Direct Support Professional

Direct Support Professional (DSP)

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:

• High School diploma or GED, preferred.
• Previous experience with developmentally disabled adults preferred.
• Current Louisiana Driver's License required
• Current Automotive Insurance Coverage required
• Attendance at Mandatory Training & In-Services
• Current CPR certification.
• Certified Nursing Assistant preferred
• Some knowledge of the use of MS Office is preferred.
• Strong Communication and interpersonal skills and positive attitude.
• Excellent time-management skills.
• 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:

• 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.