Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Position: Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Location: Madison Heights, MI

Job Id: 122

# of Openings: 1

New Horizons Rehabilitation Services, Inc

Direct Support Professional Job Description

Position Summary

It is the policy of New Horizons that persons served have the right to Informed Choice, Options and Service Delivery. Therefore, we offer an array of programs and services to individuals with various disabilities in providing opportunities to maximize their potential for greater independence. We are committed to the Person-Centered Planning Process as required by the Michigan Mental Health Code that persons served, receive the support and services to achieve their life goals. We are committed to the “Employment First” philosophy for individuals to seek employment and to work in competitive integrated settings, to engage in community life, and to support full access to the community. Based on the philosophy of the organization, it is the responsibility of the Direct Support Professional (DSP) to assist persons in achieving their life goals, to optimize independence in making life choices, to optimize activities of daily living, and to assist persons served to achieve vocational, social and personal independence based on their individual needs. The DSP is a person who is compassionate, patient and encouraging; a caregiver, a cheerleader, and advocate who can change the lives of those we serve. The DSP may be assigned to provide supports as a one-to-one staff or to a group of persons; this position may be community based and / or facility based.

Job Duties and Expectations

• Maintains an environment that is healthy, safe, peaceful and comfortable.
• Administers medication in accordance with medical provider directions as documented in the PCP and abides by the State of Michigan policies.
• Gains and maintains knowledge of health and medical issues for all assigned individual(s).
• Notifies appropriate supervisor of any health concerns or needs for the individual(s) served
• Follows all policies and procedures regarding health and safety in all environments; community and facility based.

Programmatic and Accountability

• Implements Individual Plan of Service (IPOS) / Annual Plan of Service as written.
• Provides assistance and support to individual(s) in activities of daily living.
• Teaches appropriate skills and involves individual(s) in meaningful and valued activities.
• Responsible for training / job coaching persons in performing work assignments, whether community volunteer, SEP or facility based.
• Provides and seeks out opportunities for individual(s) to make choices.
• Obtains knowledge of individual(s) desired outcomes and works to ensure they are integrated into their daily activities.

Programmatic and Accountability (continued)

• Handles and maintains individual / agency finances ethically, honestly and accurately with appropriate documentation and receipts
• Follows all agency policies and procedures
• Provides emergency coverage when requested by management
• Takes initiative in performing additional tasks as needed or as assigned
• Provides clear, accurate and timely records and documentation
• Maintains daily data for persons served indicating arrival / departure time for billing, and documentation of daily progress notes.
• Responsible to self-monitor your company email address as provided by HR Manager for company announcements, correspondence and training requirements.
• Responsible to self-monitor training requirements; initial and kept current based on expiration date.
• Responsible in completing required paperwork prior to end of work shift.
• Completes required documentation of records in accordance with CARF and New Horizons standards.
• Promote New Horizons mission, vision, values, culture, and commitment to excellence in the services provided to persons served and stakeholders.

Rights, Dignity and Respect

• Ensures an individual’s rights of privacy, dignity and respect, and freedom from coercion and restraint.
• Incorporates time, space, and opportunity for privacy in the life of individual(s) served.
• Provide personal care assistance as needed (hygiene, toileting, feeding)
• Maintains strict confidentiality of all personal information concerning individual(s) served.
• Knows, advocates and respects the rights of individual(s) served.
• Treats all individual(s), families, coworkers and supervisors with dignity and respect.

Community involvement

• Demonstrates the importance of community involvement, social interactions, and maintaining relationships.
• Develops and facilitates community connections and relationships.
• Assists individual(s) in developing and following a person-centered schedule.
• Aids individual(s) to participate in activities of their choosing.
• Provides opportunities for activities in various settings and transportation as needed.
• Encourages individual(s) served to give back to the community.

Customer Service and Excellence

• Exhibits professional behavior towards the individual(s) served, families, coworkers, and supervisors
• Maintains the property of the agency and of the individual(s) served.
• Networks with coworkers, the community and other professionals to find better ways to include individual(s) served in routine life activities.
• Builds inclusive opportunities in the community for individual(s) served by promoting community integration and inclusion with non-disabled persons.

Professional Conduct

• Provides positive and appropriate feedback to coworkers, team members, supervisors and agency representatives and the community at large.
• Participates in and completes periodic training and certification as required.
• Reports all concerns to the appropriate supervisor in a timely manner.
• Mentors and trains new staff to ensure that the workplace is a positive and productive environment.
• Attends and participates in all assigned meetings, sharing ideas, discussing issues openly and honestly.
• Maintains confidentiality of records/information according to HIPAA, State, Federal laws and guidelines.
• Reports all instances of abuse, neglect, mistreatment and exploitation immediately to the appropriate
• Displays conduct in the community that enhances the image of individual(s) served and the agency.
• Follows agency policy in the care of agency computers / electronics devices, equipment, etc.

Qualifications Direct Support Professional

• Reliable transportation required, valid driver’s license, acceptable driving history and proof of auto insurance as required at time of hire and updated as required.
• May be required to use personal vehicle when agency vehicle is unavailable.
• Ability to pass drug screen and physical.
• Pass a criminal history and personal background checks prior to hire.
• Requires basic language, written and computer skills necessary for communication and documentation.
• Ability and willingness to assist individual in activities of daily living including bathing, toileting and other self-
• Ability and willingness to support individuals with challenging behavior.
• Strong interpersonal skills and passionate in helping others.
• Ability to manage stressful situations responsibly and effectively.
• Ability to move and stand for prolonged periods and frequently perform physically demanding tasks.
• Must be physically capable of transferring, assisting with transfers and lifting persons who require physical assistance.

Acknowledgement of receipt

• I have reviewed and received a copy of this job description. I understand the items on this job description and
• I acknowledge that I am responsible for fulfilling the requirements, qualifications and duties of this position.

Employee: Print name ________________________Signature _____________________________ Date_________

New Horizons Rehabilitation Services, Inc. reserves the right to make changes to job descriptions, job responsibilities and functions, employment practices, supervisory lines of authority, employment titles, etc. as it deems necessary.