Community Living Support Professional

Position Summary: Community Living Support Professionals, also known as CLSPs, are direct support professionals responsible for the daily supervision, support, and transport in all daily living activities of consumers as identified in the consumer’s Person Centered Plan. These activities are performed in the Consumer's home or in the community, and regularly include some or all of the following: preparing meals and transporting to daily activities and medical appointments. All functions are performed with strict adherence to the applicable Michigan Health Code, MDHHS regulations, and contractual obligations between Listening Ear and community agencies or the State of Michigan.

Candidates who demonstrate a prior work history with children or youths may be assigned to youth consumers. Youth CLS services are used to help a child or youth build his or her skills to be more successful at home or in the community, supporting them in participating in community activities including leisure activities, recreation, and other community events. CLS services are provided by Direct Support Professionals who can help teach skills of activities of daily living (for example personal hygiene), social skills or other things that are part of the child’s care plan. CLS is also used with older children or adolescents to build skills so that they can maintain or increase more independence and self sufficiency.

Reporting and Supervision

CLSPs report to a Residential Manager.

Essential Job Functions

• Engage with consumers and the Home Manager or other designated staff to identify and implement activities required under the consumer’s Person Centered Plan.
• Perform all Person Centered Plan prescribed activities including, but not limited to, meal preparation, clean-up, consumer recreation activities, and transporting consumers to and from appointments in compliance with relevant laws, regulations, agreements, and Listening Ear standards.
• Accurate and timely completion and delivery of all necessary or required documentation relating to consumer services or home operations.
• Attend and successfully complete all mandatory training and skill development programs, including annual refresher trainings as required.
• Report punctually to the consumer's home.

For Youth CLS Services

• Job Tasks will focus on
  • Socialization Skill Building
  • Maintaining and Developing Home/Life Skills
  • Providing Guidance with Daily Living Activities
  • Building Self-Sufficiency Skills
  • Supporting Participation in community and leisure activities

This is not an exhaustive list of all assigned duties, responsibilities, or aspects of the job described. Other relevant duties, tasks, or requirements may be assigned to this job any time at the sole discretion of the employer.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must possess or acquire a working knowledge of laws, regulations, and methodologies relevant to working with varying degrees of mentally disabled adults and youth including, but not limited to:

• Recipient Rights
• Agency Ethics and the Consumer Bill of Rights
• Person Centered Plans
• CPR
• First Aid
• Safety and fire prevention
• Nutrition
• Prevention of communicable diseases

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities continued

• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to respond to emergency situations in a controlled manner
• Work with professionalism, including empathy, patience, and cultural sensitivity
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and good driving record

Education and Experience

• Required: High School Diploma, GED, or be functionally equivalent in reading and writing in English, and basic math. Must be at least 18 years of age at the time employment begins.
• Preferred: Prior experience in a caregiving capacity with a licensed care facility. Post-secondary certification from an accredited Community College or other relevant training program.
• CLS Youth Preferred: Prior experience working with youth in an educational, community, or nonprofit organization setting.

Physical and Other Requirements

• Over an 8-hour period: Prolonged standing, regular or intermittent lifting and reaching above shoulders, pulling and pushing, bending at waist, twisting torso, kneeling, walking.
• Ability to lift, carry, and place up to 50lbs.

All conditional job offers for CLSP candidates will require a physical examination by an occupational health clinic, which includes a lifting component and TB test, as well as required criminal background checks.

All Youth CLSPs will be required to complete specialized youth training programs designed to cover the functional areas of the position.

Schedule, Travel Expectations, Working Conditions

• DSPs in CLS will work relatively consistent schedules designed around the needs of the consumers.
• Because this work is performed in a consumer's home, driving will be required on a daily basis.