Direct Support Professional - Northvale, NJ

About the Position

We are hiring Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) for our Bergen County residential programs. The ideal candidate possesses a wide range of skills and is eager to promote YAI's mission of supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, love, work, and learn in their communities.

National Institute for People with Disabilities (NIPD-NJ) is a member of the YAI Network.

Key/Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Assists individuals in maximizing their strengths, interests, and abilities, upholding their personal rights, displaying patience and tolerance while providing emotional support and building positive relationships.
• Supports people to meet personal goals that characterize quality of life, engages in respectful communications and conversations through person-first language, encourages socializing and facilitates activities that provide social capital and connections to the community.
• Responsible for the overall supervision, protection, and care of individuals at all times including maintenance of program guidelines for the protection of individuals, facilitating learning and training in fire safety and identifying and appropriately escalating signs of an individual’s potential harm to self or others.
• Ensures health, wellness and safety by providing appropriate supervision of the people we support and by managing crisis situations while adhering to applicable policies, procedures and regulations.
• Provides support in a variety of settings and in accordance with each person’s individualized service and behaviour support plans, utilizing support skills for people with varying levels of need and demonstrating the DDD Standards.
• Ensures implementation of person-centered, individualized plans following levels of supervision and safeguards including Behaviour Support Plans (BSPs), Individualised Service Plans (ISPs), Staff Action and/or Life Plans for all people we support, understanding the intentions and goals of the plans.
• Maintains a clean, safe and organised therapeutic environment.
• Utilises safe and appropriate handling procedures when working with individuals and implements infection control protocols.
• Assists with a variety of tasks for people we support, as appropriate/authorised, including the following:
• Providing personal care and assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) including intimate care and personal hygiene (e.g. bathing, dressing, and toileting), laundry and housekeeping.
• Teaching/developing habilitative and rehabilitative skills.
• Supporting person‑centred advocacy with the individuals.
• Assisting in communication, self‑expression and resolving disputes amongst individuals.
• Facilitating ethical decision making.
• Providing supervision for and/or planning and preparing balanced meals and snacks for people we support in accordance with dietary restrictions and guidelines of specific individuals, including for modified diets or liquid consistencies.
• Transporting and escorting individuals on recreational activities, medical appointments, home visits, volunteer and/or employment sites; actively participates in establishment and/or creation of schedules for, volunteer opportunities, community and/or therapeutic activities for programme.
• Assisting people with making purchases, as well as safeguarding personal allowance funds and any additional funds provided.
• Ensuring that medication is administered as prescribed, in accordance with applicable guidelines.
• Assisting with medication inventory, including medication cabinet checks and over‑the‑counter (OTC) inventory, performing within applicable timeframes and reordering medication and/or supplies, as needed.
• Assisting with scheduling of medical appointments for people supported and ensuring that follow‑up appointments are scheduled and attended in a timely manner.
• Appropriately utilising petty cash and house funds, including store cards, obtaining and maintaining documentation or receipts for purchases in accordance with applicable rules in coordination with supervisor.
• Operating agency vehicle to transport individuals to and/or from programmes, residences, community or other locations on a regular basis and updating related logs and maintenance sheets, coordinating appointments with supervisor.
• Developing an understanding of specialised clinical knowledge for person‑specific needs (supporting adults, challenging behaviours, autism spectrum disorders, complex medical needs).
• Implementing Behaviour Support Plan/Behaviour Guidelines and Protocols as specified in applicable plans.
• Collecting, recording and summarising data on individuals’ observable behaviour.
• Observing and reporting any changes in behaviour, or other signs and symptoms, to clinical and/or leadership team.
• Communicating by phone, email and/or in person with circles of support, including families and external providers, to provide updates and/or obtain information, as directed by clinical or programme leadership.
• Serving as a member of a highly effective team (teamwork within the circle of support), providing feedback and communicating programme needs to members of the team and maintaining a solution‑oriented approach during conflicts.
• Completing and maintaining all necessary training and certifications, including specialised training based on programme and position to ensure compliance with YAI policies and all applicable rules or regulations and applying skills.
• Reviewing communication logs daily and making entries of events, progress notes, services and/or information; ensuring all pertinent information is communicated between members of the team and/or shifts using prescribed in‑house communication systems and collecting and entering data as part of daily operations using an electronic health record and/or medication record (e.g. Digital Agency (DA)).
• Reviewing and completing all other required paperwork and documentation to ensure compliance and/or billing completely, accurately and within appropriate timeframes (e.g. notifications, logging, incident reports, update files, maintenance requests, phone calls, and tracking of incidents).
• Using foundational teaching skills (Explain, Model, Observe and Evaluate [EMOE], task analysis, essential skills, supports and modifications, etc.) and progressive teaching.
• Understanding behaviour as communication and employing person‑centred thinking to support positive interactions and prevent further escalation.
• Reporting maintenance, upkeep and safety concerns observed at YAI/NIPD‑NJ facilities to Programme Supervisor or appropriate designee.
• Consulting with programme leadership, clinical and other direct support staff to ensure streamlined and top‑quality care for individuals and attending and actively participating in team meetings.
• Utilising/demonstrating approved YAI and NJ DDD training techniques (i.e. verbal, environmental, and physical interventions, including take downs) to respond promptly and appropriately to challenging and/or self‑injurious behaviour, ensuring the health and safety of the people we support, self and others.
• Regularly providing support and/or coverage in a variety of settings and programmes across assigned region and/or service delivery settings, including assisting at off‑site locations (e.g. hospital) based on needs of programme and/or individuals supported and remaining on shift or reporting to another programme to maintain minimum coverage levels.
• May participate in the development of treatment plans.
• Complying with all Federal, State, Local and other relevant regulatory agency requirements, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Performing all other duties, as assigned.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• HS diploma or its educational equivalent; and Must hold or obtain and maintain valid Driver’s License with no more than five (5) points.
• Ability to meet essential physical demands of position including frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling and reaching with hands and arms; use hands to handle, finger or feel objects, tools or controls; assisting with lifting/moving individuals of any weight with assistance of mechanical lifts or other equipment and/or pushing individuals in wheelchairs; lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds on occasion; having the physical capacity to work with and implement emergency interventions as per the person’s Behaviour Support Plan if/as needed, including lifting/moving individuals of any weight with or without assistance of equipment and/or other staff.
• Effective written and oral communication skills including the ability to appropriately document services provided for billing and tracking purposes.
• Enthusiasm for working with people with I/DD, willingness to take initiative and ability to demonstrate positivity, patience and empathy and compassion in all interactions.
• Ability and willingness to assist with a variety of supports and ADLs as requested, including regular exposure to and handling of various bodily fluids.
• Basic computer skills – including email, utilizing Workday and related systems (DA, etc.) to complete tasks.
• Must hold or obtain and maintain certifications and trainings as required by programme assignment and persons supported including, but not limited to Non-Crisis Invention training, American Heart Association CPR/First Aid certification, NJ Medication Administration certification and Positive Behavior Supports training as scheduled by supervisor or designee, within 120 days of appointment.
• Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships in alignment with YAI’s mission and vision.
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations and work in a high energy, fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to work beyond regularly scheduled hours/shift and/or to report to work as scheduled on holidays, in inclement weather or during other emergencies to maintain minimum coverage requirements of programme, unless otherwise authorised.

Preferred Qualification Requirements

• Work or life experience supporting people with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
• Knowledge of intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), clinical syndromes and/or I/DD with co‑occurring behavioural/mental health needs.

Schedule

Tues‑day - Saturday: 3pm - 11pm

Benefit Highlights

• DailyPay available - Work today, get paid today!
• Tuition reimbursement
• Medical and dental insurance - with options for family and more extensive medical plans, as well as vision (for Full time positions)
• Paid vacation, holiday, and sick time (depending on time type)
• 403(b) retirement with employer matching contributions
• Life insurance and long‑term disability
• Discounts on travel, entertainment, wireless services, shopping, and more.

Compensation

Compensation $18.50/hour to $18.50/hour

Equal Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam or disabled veteran.

YAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

YAI Network prohibits the practice of nepotism in the workforce and hiring process.