Direct Support Professional (DSP.DCW) Direct Care Worker

Compensation: $ 17.00 per hour

A Direct Support Professional, or Direct Support Care Professional, or Direct Care worker cares for individuals who are elderly or have limited mobility. Their main duties include helping members complete basic housekeeping tasks, assisting in the scheduling of transportation to appointments or other social outings and keeping members safe from potential health hazards in their surrounding environment. Their needs may include personal care bathing, grooming, meal prep, laundry, shopping, and companionship.

Direct Support Professional duties and responsibilities

Direct Support Professionals may work with individuals with mental or developmental disabilities so teaching self-care skills, cooking meals, meal planning and doing laundry can be duties you will perform daily. Additional duties may include:

• Assisting members with daily personal tasks, including bathing and dressing
• Completing housekeeping tasks such as vacuuming, washing dishes and tidying
• Helping plan member appointments and organize a schedule
• Organizing with transportation arrangements to appointments
• Shopping for groceries and preparing meals that meet specific client dietary needs
• Encouraging client engagement in social networks and communities

The Direct Support Professional is also responsible for creating a safe, positive, and encouraging atmosphere for the member in their home. They work closely with the member to enhance their decision-making skills and encourage them to engage in more activities that will help strengthen their physical and mental health. Direct Support Professionals often teach members how to complete certain tasks on their own to promote a more independent and satisfying lifestyle.

Direct Support Professionals demonstrate a variety of professional skills and qualifications, which can include:

• Attention to detail, especially when adhering to specific protocols and rules while carefully following instructions to care for the needs of the member
• Integrity to ensure members feel safe and comfortable when tending to personal activities such as helping them bathe
• Trustworthiness and dependability so members and their families feel comfortable relying on them
• Interpersonal skills when working with members, including having compassion and being sensitive to their emotional needs when they are in extreme distress or pain
• Physical stamina when performing tasks such as lifting or turning their members in making them more comfortable
• Excellent timekeeping skills are a must as we utilize a clock in and out system that is hand in hand with the state of Arizona
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to facilitate conversations and details pertaining to the members needs and care.
• Direct Support Professional education and training requirements

A high school diploma or equivalent.

A Direct Support Professional may be trained in housekeeping tasks or learn basic safety techniques, including how to respond to emergencies. The Direct Support Professional will attend a training class that will review and test specific areas of caregiving.

The DCW or Direct Care Worker training is a class that specializes in the overview of the fundamentals of caregiving. It also features a component that directly speaks about individuals with cognitive disabilities such as Dementia. This class is mandatory and taught within the first 90 days of the placement with your member.

• Training on basic nutrition, infection control, reading and recording vital signs and personal hygiene can be completed on-the-job or via specialized programs. In addition, clients may have individualized preferences that require Direct Support Professionals to take time to become comfortable before working with them.

Here is a list of requirements that you will need to be responsible to begin working as a Direct Support Professional or Direct Care Worker.

Application

Valid ID or Driver’s License

CPR & First aid

Food Handlers card

Fingerprint card DPS

3 letters of recommendation

TB skin test

Copy of Social security card

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, PRN

Pay: From $17.00 per hour

Expected hours: 10 – 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid orientation
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Vision insurance

Healthcare setting:

• Long term care

Medical specialties:

• Geriatrics
• Home Health

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Every weekend
• Holidays
• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• Caregiving: 3 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• CPR Certification (Preferred)
• fingerprint card (Preferred)

Shift availability:

• Day Shift (Preferred)
• Night Shift (Preferred)

Work Location: In person