The Direct Support Professional (DSP) is expected to provide training and support to the people who live in a residential home by performing supported routines and repetitive duties that are outlined in the New Horizons Centers policies and procedures.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of 18 years old.
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Valid Arizona driver’s license and good driving record
• Maintain approved driving privileges with New Horizons Center.

Direct Service & Documentation Responsibilities:

• Assists people who live in the house to complete supported routines in personal hygiene, menu planning, grocery shopping, food preparation, family style dining, grooming, dressing, safety, cleaning, bathing, shaving, dental and oral hygiene, deodorant use, financial management, bed making, dining, laundry, household chores and any other needs identified by the Interdisciplinary Team. The DSP will assist individuals only to the extent that assistance is needed to promote greater independence. The DSP will focus on supporting and training each person to become more independent or to slow down the rate of regression.
• Encourages supported persons to manage their own lives by offering choices and respecting the individuals ‘personal preferences and goals.
• Demonstrates New Horizons Centers motto, which is promoting abilities and respecting choice.
• Reports any problems with safety, security, health issues or behavior issues to supervisor. For health issues that need immediate attention, the DSP calls 911 and notifies their immediate supervisor.
• Maintains and documents accountability on all supported persons inside and outside of the home.
• Carries out instructions issued by supervisory staff concerning medically prescribed diets, grocery shopping to adhere to medically necessary diets, supply needs, special medical problems, special monitoring, and other similar duties as assigned.
• Completes both electronic and paper documentation on each shift to include daily logs, Incident Reports, training data, MARs, activity rosters, vehicle mileage logs, vehicle cell phone logs and others as directed.
• Ensures overall cleanliness of the home by supporting the occupants of the house to perform household chores.
• Encourages community involvement by assisting people to find interesting, meaningful activities and by transporting individuals to and from work and recreational leisure activities outside of the home.
• Develops and maintains a thorough understanding of Personal Outcomes Measures as they relate to vocational/day program endeavors.
• Utilizes alternative activities to enhance desired vocational/day program outcomes.
• Ensures that all vehicle maintenance and mileage logs are maintained and turned in as scheduled.
• Medication administration/management

Typical Mental/Physical Demands:

Must be able to deal with stress associated with fast-paced work environment and multi-tasking. Formulate decisions and act upon them. Adapt to changing work environment. Maintain confidentiality of all sensitive information. Physical demands are sitting, standing, bending, stooping, reaching, frequent lifting, and manual dexterity sufficient to operate standard office machines. Must have normal range of hearing and vision and be able to regularly lift up to 50 lbs.