Title: Direct Support Professional
Reports To: Assistant Director of Services
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Hours: A position requiring flexibility in scheduling and working hours to ensure proper services are provided.
Week 1: Saturday- 3:30 PM to 11:30 PM, Sunday- 3:30 PM to 11:30 PM, Wednesday- 3:30 PM to 11:30 PM
Week 2: Tuesday- 3:30 PM to 11:30 PM, Thursday- 3:30 PM to 11:30 PM
Position Summary Direct Support Professionals assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in achieving independence in all areas of life. They support people in becoming and remaining active members of their community and help them reach personal goals that reflect their dreams, hopes, and desires. By fostering a structured and supportive environment, Direct Support Professionals promote overall well-being while providing ongoing guidance in life skills, academics, and employment to encourage meaningful social engagement. *Eligibility for hire dependent upon drug and background screening results.
“Building community resources to create a person-centered life.”
“All people are valued community members.”
At Sesdac, Inc., we believe in a world of dignity, opportunity and community inclusion for all people. It is the philosophy of Sesdac, that people served by Sesdac, are, first and foremost, people with abilities. We believe that all people are capable of full participation in their community of choice when provided services and/or supports appropriate to their needs. It is the goal of Sesdac to encourage each person served to fully exercise his or her personal preference and power each day, and as direct support professionals, to ensure that people with developmental disabilities lead lives of dignity and quality.
Embodies the mission of the agency and takes pride in the job.
Is compassionate, honest, patient, encouraging, and treats all individuals supported, family members, and coworkers with respect and dignity.
Makes ethical decisions even when no one is watching.
Provides Person-Centered services to all people and is able to adjust interactions from person to person.
Ensures all needs are met for each individual and coworkers.
Has good attendance and highly dependable, uses leave appropriately, is punctual and hardworking, and has professional appearance.
Has good communication skills, can multitask, pays attention to detail, and can handle stressful situations not only within Sesdac, but also with family members, guardians, other agencies or community members.
Is a team player - provides positive and appropriate feedback and support to coworkers, team members, supervisors, and agency representatives.
Participates in and completes periodic training as required.
Attends and participates in all assigned meetings, sharing ideas, discussing issues openly and honestly.
Reports all concerns to the appropriate supervisor or administrator in a timely manner.
Mentors, trains, and provides guidance to staff to ensure their success and is willing to learn from others.
Is flexible with work schedule and location, and is able to adjust to changes quickly.
Displays conduct at all times that enhances the image of the people supported and the agency.
Assumes responsibility for all actions.
Is a self-starter, meets timelines/ due dates and completes assigned duties, recognizes co-workers work load and things that need to be done, and assists as needed without constant supervision.
Maintains peoples’ finances and resources ethically, honestly and accurately with appropriate documentation and filing of receipts.
Follows all agency policies and procedures, state and federal regulations and displays moral conviction.
Provides emergency coverage, and serves as on-call relief staff when needed or assigned.
Takes initiative in performing additional or less than pleasant tasks and allows for cross-training at multiple sites if required.
Accurately completes, maintains, and submits all documentation as required by agency policy.
Able to work independently without supervision and sometimes alone.
Demonstrates, develops, and facilitates the importance of community involvement, social interactions, maintaining relationships, and giving back to the community.
Aids individuals supported to participate in activities of their choosing.
Provides inclusive opportunities for activities in various settings and transportation as needed.
Allows people to lead self-directed lives by making informed decisions, experience risk, understand consequences and learn from their mistakes, while balancing safety and welfare.
Teaches appropriate skills and assists all individuals in being actively involved in the daily activities to achieve greater independence using person- centered planning.
Maintains strict confidentiality of all information and records related to the people supported, in accordance with HIPAA, state and federal laws, and agency guidelines. Also provides guidance to others on identifying sensitive information and understanding when it can be appropriately shared.
Knows, advocates and respects the rights and privacy of individuals supported.
Assists people supported to have meaningful and fulfilling days.
Follows all agency policies, procedures and protocols regarding safety in all environments and maintains an environment that is healthy, safe, peaceful and comfortable at all times.
Monitors and reports concerns/issues regarding maintenance and repairs to the facility or company vehicle.
Must be able to pass Medication training and testing. Administers and inventories medications in accordance with Sesdac’s Medication Administration Policy.
Monitors and documents safety, medical or dietary needs or concerns, and notifies the proper person.
Assists people with all daily living skills with the least amount of assistance needed for the person to be as independent as possible. Assistance may include but not limited to:
Money skills/budgeting (how to write checks, keeping ledger up to date, etc.), accessing and applying for other resources such as food stamps, housing, etc.
Performs and is comfortable with assisting with personal hygiene/health duties such as bathing/showering, repositioning, brief changes/toileting, cooking/eating, special diets (making healthy choices, reading food labels, counting carbs and the effects of intakes), shaving, brushing teeth, cleaning/laundry, appointments, activities, work, etc.
Understands a variety of diagnosis and how to respond to them. May be physical or mental health diagnosis such as diabetes, dementia, Alzheimer’s, seizures, etc.
Implements individual support plans and protocols as written and follows due process.
Responds to medical or behavioral emergencies rationally and constructively, remains emotionally detached, directs others and chooses best response to the challenging situation.
Reports all alleged instances of abuse, neglect, mistreatment and exploitation immediately to the appropriate person by following Sesdac policy.
DSPs work with individuals who may sometimes have challenging behaviors, including being unpredictable or showing verbal or physical aggression, as well as self-injury. At times, the role can be both mentally and physically demanding, with things like loud environments, occasional stress, and physical activity that might include lifting or being on your feet a lot. DSPs support people in a variety of fast-paced settings: at home, at work, and out in the community. The essential duties of this position require the following physical demands and challenges:
Frequent kneeling, squatting, twisting, crouching, crawling, and bending
Standing/ Walking (for extended periods of time)
Lifting and/or carrying up to 50 pounds (may exceed 50 pounds during medical and safety emergency situation) with or without varying amounts of assistance on a reoccurring basis.
Pushing, and/or pulling (i.e. wheelchairs, moving groceries/supplies, etc.)
Performing all cleaning duties inside and outside such as shoveling snow from sidewalks, gardening, cleaning patio areas, garage, etc.
Transfers and/or repositioning people who are not able to move on their own, in a sitting or lying position, to and from their chairs, beds, toilets, floor mats, vehicles, etc.
Some climbing and balancing (i.e. stairs, assisting people walking with gait belts, etc.),
Must have the ability to perform CPR and Safety-Care.
May be exposed to infectious diseases, bodily fluids, odors, dust, cleaning agents, etc., throughout the day.
Challenges include learning about the people in order to know how to teach and motivate them, recognizing changes in behavior that may indicate additional services are needed, redirecting and implementing Behavior Support plans, and ensuring other plans are implemented correctly while dealing with maladaptive behaviors. Motivating and educating people to perform up to standards of work, home, and community expectations and instilling pride, confidence, and self-respect in the people served is also challenging
Problems include recognizing manipulative and maladaptive behavior, assisting resistive people, determining appropriate level of intervention or de-escalation techniques, and dealing with equipment malfunctions and adaptations.
Staff must be confident and decide how to present themselves and how to respond to situations at every moment. Decisions include how to de-escalate a situation and if physical restraint is needed; when a behavior and physical condition should be documented or reported to medical staff; priority of daily work activities that are not related to someone’s personal treatment; assisting people served to requisition their funds; making good judgments, how to treat others, when to intervene in disputes between people served; when to refer a person’s needs to higher authority; recommendation of changes in treatment and if the team needs to meet to address a person’s issues.
Decisions referred include final plans, medical needs, procedures for implementing treatment plans, and formal counseling.
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Minimum of High School diploma or GED
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Must be at least 18 years of age
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Basic fluency in oral and written English.
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Has computer experience and is comfortable with navigation with technology.
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Pass qualifying criminal background checks which includes motor vehicle driving records.
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Pass a pre-employment drug screening. Upon hire, employees are subject to random and reasonable suspicion testing per Sesdac, Inc.’s Drug Free Workplace Policy.
Licenses/Required Testing:
A valid driver’s license and evidence of insurability is required upon hire. Must have a safe driving record and be eligible for coverage under the agency’s insurance.
All employees must successfully complete required agency training within designated time frames and complete annual recertification.
