Medical Support Professional

Medical Support Professional

To provide the care and support necessary to enable the people supported to lead fulfilling, meaningful and purposeful lives with attention to medical needs.

Medical Support Professional (MSP) provides person centered support based on the individual's needs, preferences, and choices. MSPs perform a wide variety of tasks and activities based on the valued outcomes of each person they work with and reflecting the specific skills and abilities of each individual. MSPs encourage, guide, and offer training to develop daily living skills, ensuring personal needs are met, promoting active engagement in community life and ensuring health and safety. MSPs create a positive and enriching program environment for all persons supported. Medical Support Professionals are a vital member of each person's support team.

MSPs are expected to know, understand, and live the Code of Ethics.

What You'll Do

Provide oversight and support to the residents for all medical and clinical needs:

• Maintain certification to administer medication by New York State, including insulin.
• Schedule, accompany and support people supported on all medical appointments
• Complete weekly inventory of medications. First aid supplies and order accordingly
• Communicate and document all medical follow up
• Maintain excellent knowledge of all person supported medical conditions and medications
• Report changes in medical status to the nurse and follow all recommendations
• Provide first aid when needed and maintain current certification
• Obtain appropriate medical treatment including emergency treatment when needed
• Follow all agency policy and procedures related to medical care & medication management
• Participate in all mandatory medical and clinical trainings
• Ensure that medical and clinical tracking is completed.
• Ensure that Monthly Medical audits are completed.
• Update best possible health documents in foothold, as part of the department's PEIs
• Support Management/Nursing with Medical Trainings
• Attend & participate in all Staff Meetings- Responsible for medical reporting.
• Participate in all significant meetings for people supported
• Provide updates and input relevant to people supported
• Follow behavior support plans.
• Maintain excellent knowledge of all people supported behavioral and safety support needs
• Role model appropriate and positive behavior.
• Completes appointment visits forms, medication records, pharmacy pick ups
• Communicates both verbally and in written form in an effective and respectful, professional manner at all times with residents, families, co-workers, supervisors and all other team and community members

Distinguishing Characteristics

Direct Support Professionals work under the supervision of a Manager/Assistant Manager. DSPs provide an array of supports to individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD), individuals who have dual diagnosis, and/ or individuals on the autism spectrum. Supports provided may be offered in a residential, day, home, or other setting. DSPs assist and support individuals to identify and achieve their Personal Outcome Measures TM (POMs). DSPs motivate individuals to develop their vocational, nutritional, social, and personal skills to achieve the highest possible level of independence. All supports are offered in positive settings, that are the least restrictive possible.

Demonstrative Duties

Direct Support Professionals provide observations, evaluations, and reports to other team members to ensure and/or record an individual's progress toward their personal goals, in accordance with their individual support plans. In doing this, they guide, assist, and teach individuals to advance their skills to foster an independence based on their needs, preferences, and desires. All staff are expected to be alert and focused on the person supported needs along with being free from personal distractions (for example: personal phone calls, texting on cell phones, wearing headphones, etc.)

Communication

As a member of the program planning team, Direct Support Professionals communicate with others DSPs, supervisors and/or clinical staff, Individuals, families, employers, community members and others for the purpose of sharing information and obtaining direction. DSP's have a significant role in terms of communication and ensuring important information is exchanged. Communication is expected to be professional, whether in writing or verbally, and must always adhere to the organization's confidentiality policies and procedures.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited

To:

• Supports all individuals' developmental needs, desires, preferences, and choices in areas such as: POM's, positive behavioral support, communication, nutritional well-being, medical care and socialization
• Encourages positive interactions with staff, neighbors and encourages community integration through an array of activities based on the individual's choices and preferences.
• Supports individuals in work sites, cultural activities, religious and social events, and day programs opportunities.
• Supports and advocates at visits to healthcare practitioners; aids in developing awareness and use of community resources and in interacting with others; provides support for maximum community integration.
• Supports and provides opportunities to individuals in developing/maintaining positive interpersonal relationships with their peers, their families, people in the community, and provides opportunities to build new friendships to expand the person's circle of support.
• Assists, as needed, in explaining feelings, resolving conflicts, teaching/reinforcing acceptable means of dissipating frustration, and anger.
• Advocates for holistic care for individuals, including requests for clinical services.
• Advocates and accompanies individuals to scheduled appointments, communicating pertinent follow up information.
• Provides support in activities surrounding personal care including toileting, bathing and eating.
• Teaches and reinforces use of a variety of communication methods or use of augmented devices. Provides a positive environment conducive to learning new skills; makes suggestions for further training.
• Transports/arranges for transport of individuals as needed.
• Assists Individuals in development in or enhancement of mobility skills.
• Intervenes when needed to protect individuals.
• Provides information, documentation, shares observations and offers insights into the development of individual support, plans and implementation of chosen POM's.
• Documents all services and support provided to individuals supported based on them Individualized program plan(s) and enter information into computerized system.
• Tracks and documents individual's progress on goals.
• Assists the individuals in planning and preparing meals while following dietary menus, eating protocols and serving all meals in a family style manner.
• Reviews and initials communication log(s) upon arriving at assigned work site, documents all activities and information in the daily log.
• Administers and documents Medication Administration per AMAP training and doctor's orders; teachers, observes, reports problems and progress in self-administration of medication programs; assist individuals in achieving more independence in administration of medications.
• Notifies program nurse and manager/supervisor of any changes in medication, individual's condition, or any other health related concerns.
• Follows all OPWDD and Organization's Policies and Procedures regarding reporting injuries, incidents, or other related events.
• Identifies and responds to unexpected, unplanned, and emergency situations as they occur. Notifies appropriate management and follows the Agencies Policies and Procedures.
• Ensures that the program environment is clean, safe and offers a positive home like environment. DSPs are expected to report any equipment malfunction, structure concerns or any safety issues.
• Observes and follows through on established emergency notification procedures in a manner which ensures the safety and welfare of all individuals at all times.
• Ensures a safe environment is maintained at all times.
• Conducts and documents fire drills following the Fire Evacuation Plan; reports any system or equipment malfunction to their supervisor.
• Maintains all certifications and licensures as required (AMAP, SCIP-R, CPR, First Aid)
• Maintains confidentiality of information in accordance with HIPAA regulations, the Employee handbook and organization Policies and Procedures.
• Actively participates in staff meetings, training, and personal development goals.

Your Qualifications

High School Diploma or Equivalency Diploma; Preferred Six months work experience with individuals with I/DD. Willingness to continue to develop professional skills and educational opportunities.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Good written and verbal communication skills; Bi-lingual a plus; ability to learn basic sign language when needed

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Basic routine documentation and tabulation of progress

REASONING SKILLS

Able to align POMS/ Code of Ethics/ DSP competencies and incorporate