Direct Support Professional (Full-Time Day Shift - Variable Hours)

Job Description:
The primary Direct Support Professional caregiver is responsible for daily care, instruction, and assistance for individuals with special needs living in a GIL-operated community residence. Caregivers also provide for and protect each individual's rights, safety, and personal property. This job is considered a safety-sensitive position due to the nature of caring for high-risk, disabled individuals in their home.

Job Duties & Essential Functions:

Directly responsible to residential management. Overall responsibility to perform job duties & essential functions, including but not limited to the following:
• Provide individuals care and treatment for maintaining health and wellness
• Promote and encourage individuals to make informed personal choices and decisions in life
• Promote and encourage the development of healthy relationships for the individuals served
• Medication administration, documentation, and monitoring for treatment and effect
• Assisting individuals with adaptive services, devices, special equipment, and therapies
• Assisting individuals with daily routines and living skills - includes personal care and hygiene
• Completing written documentation, daily logs, charts, and other required paperwork
• Completing assignments for household management, maintenance, and housekeeping tasks
• Assisting individuals in program facilitation, planning, teaching strategies, and activities
• Recreation and activity facilitation and planning with the individuals - in house
• Recreation and activity facilitation and planning with the individuals - in community
• Provide crisis management & intervention for medical needs, behaviors, and other challenges
• Communication and interaction with individuals and families being served
• Communication and interaction with co-workers in a home-like working environment
• Meal planning and preparation in accordance with dietary guidelines
• Participate in all staff training, meetings, and in-service requirements
• Assisting individuals with shopping and purchasing needs for personal & house supplies
• Assisting individuals with money management, documentation, and financial responsibilities
• Provide transportation - includes driving the vehicle and securing individuals safely
• Assisting in the orientation and mentoring of new employees to the residential program
• Conducting and participating in fire & safety drills, evacuation, and precautionary exercises
• Having to lift, stabilize, and transfer individuals during activities of daily living
• Working independently, and at times with minimal supervision while on assignment
• Working with multiple people, and at times with close supervision while on assignment
• Working in an environment where at times it may be loud, noisy, and exciting
• Working in an environment where at times it may be quiet, serene, and unexciting
• Working in the facility and/or in the community, in multiple settings, and going on outings

Physical Demands:
The following physical demands must be met by an employee, with or without reasonable accommodation, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• The employee must be able to speak, see, focus, and hear
  • The employee is frequently required to sit, walk, stand, bend, twist, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, push, pull, and reach
  • The employee must have fine manipulation ability of both hands
  • The employee must, occasionally to frequently, lift and/or move up to 100 pounds and be able to maneuver a manual wheelchair
  • The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move residents of any weight, with assistance of a Hoyer lift or other protective equipment, and use all equipment effectively
  • The employee must be able to handle highly stressful situations on a day-to-day basis

Other Responsibilities & Requirements:
• To embrace a higher standard of commitment to provide community residential care to individuals with special needs
• To arrive on time and prepared for each scheduled shift in order to relieve other trained staff on duty
• To conduct oneself in a manner consistent with being a positive role model for the individuals served, co-workers, and the community at large, including appropriate dress and conversation, appropriate manners and conduct, honor and respect for authority, and value and respect for co-workers
• To promote and encourage personal expression, including likes and dislikes, by providing supports and services that are culturally competent - valuing diversity, choice, and personal expression
• To make provision for the safeguarding & protection of individuals' personal property and rights
• To make provision for the systematic maintenance, collection, completion, and submission of all documentation, program data, incident reports, financial documents, medication administration reporting, time sheets, and all other required reporting within a timely manner
• To report all cases of infectious disease and occupational exposure to the proper agents/authorities
• To report all cases of Class A & B felony charges, arrests, and convictions to GIL administration to be relayed to the appropriate state departments and authorities
• To exhibit a positive mental and emotional attitude, demonstrating willingness to learn and a desire to serve individuals with special needs
• To perform assignments of a physical nature, including lifting and transferring heavy weight (at times in excess of 100 pounds), with or without adaptive equipment or staff assistance
• To perform any and all other job-related duties as required and/or designated by management