Direct Support Professional III

Job Summary

The Direct Support Professional III partners with a team of skilled professionals and families to provide services that are family-driven, youth-guided, trauma-informed, and culturally competent to help youth reach their full potential. This role creates a safe, nurturing, and peaceful environment that provides opportunities for the successful development of life skills and social skills for youth and families receiving services. The individual in this position will be involved in more complex challenges and may perform mentoring and training activities as assigned.

Essential Job Functions

• Provide supervision and care to the individuals they serve, assisting with their daily living skills according to established program standards and follow all applicable safety and mandated reporting protocols.
• Develop, implement, monitor, and report on treatment objectives and modalities that are utilized to support the individuals' goals. Assess the effectiveness of individual care plans (e.g., behavior, safety, treatment, and routine support plan).
• Develop and execute service and behavior management plans aimed at assisting youth and families to achieve their personal goals and objectives as part of a designated treatment team.
• Build professional relationships with peers that support individual development and success.
• Provide purposeful activities, based on the individual’s current developmental level that foster skill development to help them prepare for transitions and interactions in the community.
• Monitor participating individual’s emotional and behavior status and document accordingly.
• Manage youth and family day-to-day activities, within an individual or group dynamic.
• Ensure the safety of all youth and families assigned to care and apply appropriate emergency and trauma-informed crisis intervention principles and techniques, such as Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention (SCIP) approved de-escalation and intervention techniques, which may include the use of protective interventions and physical restraints.
• Ensure mandated reporting protocols are followed.
• Implement life and social skills training for youth and families and encourage active participation from both parties.
• Monitor staff in the implementation of treatment goals and objectives for participants. Ensure treatment plans are followed and all necessary documentation is made in a timely and compliant manner.
• Execute a wide variety of support tasks including transporting for medical appointments, various housekeeping duties, administration of medication and managing petty cash.
• Ensure program requirements are met by compliance with Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) regulations and Home and Community Based Services (HCBS).
• Pass and administer medications to individuals receiving services following established procedures.
• Lead special department/program projects and serve on agency committees, as required.
• Support the staff development of the DSPI and DSPII through mentoring and training.
• Serve as shift charge, document behaviors targeted for intervention, and provide transportation to appointments or home time as directed.
• Support youth and family interactions within the family and local community.
• While this job description covers many aspects of the role, employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 18 months of related work experience required.

Special Requirements

• Successful completion of Approved Medication Administrative Personnel (AMAP) training to meet the health needs of the individuals in care.
• CPR certification required or obtained within 60 days of hire.
• Unrestricted, valid NYS driver’s license for minimum of 1 year with a clean driving record and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

In addition to demonstrating the Hillside Professional Competencies of Communicates Effectively , Personal Excellence, Cultural Competence, Builds and Leverages Relationships and Optimizes Decision Making, the following occupational competencies must be demonstrated:

• Demonstrate the emotional competence and good judgment required to build productive, engaged children, youth, staff and family relationships while implementing required rules, expectations and routines.
• Ability to complete all required documentation in timely fashion according to established policies and regulations. This is an essential function in order to facilitate the efficient and effective flow of information necessary for the program to be effectively managed and outcomes optimized.
• Ability to recognize and address escalating and dysregulated youth behavior, and utilize training provided in behavior management and Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention (SCIP), including the use of physical interventions (holds).
• Communicate effectively at all levels and recognize issues and situations that require notification and communications to others.
• Demonstrate problem-solving and conflict resolution skills with self and others.
• Ability to meet the highest standard for ethical and professional conduct towards all.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

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.

• Must be able to work a variable scheduling including evenings and weekends
• The following physical demands are required:
  • Occasional sitting (up to 4 hours)
  • Occasional standing (up to 1 hour)
  • Occasional walking (up to 2.5 hours)
  • Occasional driving (up to 8 hours)
  • Continuous balancing (up to 8 hours)
  • Occasional balancing, bending, stooping, climbing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching forward or down, reaching overhead, running, and twisting (up to 2.5 hours)
  • Weekly lifting up to 50 lbs. (community-based staff may be required to lift an empty wheelchair weighing up to 50 lbs.), 10-15 lbs. on a daily basis
  • Weekly carrying up to 55 lbs. approximately 10-100 ft., 10-15 lbs. on a daily basis
• Manual dexterity is required, including the frequent ability to grasp in both hands and continuous use of fine manipulation skills in both hands (approximately 1-2.5 hrs.)
• Occasional exposure to change in temperature, dust, fumes, gases or chemicals is apparent.
• Protective clothing or equipment as required: close toed shoes; protective shields, universal precaution PPE, and gloves for toileting and food preparation
• Ability to change positions as needed

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

• May be required to physically restrain clients weighing between 50 and 300 lbs. and guide them safely to the floor using Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention (SCIP) approved techniques. In some circumstances, restraints can last up to 15 minutes and may require repetition as necessary.

$21.00 Minimum pay rate, $28.00 Maximum pay rate, based on experience.

At Hillside, we believe that healthy youth and strong families with opportunities to succeed are the foundation of any thriving community. Guided by this belief, we provide community-based services, education, and residential treatment to positively impact lives, in partnership with youth and families who have experienced trauma. From locations across Central & Western New York and Prince George’s County, Maryland, our programs serve nearly 10,000 youth, adults, and families each year.

Partnering with families and communities, we deliver high-quality, evidence-based services, in the appropriate settings — whether on residential campuses or in schools, homes, or the workplace. By measuring the impact of our work, we endeavor to deliver ever better outcomes every day.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Hillside is committed to equal opportunities for all, supporting a diverse workforce, creating development opportunities for our people. Hillside is an equal opportunity employer; individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities, Veterans, and disabled persons are encouraged to apply. Upon request, reasonable accommodations will be provided for the disabled.

Total Rewards: We offer a competitive benefits package to include generous paid time off, paid holidays, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending account, 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match, and Employee Assistance Plan – just to name a few of the amazing benefits at Hillside! World changers and change makers join our talent community every day. Apply online, get on board, and grow your career with us!