Direct Support Professional (DSP / Foster Care)

Direct Support Professional

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) is a member of the clinical team that provides compassionate care and assistance to individuals who struggle with intellectual, developmental, and behavioral health challenges and require assistance to achieve their fullest potential. The DSP provides the assistance necessary to allow the clients we serve to live independently and ensure their wellness, health, and safety. The DSP, in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, provides a wide range of services to meet the environmental, physical, psychosocial, and personal needs of the individuals in our care. The DSP embraces the mission of organization by fostering a culture of compassion, hope, service, and collaboration.

Assists with daily living activities, including but not limited to assisting with personal hygiene/bathroom assistance, assisting with meals at day program, and cleaning.

Supports the independence of individuals served by providing the assistance necessary to maximize their quality of life.

Models hope and optimism when encouraging individuals served to achieve their potential.

Supports persons served in developing relationships and becoming involved in their communities.

Provides supervision and guidance to individuals served to build skills and competence.

Documents interactions and activities per policies and procedures.

Monitors and responds to crisis situations or potential crisis situations consistent with best practice, policies, and procedures.

Reports suspected incidents of neglect, abuse or mistreatment consistent with the organizations policies and procedures.

Assists in maintaining the well-being and safety of individuals served both at the day program and in the community.

Individuals served with daily medication administration.

Consumer transportation includes, but not limited to, community activities.

Perform all daily activities within the day program and community setting including, but not limited to, meal preparation, activities of daily living, shopping, day program cleaning and maintenance, leisure activities, and consumer outcomes.

Assist with day program licensing annually and home community activities as prescribed in operating regulations.

Accurate completion of required paperwork to include but not limited to medication logs, daily logs, goal logs, incident reports, BM charts, fire drill logs, seizure logs, behavior plan documentation, gas receipts, vehicle logs, consumer funds.

Accurate completion of Electronic Health Record documentation for each assigned consumer/client before the end of each shift.

Accurate completion of hours worked through HRIS system to clock in/out

Completion of required training hours on an annual basis according to the Training year

Completion of Competency Based Training as needed.

Attend all scheduled day program and office staff meetings.

Assist with on call activities and emergency situations as requested by the Program Manager.

Responsible for the safety and well-being of all the individuals in attendance at the day program.

Follow all supervision requirements of consumers as noted in consumer ISP/BSP.

Assist the Program Management/Program Director or Studio Coordinator with special projects related to the Agency.

High School Diploma, GED or equivalent certificate (required)

• Associate or bachelor's degree (preferred)
• Minimum one (1) year direct experience working with individuals with intellectual disabilities or human services field
• Strong visual and/or performance art and design skills.

Computer literacy, experience with Microsoft Office, email, time-recording and other applications.

Knowledge of trauma, trauma-informed care, and the creation of trauma-informed environments.

Excellent documentation and financial/mathematical skills.

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with individuals with disabilities, families, co-workers, staff, supervisors, funding sources, and other social service agency personnel;

The ability to supervise and/or assist individuals served by the day program

The ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with individuals with disabilities, families, co-workers, staff, supervisors, funding sources, and other social service agency personnel.

Recognize crisis situations and react to such in a calm, mature manner; and the ability to identify, react to, and report security concerns.

Completion of all required training including but not limited to CPR and First-Aid.

The ability to facilitate a variety of group activities included but not limited to: art activities such as drawing, painting, ceramics, printmaking; social skills, self-esteem, moderate exercise, and community outings.