectively. The employee must be able to handle highly stressful situations on a day-to-day basis.

To embrace a higher standard of commitment to provide community residential care to individuals with special needs To arrive on time and prepared for each scheduled shift in order to relieve other trained staff on duty To conduct oneself in a manner consistent with being a positive role model for the individuals served, co-workers, and the community at large, including appropriate dress and conversation, appropriate manners and conduct, honor and respect for authority, and value and respect for co-workers To promote and encourage personal expression, including likes and dislikes, by providing supports and services that are culturally competent – valuing diversity, choice, and personal expression To make provision for the safeguarding & protection of individuals' personal property and rights To make provision for the systematic maintenance, collection, completion, and submission of all documentation, program data, incident reports, financial documents, medication administration reporting, time sheets, and all other required reporting within a timely manner To report all cases of infectious disease and occupational exposure to the proper agents/authorities To report all cases of Class A & B felony charges, arrests, and convictions to GIL administration to be relayed to the appropriate state departments and authorities To exhibit a positive mental and emotional attitude, demonstrating willingness to learn and a desire to serve individuals with special needs To perform assignments of a physical nature, including lifting and transferring heavy weight (at times in excess of 100 pounds), with or without adaptive equipment or staff assistance To perform any and all other job-related duties as required and/or designated by management