DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL- RESPITE (BUFFALO)

Direct Support Professional

Pay Rate: $19 Shift: Monday-Friday late afternoons Upon successful completion of a 6-month provisionary period, the hourly rate will increase to $20/hr. All Direct Support Professionals support the persons served character, choices, strengths, interests and needs while ensuring a safe, healthy and clean environment. Direct Support Professionals plan, coordinate and implement meaningful activities that promote independence, inclusion, and productivity of people served by People Inc. on a daily basis through areas of daily living, personal care needs, and activities such as games, music and art.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Respects and maintains the confidentiality of the person served.
• Demonstrates a positive and caring attitude towards person served, families and staff.
• Plans, coordinates and implements meaningful activities on a daily basis: areas of daily living and personal care needs as well as person centered activities that promote independence, inclusion and productivity.
• Completes all tasks necessary to ensure health and safety of each person receiving services.
• Safely transports people following proper procedures when approved to drive.
• Performs daily site cleaning, food preparation and laundry as needed.
• In a Site Based or Recreational Respite setting, assist person served in social/recreational activities and implementation of monthly activity calendars. Assist in homework assignments as needed.
• Completes daily documentation and other paperwork OPWDD and agency standards promptly and accurately as applicable.
• Attends/participates in general staff meetings, in-service training and other pertinent agency meetings/trainings.
• Keeps in compliance with agency mandated in-service and online trainings.
• Flexibility to work assignments as needed at the agency within shift and/or other availability. For Day Services, this may include being assigned a residential site to work partially, or in full based, upon status of day program service delivery.
• Performs CPR and Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention (SCIP-R).
• Responsible to record time worked at the start and end of each shift and to work the minimum number of accepted hours hired for.
• Administers medications and follows proper procedures as required.
• Specific work functions and hours worked may vary from specific departments and locations. Complies with all agency policies and procedures. Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• 18 years of age.
• HS Diploma or GED.
• Valid Driver's License that meets agency policy.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to read, write, comprehend plans and documentation.
• Basic computer skills necessary for communication and documentation.
• Ability to meet physical requirements of the position when performing the following: standing, walking, sitting, bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling and climbing.
• Lifting requirement of 35 lbs. Ability to support people receiving services with repositioning, lifting and transferring as required by their person-centered plan.
• Physical agility and ability to react to emergency situations, including Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention (SCIP-R) certification as per regulatory guidelines.
• Certification in CPR.
• Part time Direct Support professionals are required to work a minimum of 16 hours per week and not more than 29 hours per week unless otherwise specified by program.

Why People Inc.? When you join the People Inc. team, you can make a difference in the lives of people receiving services while also receiving great benefits (generous PTO, PTO buyback, affordable insurance, tuition reimbursement, career mentoring, shift incentives and more), flexibility and the opportunity to help others move closer to their life goals and dreams. People Inc. is Western New York's largest and most experienced provider of programs for people with developmental disabilities and other special needs. We understand that working one on one with people who have disabilities, and helping them in all aspects of daily life takes a special person – someone who's dedicated, caring and compassionate – that's how we treat our employees.