Direct Support Professional 2

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.

Essential Duties and 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.

**DSP2’s provide these services and supports at Level 2 IRAs. Level 2 IRAs are home to individuals with intensive behavioral needs and/or dual diagnosis. Staffing supports required can range from verbal prompting to physical interventions.

Qualifications:

Education or Experience:

• Associate’s Degree in a related field preferred.

Or

• At least two years of professional direct care experience or real life experience caring for others.

Or

• Internal candidate with six-twelve months experience and demonstrated capacity to effectively support people with higher needs. (Behavioral or medical)