Direct Service Provider - Life Skills Trainer

This is a full-time Monday-Friday position that includes driving clients to and from the day program. Therefore, DSPs must be available as early as 5:40AM and as late as 5:45PM.

Qualifications: Individuals filling this position must be at least 18 years of age, completed a high school education, or equivalent, have a valid driver’s license, and be able to successfully pass a Level 2 background check. In addition, the DSP-LST must have the ability to complete all tasks in the job description. Due to the nature of care given to the people being served, this position requires that the employee be able to lift, reach, twist, stoop, bend, push, pull, walk and possibly run without restrictions. DSP-LST provides transportation to and from the program, as assigned.

Description: Direct support professionals are expected to provide person-centered service and support to people with developmental disabilities to help them achieve more meaningful and productive lives in compliance with State of Florida Agency of Persons with Disabilities mandates. A DSP-LST is responsible for the care and well-being of people served in the Adult Day Training program.

Program Summary: Life Skills Development Level 3 – Adult Day Training (ADT) are training services intended to support the participation of recipients in valued routines of the community, including volunteering, job exploration, accessing community resources, and self-advocacy, in settings that are age and culturally appropriate. Adult day training services can include meaningful day activities and training in the activities of daily living, adaptive skills, social skills, and employment. The training, activities, and routine established by the ADT must be meaningful to the recipient and provide an appropriate level of variation and interest.

Essential Job Functions Include:

1. Exhibit behavior that is consistent with New Heights’ Values and Core Principles:

Honesty & Integrity, Respect, Teamwork, Loyalty, Quality, Communication, and Initiative & Innovation in all aspects of job.

2. Interact with co-workers, supervisory and administrative staff in a courteous manner that encourages a positive and cooperative work environment. Communicate with waiver support coordinators, family members, health care professionals and others in a way that promotes a positive image of the organization and the people it serves.

3. Responsibly supervise individuals to ensure safety, comfort, and protection of individual rights. Demonstrate and encourage positive, polite interactions with people receiving services in a way that does not reflect personal opinions, values or negative emotions.

4. Review available information to develop a working knowledge of each person served in regard to types of differences, medical and behavioral status, personal goals, as well as training/support methods, then use this information to provide effective, individualized interactions and supervision.

5. Assist people in making choices by educating them about options, discussing pros and cons of possible decisions and respecting choices made, unless it is likely to endanger the health and/or safety of an individual.

6. Review and comply with all organizational policies, procedures, handbook and directives, as well as those issued by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities and other funding sources.

7. Maintain appropriate dress, good hygiene and professional behavior and conduct that reflects positively on the organization’s mission and the people it serves.

8. Reliably work scheduled hours, being willing to be flexible occasionally if needed.

9. Provide services and support as identified in the client’s support plan by assisting people in achieving their personal goals and desires and providing interaction and choices for activities that support a meaningful day.

10. Function as a professional support for clients to provide formal and informal training and assistance in activities of daily living: dressing, bathing, eating, cooking, menu planning, cleaning, etc.

11. Provide formal and informal training and assistance with social interaction skills: talking, writing, leisure activities, treatment toward self and others, etc.

12. Provide ongoing and responsible supervision of clients to ensure safety, comfort, and protection. This will include feeding participants who are unable to do so independently, changing participants who are incontinent, assisting participants in using the bathroom, and other daily living routines.

13. Observe clients for signs of illness or changes in physical, social, and/or emotional health and record per protocol.

14. Ensure a healthy, clean, and safe environment.

15. Interact with all individuals and staff at all times with appropriate voice tone, level and pitch, language used, gestures and physical movements in compliance with individual rights while at all times respecting the rights of individuals and staff.

16. Gather information for personal outcome measures and record on implementation plan progress report as required.

17. Create and implement daily activities plans, which reflect individual’s needs / goals.

18. Coordinate and supervise recreational activities and small group outings in the community, including transporting participants to such outings as assigned.

19. Report and/or document routine and unusual events including completing daily logs, incident reports, outcome data sheets, etc. in a concise, understandable, and legible manner.

20. Maintain assigned clients’ records accurately and timely.

21. Transport clients to and/or from the program and/or community outings, as assigned.

22. Attend annual support plan team meetings, as invited.

23. Maintain and expand skills and knowledge relevant to providing high quality support and services. Obtain and maintain all required training and apply the information to support the clients served.

24. Perform other duties, as required/assigned.

This list of essential functions is not intended to be exhaustive. New Heights of Northeast Florida reserves the right to revise this job description as needed to comply with actual job requirements.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $15.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $15