Direct Support Professional

Work Schedule:

8-hour shifts: 8 am-4 pm, 4 pm-12 am, and 12 am-8 am

Supervision Given:

None

Supervision Received:

Client Care Manager, Case Manager

NATURE AND SCOPE OF POSITION

Assists in providing self-care training and therapeutic treatments to residents of ICF/IID facility, working under the direction of Lead DSP, Case Manager, and programmatic staff, by performing the following duties.

PRIMARY QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• High School diploma or GED, preferred.

Work Experience:

• Previous experience with developmentally disabled adults preferred.

Certification or License:

• Current Automotive Insurance Coverage required
• Attendance at Mandatory Training & In-Services
• Current CPR certification.

Special Skills:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Some knowledge of the use of MS Office is preferred.
• Strong Communication and interpersonal skills and positive attitude.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information in on-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organizations.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Other Considerations:

• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Valid, unencumbered Louisiana Driver’s License.
• Acceptable Driver’s Motor Vehicle Record required.
• Ability to pass pre-employment background check.
• Ability to pass pre-employment drug screening.
• Ability to pass pre-employment physical.
• Maintains a professional appearance.

JOB FUNCTIONS

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.

• Maintains knowledge of and follows individual’s goals and objectives as reflected in the Individual Service Plan (ISP).
• Accompanies and supports clients in the home and/or community as necessary to assure safety of self and property and to achieve goals set forth in plan of care.
• Accompanies clients to shower rooms, and assists them in bathing, dressing, toileting, and grooming.
• Assists clients, according to their individualized plan of care, in becoming accustomed to group home routines and encourages them to participate in social and recreational activities. Takes clients in the community (library, church services, movies, etc.).
• Supports individuals with daily living skills as needed (i.e., meal preparation, personal hygiene and appearance, household chores, laundry, etc.).
• Actively engage with clients throughout the shift to provide leadership and camaraderie.
• Assists individuals with physical and mobility needs as needed
• Observes clients to prevent wandering from group home areas or grounds.
• Observes and documents resident’s behaviors, such as speech production, feeding patterns, and toilet training, to facilitate assessment and development of treatment goals.
• Feeds clients or attempts to persuade them to eat, and notes and records reasons for rejection of food.
• Monitors diet compliance and incidents of choking hazards.
• Observes clients to detect unusual behavior and aids them to prevent injury to themselves or others.
• Documents shift reports daily and other required forms (census, seizure, behaviors etc.).
• Documents Active Treatment Goals.
• Reports needed repairs to the case manager.
• Attends required training to improve knowledge and skills.
• Will follow the mission statement of Magnolia by providing the highest quality of leadership, advocacy, and service for individuals with developmental disabilities in the Greater New Orleans area.
• Will share in the vision of Magnolia where all individuals, including those with developmental disabilities, thrive and grow and are recognized for their contributions to society.
• Follows the Person-Centered philosophy. We agree to help our clients recognize their hopes and dreams, and to work with them in setting goals to make their vision a reality.
• Agree to work together as a team, encouraging unity and collaboration across all areas of our organization.
• We will create environments throughout our organization where everyone acts with honor and accountability.
• Our value of teamwork inspires us to work together to communicate with openness and respect at all levels of our organization.
• We agree to lead the way in our region and beyond in effectively providing the highest quality of service and support to our clients, our employees, and our community.
• Other duties may be assigned as needed

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND DEMANDS/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to stand and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee is occasionally required to sit and taste or smell. The employee may be required to lift and/or transfer clients as an essential function of this job.
• The employee may occasionally be required to lift and/or transfer clients; clients weighing over 100 pounds require a two-person lift or the use of a lift system.
• Specific vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions.
• The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, and fumes or airborne particles.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.