Direct Support Professional - Facilities

Direct Support Professional - Full-Time

At Easterseals Redwood, we believe in the power of purpose and the power of work. We empower children and adults with disabilities, military veterans, and people facing disadvantages in our region to live full and meaningful lives. Our programs are designed to meet individuals where they are -- to enrich education, expand employment, enhance health, and elevate our communities. By 2030, 10,000 people each year will say Easterseals Redwood makes their lives better. As one of the largest human service providers in the region, our team members won't rest until every one of us is valued, respected, and accepted.

Our Values: Believe in people, Joy, Inclusion, Curiosity, Impact, and Courage

Why join Easterseals Redwood as a Direct Support Professional:

• Pay: starting at $16/hour+ commensurate with experience.
• PTO and Extended Illness Time
• Health Insurance options
• 401 K Retirement Plan with a company match
• Dental and Vision Insurance options
• Disability Insurance options
• Education and Professional Development Assistance
• Free daily lunch (Kentucky campus)
• Employee Assistance Plan
• 10 Paid holidays
• Growth Opportunities
• Flexible schedules
• Supportive team environment and management!

Position Summary: DSPs provide support and guidance to promote physical, social/emotional development and functional independence for daily care services to address basic life needs which includes physical handling of adults for wheelchair transfers, positioning, personal hygiene, toileting, dressing, emergency response, and other such tasks depending on the ability of the adult.

About being a Direct Support Professional at Easterseals Redwood:

Direct Support Professionals are the backbone of the Adult Services department and are mission-critical. In Adult Day Services we strive to help individuals with multiple and severe disabilities achieve their highest level of independence and live their lives to the fullest. DSPs help adults at various stages of life, from young adults transitioning out of high school through elderly care, accomplish this by assisting them to participate in activities of daily living, complete personal care needs, meet individualized goals, join in social, and recreational, and leisure activities, and be an active participant in community life.

Job Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates knowledge of assigned adult's condition. Reads individual files, reviews assessments, individualized objectives, and performance data to identify preferences, means of participation, method of problem-solving, and proficiency of adults in performing tasks.
• Provides physical assistance to individuals served when exiting/entering the Community Hub/various community settings and to/from transportation if necessary. (This may include securing wheelchairs for transportation and/or physical transfer of individuals.)
• Supports individuals at all community work sites and ensures contracted work is completed correctly and in the allotted time frames. This may include performing contract work to complete contracted assignments.
• Supports individuals at all community volunteer sites and ensures agreed-upon work/task is completed correctly and in the allotted time frames. This may include performing volunteer work to assist individuals served in accomplishing tasks.
• Assigns, sets up and trains individuals served in their daily job assignments. This includes reinforcing previously learned assignments, providing supervision, checking work for quality, and supplying individuals served with materials. Instructing individuals served in a manner appropriate for their learning style and abilities. Supervises all individuals served in the immediate work area.
• Establishes and maintains a safe working environment for individuals served.
• May operate machines and maintain equipment based on vocational/volunteer sites.
• Provides active learning programs for individuals/small groups to support the development of new skills and achievement of learning objectives with assistance from the Community Hub Lead at the Community Hub location and in various community locations.
• Transports individuals to and from job sites or community locations by agency van or personal vehicle.
• Maintains required documentation of personal care, attendance records, incident reports, med delegation, documentation of seizure frequency or inappropriate behaviors, food service reports, and other required documentation on designated written or computerized forms.
• Maintain petty cash and small money amounts at specific program locations and be able to balance and rectify financial activity of funds monthly with a compliance officer
• Uses safe lifting techniques.
• Observe the health status of adults throughout the day. Ensures adults exhibiting signs of illness or injury have access to prompt nursing/medical attention from the onsite nursing (KY) or med delegates/offsite nursing (OH). Responds to medical emergencies using First Aid and CPR techniques, as appropriate.
• Passes medications and performs medical activities as a nurse delegate, as necessary. Training is required from Registered Nurses for this duty. (OH)
• Uses an integrated teaching approach that embeds opportunities to improve social, communication, cognitive, and motor skills (developmental functions) during practical life activities and routines.
• Implements behavior management programs as directed. Responds to crises involving individuals served using non-violent crisis intervention techniques, as appropriate.
• Provides direct supervision and positive interaction with adults during all personal care services.
• Assists adults with any type of personal care as needed and as assigned.
• Assists and encourages adults to actively engage in preparing snacks, setting up/cleaning up for meals, selecting and putting away materials, and completing related tasks to foster the development of daily living skills and personal responsibility.
• Provides safe physical management of adults during emergency drills and/or crises.
• Assists with shared duties including preparation and cleanup of snacks/meals, supervision of breaks or lunch, setting up/cleaning up for meals, assistance with laundry, cleaning/organizing program materials, bus duty, and similar tasks.
• Communicates pertinent information regarding each adult's care and well-being to the Program Manager of Adult Services as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education/Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Experience working with adults with disabilities preferred but willing to train the right candidate.
• If you're someone who is passionate about making a difference and would like the opportunity to do just that every day, a career at Easterseals Redwood may be for you. We are currently hiring and encouraging anyone interested in becoming part of an organization with a mission-driven, relationship-focused, joy-filled culture to apply.