Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Position Summary

Gateway Support Services, Inc. is seeking a dependable and compassionate Direct Support Professional (DSP) to provide support to adults participating in our Adult Day Training program. The DSP will assist individuals with daily living skills, community participation, social development, personal care, safety, and individualized goals while promoting independence, dignity, choice, and inclusion.

The ideal candidate should be patient, reliable, professional, and comfortable supporting individuals with varying levels of intellectual, developmental, behavioral, and personal-care needs.

Essential Job Duties

The Direct Support Professional will:

• Provide direct supervision and support to individuals during the Adult Day Training program.
• Assist individuals with participation in structured daily activities, educational activities, recreation, skill-building, and community-based activities.
• Support individuals in working toward goals identified in their Individual Service Plan (ISP).
• Encourage independence with communication, social skills, decision-making, self-advocacy, and daily living skills.
• Provide verbal prompting, modeling, encouragement, physical assistance, or other approved support based on each individual's identified needs.
• Assist with personal-care needs when required, including toileting, hygiene, grooming, dressing, and mobility.
• Support individuals during meals and snacks, including meal preparation, serving, eating assistance, and cleanup as needed.
• Promote appropriate social interaction between individuals, staff, and members of the community.
• Support community integration through outings, shopping, recreational activities, volunteer activities, and other approved community experiences.
• Maintain appropriate supervision and awareness of each individual's health, safety, behavioral, and support needs.
• Follow approved behavior-support strategies and provide calm redirection when needed.
• Observe and report changes in behavior, mood, health, mobility, appetite, sleep, or other areas that may require follow-up.
• Follow emergency, incident-reporting, medication, health and safety, and agency procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality and protect each individual's privacy and personal information.
• Complete accurate, timely, objective, and person-centered documentation for services and supports provided.
• Document individual participation, staff assistance provided, choices offered, individual response, progress toward goals, and any concerns requiring follow-up.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe program environment.
• Assist individuals with cleaning and maintaining activity areas as appropriate.
• Support transportation-related activities and community outings when assigned.
• Communicate effectively with supervisors and other staff regarding individual needs and continuity of support.
• Participate in required staff meetings, training, and competency requirements.
• Perform other duties related to the individual's ISP and program needs as assigned.

Person-Centered Support Expectations

DSPs are expected to treat each individual with dignity and respect and provide support in a manner that promotes:

Choice Independence Community Inclusion Safety Privacy Self-Determination Skill Development

Staff should encourage individuals to participate in activities rather than completing tasks for them whenever the individual is capable of participating with appropriate support.

Documentation Responsibilities

DSPs are responsible for completing required service documentation before the end of the assigned shift or according to agency procedures.

Documentation should clearly identify:

• Activities and services provided
• Individual choices and preferences
• Level of staff support provided
• Individual's response to support
• Progress toward ISP goals
• Community participation
• Personal-care assistance when provided
• Meal and nutrition support when applicable
• Behavioral observations and staff interventions
• Health and safety concerns
• Incidents or unusual events
• Follow-up information requiring communication to the next staff member or supervisor

Documentation must be factual, objective, timely, and based on what staff directly observed or provided.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants should:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Have a high school diploma or GED.
• Be able to read, write, and communicate effectively in English.
• Be able to follow written ISP instructions, behavior-support strategies, health and safety procedures, and agency policies.
• Be dependable and able to report to work consistently Monday through Friday.
• Be able to work effectively with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Demonstrate patience, professionalism, good judgment, and appropriate boundaries.
• Be able to complete electronic documentation accurately.
• Successfully complete required background screening and employment requirements.
• Complete all required orientation and training before independently providing services.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference may be given to applicants with previous experience working as a:

DSP, caregiver, CNA, residential staff, behavioral-health technician, paraprofessional, personal-care aide, day-program staff, or other position supporting individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Experience with community-based services, ISP documentation, behavioral support, personal care, and skill-development activities is also preferred.

Pay: $14.00 - $17.00 per hour

Expected hours: 30.0 per week

Work Location: In person

Salary : $14 - $17