Per Diem* Direct Support Professional - Orange, Ulster, & Dutchess County

Job Description: 

Direct Support Professionals work as part of an interdisciplinary team (clinical staff, nurses, families, advocates, etc.) providing services to adults with intellectual/ developmental disabilities. Working under the direction of a Supervisor, Direct Support Professionals provide services that enrich the lives of the individuals we support.  Our mission is to help our individuals live happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives.

Direct Support Professionals provide assistance with activities of daily living, including but not limited to personal care, meal preparation, medication administration, and health maintenance.  Direct Support Professionals support individuals with developing independent living skills, such as money management, community integration and appropriate social skills.  Direct Support Professionals encourage and provide advocacy for the individuals they work with.

Direct Support Professionals work in a residential setting and can provide Residential, Day Habilitation or Pre-Vocational services, both within the home as well as out in the community (as appropriate to the specific service).

Direct Support Professionals are bound by the NADSP code of ethics which helps guide and maintain high standards for the life changing work they do every day.  The NYS DSP Core Competencies are value based competencies and skills that Direct Support Professionals use as they foundation of the person-centered supports they provide.

OVERVIEW OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Duties and responsibilities vary in intensity and frequency (ranging from daily total care to verbal support):

• Advocacy – assists individuals with achieving desired personal outcomes. (Core Competency 1)
• Professionalism –  (Core Competency 3)
• Health Maintenance – supports individuals in achieving optimal health, which may include medical appointment, medication administration and healthy meal planning and preparation (Core Competency 4)
• Safety- ensures for the overall safety of individuals, colleagues and self (Core Competency 5).
• Household Maintenance- ensures routine household maintenance gets completed as needed, which may include meal preparation, cleaning, laundry, etc. (Core Competency 5, 6).
• Personal Care– supports individuals with all personal care needs, which may include providing hands on assistance (Core Competency  4,5)
• Independent Living Skills Development – helps individuals develop skills needed to decrease support needed from others and increase independence (Core Competency 6).
• Mentor-serves as a role model, demonstrating appropriate social interactions and implementing approved crisis intervention techniques and strategies as needed (Core Competency 3).
• Operational Support - completes documentation, in accordance with regulations and policies, utilizing appropriate computer applications (Core Competency 2,3)
• Transportation - provides transportation for individuals to various sites in the community utilizing an agency vehicle (Core Competency 7).
• Performs other duties as needed or assigned.

**DSP3E’s provide intensive services and supports at Level 3E IRAs.  Level 3E IRAs have frequent, intense behavioral outbursts and little insight into their behaviors.  They have limited verbal and self-protection skills.  They may require 1:1 or more staffing support and frequent physical interventions

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

The employee is able to stand for longer than 8 hours, lift and push and pull more than 50lbs, shoveling snow, be able to participate in light to moderate physical activities, able to climb stairs. Able to complete electronic records. Be able respond in the case of an emergency and able to perform physical interventions if needed.

QUALIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES:

• Willing to travel between sites
• Able to work a minimum of 2 shifts per month
• Level based on experience and education
• Able to complete core mandatory trainings within 45 days- CPI 1 & 2, SCIP-R, CPR/1^st aide, -Driver safety training & Van Certification, Protective Oversight
• All other trainings completed within 90 days
• Willing to work across multiple programs
• Flexible hours to ensure continuous coverage
  
  

Entry level to higher level experienced position available.

Hourly rate will be determined based on years of experience with the population.

ALL POSITIONS ARE SUBJECT TO A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND, FINGERPRINTING AND MOTOR VEHICLE REPORT CHECK. 

Access: Supports For Living is an EEO employer-EEO, AAE, M/F/D/V