Description

As we continue to expand our roots, Winter Family Care is looking for energetic, caring and dedicated individuals onto our team. We're currently looking for Direct Support Professionals to join our Positive Support (behavioral) team in our Brookston homes. Our homes are conveniently located with just a roughly 34 minute drive from Hermantown and roughly 28 minute drive from Cloquet. We are looking to fill both full-time and part-time positions between both our day shift and overnight awake shifts. 

Primary Job Purpose

As a Direct Support Professional (DSP) specializing in Positive Supports (PS), you will have the ability to join a growing team of highly trained individuals. Reporting to the Positive Supports specialized House Coach, you will have the responsibility of maintaining a safe, supportive and therapeutic environment for all service recipients, particularly those receiving PS services, which fosters growth and facilitates the development of mutual aid and self-help skills among individuals. Team members primary role is to provide the appropriate supports tailored to the needs and desires of individuals to enable each to live as independently as possible. DSPs specialized in PS services are expected to recognize when an individual is in crisis and be able to utilize the appropriate psychiatric and medical back-up services. 

Essential Job Responsibilities - DSP

• Devote attention to the care and development of the residents within the facilities. 
• Treat residents as adults, not children, in voice and manner. 
• Assist, monitor, and teach individuals with preparation of daytime activities, such as but not limited to encouraging good personal hygiene and proper community/in-home behaviors. 
• Be responsible for mentoring residents in activities of daily living and development of self-help and social skills. 
• Assist, monitor, and teach budgeting habits and skills. 
• Assist, monitor, and teach individuals as needed with menu planning, meal preparation, and clean-up. 
• Participate in activities relative to the care and development of the residents – planning, initiation, evaluation, and monitoring. 
• Plan outdoor activities for residents and monitor outdoor activities year-round. 
• Assist residents in the selection of activities to be scheduled. Be aware that choices made by a resident is a right and are not to be considered privileges. Efforts should be taken to ensure the goals of residents are being developed whenever possible based on the individual care plan determined by the guardians, case managers, and care teams. 
• Always serve as proper role models to the residents. Proper dress and manner are to be maintained. 
• Perform daily record keeping (i.e., data collection, medication logs, daily logs, etc.) and exchange information with the next shift and/or with other support professionals. 
• Encourage community integration by assisting individuals in joining community organizations of their choice. 
• Team problem solving skills and conflict resolution. 
• Provide opportunities for individuals to have choices for making decisions in daily living and their future goals. 
• Responsible for obtaining and documenting annual training based on Winter Family Care policies and licensing guidelines. 
• Responsible for handling the use of a company assigned credit card with care and ensuring receipts are recorded properly and timely in the credit card smartphone app. 
• Responsible for reading and understanding each Service Recipients Individual Abuse Prevention Plan. Each recipient is unique and will have their own plan published in their record book kept in a designated space in the house they are living in. 
• Perform other duties as assigned by the House Coach.

Essential Job Responsibilities - Positive Supports Related

• Responsible for attending scheduled coaching sessions with the House Coach and/or Director of Positive Supports. 
• Participate in Positive Support team gatherings as needed. For newer service recipients, meetings will be as often as weekly. 
• Responsible for acting as a team player on a highly trained and specialized team of DSPs who can work with any of the individuals supported within Winter Family Care, particularly those receiving positive supports. 
• Ability to cross-train with all Positive Support cases at all locations and ability to cross-train at all Winter Family Care licensed facilities. 
• Responsible for performing de-escalation tactics in a time of crisis per company policy. 

Requirements

Job Qualifications & Skills

• Ability to work in a home-like setting.
• Ability to work without immediate supervision.
• CPI and/or MANDT certified. Candidates will receive consideration regardless of certification status; however, all hired candidates must receive certification within 90 days.
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal)
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations directly related to positive supports.
• High scores on Winter Family Cares internal HIP assessments. (Within 90 days for new hires)
• Able to make a long-term commitment to positive support services of at least 18 months.

Education & Experience Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check.
• Must be able to be fingerprinted if necessary.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• CPR and First Aid certification preferred.
• 1 years of experience as a DSP is preferred but not required. Winter Family Care is willing to train and invest in the right individuals.

Physical & Mental Requirements

The Direct Support Professional will typically work in a home-like setting with occasional work outside and in company-insured vehicles. Frequent sitting, bending, stooping, pushing, pulling, reaching, and walking for periods of time. Occasional lifting of 50-75 pounds. 

Benefits

• Medical, dental and life insurance
• Paid time off and sick leave
• 8 weeks of paid maternity leave
• Employee referral program
• Tuition assistance program
• Retention bonus paid out every 6-months, up to $1,000

Schedule

• 12-hour shifts (a typical DSP will work up to 7 days in a 14 day pay period)
• Must be available to work every other weekend
• Day shift and overnight shifts available
• Must be able to work holidays if the holiday falls on a normal scheduled day

The dedication, commitment, creativity, vulnerability, and unique experiences of each individual team member has built the foundation for Winter Family Care's long-standing success story. We are committed to providing every employee and service recipient with an inclusive environment where everyone is encouraged to reach their full potential. Winter Family Care recruits, hires, trains, and promotes based on team members full range of talents, skills, abilities, and commitment to serving our service recipients. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. Winter Family Care is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all team members and applicants.