Direct Support Professional - Western Region

Company Overview

Waypoint has expanded to the Western Region of Maine, formerly known as The Progress Center. Waypoint offers comprehensive services, including a special purpose private school for children with autism and other developmental disabilities, case management and outpatient therapy services for children and adults, and residential and in-home supports for adults with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities.

Position Overview

The role of the Direct Support Professional (DSP) is to support members within Waypoint to be connected to others by modeling healthy relationships, engaging in effective communication and supporting independence. This will be achieved through improving skills, promoting self-determination, encouraging personally satisfying lifestyles and fostering growth to the greatest extent possible.

The DSP will be responsible for maintaining a safe and supportive environment for members while ensuring that members are treated with dignity and respect. The DSP will support the interests, culture, and needs of the people we serve, and promote respectful interaction with all individuals.

The DSP will work successfully within a team as well as professionally represent Waypoint, in the community supporting individuals, with parents and guardians and within each member’s residence or program. The DSP will exemplify professional values, ethics, responsibility, and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

·    Support individuals to develop skills that promote independence and full participation in their community.

·         Develop a collaborate rapport with participants and cultivate a safe and supportive relationship to plan and engage in activities aligned with their interests and personal goals.

·         Respect each individual’s right to privacy and confidentiality

• Encourage self-determination and self-advocacy by supporting individuals with exploring areas of interest and expressing their choices.
• Implement Service Implementation Plans and support/care plans as described in the Person-Centered Service Plans.

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of services. Including electronic health records, progress notes, treatment plans, positive support plans and incident reports daily, or more often as outlined in the plan, as required to track progress towards established goals, milestones and outcomes and in accordance with agency policies and procedures, HCBS guidelines, state and federal requirements.

·         Assist with personal care tasks (e.g., bathing, dressing, toileting) when needed, respecting dignity and privacy.

·         Provide support for household responsibilities, such as cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, and other daily tasks.

• Support participation in community activities, services, and events, including providing or accessing transportation.

·         Provide transportation to appointments, activities, family visits, and other approved destinations in compliance with agency policy and applicable laws.

·         Follow recommendations from professional providers (e.g., occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, dietary). Maine

·         Administer medications in compliance with CRMA certification requirements and following agency procedures.

·         Mentor healthy eating choices, activities that enhance physical fitness and overall health and wellness.

·         Report incidents, injuries, and other required notifications in compliance with agency policies and procedures and state and federal regulations. 

• Complete all required trainings and maintain certifications.

·         Attend and participate in all staff meetings and supervisions.

• Promote a collaborative, professional, and respectful work environment. Operate as part of a team, maintaining a willingness to accept direction, constructive feedback and information.
• Develop and maintain cooperative and professional relationships.  Communicate effectively with participants, families, coworkers, supervisors and community partners to resolve concerns constructively.

·         Manage agency funds by accurately recording program expenditures as required.

• Comply with all laws for Mandated Reporters and complete Reportable Event Reports as required.
• Comply with all applicable federal, state and local regulations, including Rights of Recipients, Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Licensing and HCBS regulatory requirements.

·         Maintain confidentiality in compliance with HIPAA, agency policies, and applicable law.

• Actively promote safety and safe practices. Ensure a clean and orderly home while implementing all cleaning routines and checklists.
• Follow all agency safety policies and procedures, including Transportation Policies. Notify supervisor of safety and/or maintenance needs by following the internal procedures for reporting and requesting repair or concern.

Competencies / Skills / Abilities

·         Position experience not required, but must have the desire to work with, learn about, and support individuals with intellectual and other complex disabilities.

·         A willingness to implement positive behavior support and structured activities.

·         Excellent communication with members, families, coworkers and other professionals.

Education/Experience

·         Hight School Diploma or GED

·         Must become DSP, CRMA and Safety Care certified as a primary responsibility of the DSP position

·         Must have a valid driver’s license from state of residence and clean driving record.

·         Must be proficient in speaking, reading and writing English.

·         The ability to learn beginner level Information Technology skills.

Physical

·         Normal degree of flexibility, and ability to raise hands above head.

·         Ability to stand, walk, run, shuffle, and stoop for several minutes.

·         Ability to kneel on one and two knees, and then stand up.

·         Ability to bend 45 degrees at the trunk, and twist to either side.

·         Ability to grasp firmly.

·         Ability to push and pull personal care equipment, and lift up to 50 pounds independently, using safe body mechanics.

·         Ability to implement Safety Care techniques to escort and/or establish member safety in an emergency and/or per the support plan.

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Employer Paid Short Term Disability

Employer Paid Life Insurance and AD&D

Critical Illness and Accident Insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts