Respite Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) provide a wide variety of person-centered-supports and services to youth with developmental disabilities. Respite DSPs assist in the operation of the afterschool program, Saturday Respite program and other respite opportunities available to the children. Respite DSPs empower the youth they work for by providing education, experience and exposure so they can make their own informed choices. DSPs model, teach and advocate for youth with developmental disabilities in order to support them to achieve their highest level of independent living, enable their fullest participation in society, ensure their civil and human rights are protected and promote their ability to be productive, contributing members of the community. The supports and services performed depend upon the individually developed hab plan.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Understands and follows the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) code of ethics
• Maintains their first allegiance to the people they work for by demonstrating respect and supporting problem solving skills.
• Has solid knowledge and understanding of person centered planning and service delivery.
• Promote daily thinking and problem-solving skills of the person served, using active listening and coaching skills in order to reduce their dependency on staff and increase their self-esteem.
• Encourages growth and recognizes autonomy while being attentive and energetic in reducing the risk of harm at all times by providing all necessary supports indicated in the IPOP.
• Assists in the development (up to and including attending ISP meetings), implementation and on-going evaluation of habilitative service plans that are based on the person’s preferences, needs and interests.
• Helps youth to develop/maintain positive interpersonal relationships with their peers, with others in their families and with people in the community.
• Provides appropriate child specific supervision and supports at all times during program hours.
• Completes DDP-2s, incident reports and other agency forms necessary for service delivery.
• Provides ongoing communication within and across departments to ensure proper service delivery is provided and maintains a minimum of one monthly contact with other service providers of all individuals on caseload, and documents these contacts in case notes.
• Purchases appropriate program supplies with the approval of the Manager.
• Assists in the development, implementation and on-going evaluation of respite services based on the preferences, needs and interests of the children.
• Takes initiative to ensure program space is a clean, safe and healthy environment.
• Supports each child to be as independent as possible with personal hygiene and other needs while also providing assistance as needed.
• Assists with completion of student and program evaluations.
• Provides emergency respite services to children in their homes as needed.
• Completes accurate documentation in Therap within required timeframes, based on the implementation of the habilitation plan.
• Provides assistance with navigating the community up to and including providing transportation to individuals when necessary.