Direct Support Specialist - Full-Time

Provide direct support services to individuals with developmental disabilities living in their home environment. Deliver quality services by encouraging and facilitating the development of each individual in reaching his/her maximum potential while guaranteeing the safety, health, and wellbeing of all individuals. Specifically, assists individuals with daily living activities; implements program plans, maintains a secure environment and accurately completes all required documentation. Also serve as a role model to people receiving services.

Essential Functions 

1. Provide direct care to the assigned individual(s). These tasks include, but are not limited to, bathing, changing soiled or incontinent clothing, dressing, undressing, hair care, shaving, dental care, etc.
2. Assure that each individual maintains a clean and neat appearance that is appropriate for home and for community outings.
3. Teach and provide support with socialization skills, domestic/household skills, and other duties necessary to the safety and growth of individuals served as assigned.
4. Attend and assist with medical appointments if necessary
5. Provide transportation in your vehicle for people for whom you provide services.

B. Implement Program Plans:

1. Implement the objectives assigned from each individual and document data collected in a timely manner.
2. Promote family, community and social involvement for each individual.
3. Demonstrate the use of Positive Approaches in the prevention, redirection, and intervention of behavior problems and concerns.
4. Ensure Community Habilitation is provided as prescribed for frequency and duration as stated in the Individual Service Plan and Community Habilitation Plan.

C. Maintain a Secure Environment:

1. Provide direct supervision of program participant(s) to ensure their safety.
2. Report any incidents of suspected abuse and/or neglect immediately to your Community Services Manager or the Community Services Coordinator @ 287-2604 or On-Call Administrator if the Community Services Coordinator is not available, as per policy and procedures.

D. Complete Documentation/Follow Compliance Procedures:

1. Review mandated OPWDD training materials with designated staff.

2.  Develop and implement a schedule that will meet each family's individual needs. Pre-approval from your Community Services Manager is required.

1. Respect the privacy of the individual and his/her family; ensure the confidentiality of all individual records, events, occurrences, reports, and communications as per corporate compliance procedures.
2. Accurately and promptly complete all required documentation of services, including but not limited to the submission of a bi-weekly time sheet with corresponding Documentation Form to the Community Services Manager, in accordance with the Agency payroll calendar. 

QUALIFICATIONS

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 an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

High School Diploma, GED or CNA is required.

REASONING SKILLS

To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to demonstrate the following competencies: Sound decision making and judgment, interpersonal skills, planning/organizing, strategic thinking, time management and delegating. The ability to work independently in multiple settings. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write reports/correspondence and good communication and writing skills.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentage and to draw and interpret bar or line graphs.

COMPUTER SKILLS

None Required

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Must possess a valid NYS driver's license and an acceptable driving record. Successful completion of all required training.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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.

1.  Physically able to bend/stoop, squat, push/pull, reach above/below shoulder level frequently.

2. Must be able to independently lift and/or transfer, push or pull up to 50 lbs. No lifting restrictions.

3. Must have adequate vision, speaking and hearing ability, with or without correction, to be constantly aware of, detect, and able to respond to each individual's needs when not in immediate vicinity.

4.  Specific vision abilities required include close vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.

5. Sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls

6. Ability to ambulate; reach with hands and arms

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