Direct Support Professional

Job Summary : Direct Support Professional provide essential support and assistance to participants with developmental disabilities, ensuring their safety, well-being, integration into daily activities, adaptive functional skills, and/or developing employment-related skills, and community integration.

• Assist persons served with daily living activities including personal hygiene, housekeeping, meal preparation, and social and community interaction. 
• Implement Individual Service Plans (ISP) for each person served, focusing on employment-related, daily living, functional, social, recreational goals and/or other objectives set by the participant and organization.
• Assist participants with medication management by reviewing medication labels, explaining the purpose and timing of each medication, helping with the transfer of medications into containers, supporting the use of inhalers and liquid medications, and providing instruction on how to administer their own medication safely and effectively.
• Provide transportation to persons served for medical appointments, grocery shopping, social activities, employment-related tasks, etc. (e.g., job interviews, and work orientations) in a personal insured vehicle and/or company provided vehicle. 
• Support participants in finding and participating in appropriate social and recreational activities, including those that enhance employment skills.
• Assist participants with budgeting, financial management, and other tasks related to employment and independent living. 
• Facilitate pre-employment sessions or volunteering to enhance participants' work-related skills and abilities. 
• Assists in training participants in employment related job responsibilities, employer requirements and expectations, effective and appropriate workplace communication and work ethics including but not limited to attendance and punctuality, personal hygiene and work attire. 
• Demonstrate, model, and/or guide job tasks and responsibilities, as necessary, as permitted by the employer.
• Follow health and safety protocols to ensure participants' well-being at all times. 
• Use approved methods of intervention and behavior modification techniques as per organizational training. 
• Provide minimal toileting support as needed, including light assistance with personal hygiene and clothing adjustments to ensure client comfort and cleanliness. 
• Maintain accurate records and submit required paperwork following organizational guidelines.
• Maintain participant confidentiality and uphold professional relationships with persons served, families, colleagues, and stakeholder. 
• Participate in team meetings, training sessions, and community-based instruction activities as required. 
• Adapt to changes in participants' needs, program requirements, and organizational procedures. 
• Complete additional duties as assigned by supervisors. 
• Ensure participant and employee safety and maintain close proximity at all times.
• Ability to exercise appropriate ABA techniques for client programming.
• Adheres to all VAC policies and procedures as outlined in the Employee Handbook. 
• Exemplifies VAC’s Mission, Vision and Core Values. 

Job Qualifications: 

• Prior experience working with individuals or persons with developmental disabilities, preferred.
• Ability to communicate effectively (oral and written). 
• Flexible and adaptive to participant, program, and organizational changes.
• Ability to work as a team, actively participate and collaborate with other team members.
• Knowledge of crisis management techniques preferred. 
• Ability to maintain composure, be objective, demonstrate sound judgment and react effectively in challenging situations.
• Must be 21 years or older, have reliable transportation with proof of insurability and valid California Driver’s License.
• General working knowledge of standard computer programs.
• Exhibits a positive, solution oriented and motivating demeanor at all times.
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to implement goals and objectives.

Educational Requirements: 

• High School diploma or GED required (all programs). 

Physical Requirements: 

• Lifting and carrying up to 60 lbs. without assistance.
• Frequent squatting, sitting, walking, standing, bending and twisting, kneeling, crawling, climbing.
• Occasional running, pushing and pulling, reaching above and below shoulder level.
• Regular exposure to excessive noise levels. 
• Walking and running on uneven surfaces. 
• Regular exposure to outside elements, including excessive heat, direct sunlight, cold, wind or rain. 

Certificates:  

• Valid California Driver’s License and evidence of insurability. 
• CPR/First Aid certification preferred.
• Completion of behavior modification or crisis management training upon hire. 

Valley Achievement Center (VAC) was founded by Jolene Billinger and Bonny Hulsy. These two passionate mothers of children with autism had a vision to help many families like them in our community. VAC’s Basic Education Program was established to provide a progressive, positive and well-staffed school that would use proven research based techniques to help children with autism attain their educational goals and improve functional skills. VAC quickly developed a reputation for making substantial progress with its students. As a result, increasing numbers of children were referred to VAC. When parents expressed a need for afterschool adaptive skills and social skills programs for their children with autism, VAC established its Intermediate Afterschool (ages 6 through 9) and Afterschool (ages 10 through 22) programs, as well as its Social Skills Program (ages 6 through 18) to meet the need. As those children who attended VAC became adults, it became clear that they and other adults in the community with autism and other developmental disabilities would continue to require ongoing support and services. In response, VAC opened its Adult Services programs, which include supported living, supported employment, and its adult behavioral day program, to continue to meet the needs of its clients and to ensure that, regardless of age, individuals in our community with autism and other developmental disabilities will have the support they need to achieve their goals and thrive. VAC currently has 12 programs for children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Our more than 300 employees operate out of our four sites in Bakersfield, providing exceptional service to our wonderful clients and their families.