Location: Wallkill, NY
Pay Rate: $17.50 per hour
Hours: Sun 3p-11p,Mon 5p-11p,Tues-Wed 4p-12a (30hrs)

OVERVIEW OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITES:

Direct Support Professionals work as part of an interdisciplinary team (clinical staff, nurses, families, advocates, etc.) providing services to adults with intellectual/ developmental disabilities. Working under the direction of a Supervisor, Direct Support Professionals provide services that enrich the lives of the individuals we support. Our mission is to help our individuals live happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives.

Direct Support Professionals provide assistance with activities of daily living, including but not limited to personal care, meal preparation, medication administration, and health maintenance. Direct Support Professionals support individuals with developing independent living skills, including, but not limited to money management, community integration and appropriate social skills. Direct Support Professionals encourage and provide advocacy for the individuals they support.

Direct Support Professionals work in a variety of settings and provide Residential Habilitation and Day Habilitation services, both within a person’s home as well as in the community (as appropriate to the specific service).

Direct Support Professionals are bound by the NADSP code of ethics which helps guide and maintain high standards for the life changing work they do every day. The NYS DSP Core Competencies are value based competencies and skills that Direct Support Professionals use as the foundation of the person-centered supports they provide.

Direct Support Professionals are responsible for the health and safety of the people we support. This includes providing continuous coverage to maintain staffing ratios within each program. Staffing coverage requires flexibility by Direct Support Professionals to work between, shifts, programs and sites.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS:

Duties and responsibilities vary in intensity and frequency (ranging from daily total care to verbal support):

• Advocacy – assists individuals with achieving desired personal outcomes (Core Competency 1)
• Professionalism – (Core Competency 3)
• Health Maintenance – supports individuals in achieving optimal health, which may include medical appointment, medication administration and healthy meal planning and preparation (Core Competency 4)
• Safety – provides continuous care in order to ensure for the overall safety of individuals, as well as colleagues and self (Core Competency 5)
• Household Maintenance - ensures routine household maintenance gets completed as needed, which may include meal preparation, cleaning, laundry, etc. (Core Competency 5, 6)
• Personal Care – supports individuals with all personal care needs, which may include providing hands on assistance (Core Competency 4,5)
• Independent Living Skills Development – helps individuals develop skills to increase independence (Core Competency 6)
• Mentor - serves as a role model, demonstrating appropriate social interactions and implementing approved crisis intervention techniques and strategies as needed (Core Competency 3)
• Operational Support - completes documentation and safety checks, in accordance with regulations and policies, utilizing appropriate computer applications and paper documentation (Core Competency 2, 3)
• Transportation - provides transportation for individuals to various sites in the community utilizing an agency vehicle (Core Competency 7)

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONAL / ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT:

• Performs other duties as needed or assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES:

• Demonstrate all skills and attributes outlined in the NYS DSP Core Competencies
• Ability to work in a diverse and inclusive environment with individuals of various abilities
• Complete all mandatory trainings within first 90 days and maintain recertification’s ongoing
• Professionally and effectively communicate both in verbal and written forms
• Understand regulations and document services in real-time utilizing electronic technology
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize job responsibilities
• Respond timely and effectively to emergency and crisis situations
• Be proactive to identify, report and resolve safety/ medical concerns as they arise
• Ability to accurately count money and complete basic math and banking transactions
• Complete training to become approved medication administration professional (AMAP) certified and accurately administer medications and maintain certification up-to-date without lapse
• Participate in team meetings and service plan meetings as necessary
• Provide person centered, culturally competent services, which may include celebration of holidays and attendance at religious services
• Provide continuous care and maintain approved staffing ratios at all times, which may include weekends and holidays
• Ability to access reliable transportation
• Maintains a valid, unrestricted, insurable driver’s license
• Bilingual English and Spanish speaking is a plus
• Fluent in American Sign Language is a plus

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Associate’s Degree in a related field

Or

• At least 1 year of professional direct care experience or real life experience caring for others

Or

• Internal candidates with at least 6 months of experience supporting people with higher needs (behavioral or medical)

(* Internal candidates may also be considered based on demonstrated performance and mastery of core competencies)

**DSP2’s provide these services and supports at Level 2 IRAs. Level 2 IRAs are home to individuals with intensive behavioral needs and/or dual diagnosis. Staffing supports required can range from verbal prompting to physical interventions.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Must be capable of performing all SCIP Interventions
• Able to provide hands on care to individuals with various physical disabilities, which may include showering, feeding and physical assistance
• Ability to perform various household cleaning tasks utilizing cleaning supplies
• Occasional lifting of 25 pounds, occasional pushing/pulling of 25 pounds and occasional reaching and bending to perform necessary duties
• Ability to ascend and descend stairs
• Ability to participate in light to moderate physical activities
• Ability to utilize various electronic devices
• Provide transportation utilizing vehicles ranging in size from sedans to large passenger vans
• Exposure to pets may be required at certain sites

ALL POSITIONS ARE SUBJECT TO A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND, FINGERPRINTING AND MOTOR VEHICLE REPORT CHECK. 

Access: Supports For Living is an EEO employer-EEO, AAE, M/F/D/V