Direct Support Professional provides physical, emotional, and personal care support to persons with disabilities in developing and/or maintaining skills to enhance the quality of their lives in the community; observe and respond to the physical, social, behavioral, and personal needs of the person served; advocates for the needs of the person being served and serves a link to community inclusion; assists with daily routine (i.e., household tasks, personal care, transportation). Demonstrate through role modeling (physical, verbal and written) appropriate social habits, behaviors and interactions. Develop and maintain positive rapport with individuals in programming, community-based organizations, and customers of the agency.
When working with individuals in employment programming provide training and support to persons with disabilities in developing and/or maintaining employment skills to obtain/maintain employment in the community and within the manufacturing department; observe and respond to the physical, social, behavioral, and personal needs of person served; advocates for the needs of the person being served and serves a link to community employment; assists with daily work routine (i.e., employment tasks, training, transportation). Demonstrate through role modeling (physical, verbal and written) appropriate work habits, behaviors and interactions. Develop and maintain positive rapport with individuals in programming, community employers and customers of the agency. Serves as the on-site supervisor for Supported Employment Sites and assigned manufacturing areas; ensuring contract requirements are met to employer specifications and employer satisfaction.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide appropriate level of supervision and training to persons served to facilitate their social well being, health and safety in the least restrictive environment.
- Will:
- Administer medication to persons served; per medication administration procedures upon successful completion of training.
- Assist persons served to take public transportation or ensures transport to access community resources.
- Assist with the planning and implementation of daily activities, including those that promote social inclusion and building social capital for each person served.
- Follow Arnold Center, Inc. procedures to daily document supports provided to persons served including progress towards skill acquisition, choices, health matters, achievements and challenges.
- Attend and participate in all mandated events, workshops, trainings, investigations and meetings,
- Ensure responsible usage of personal and agency resources ( vehicles, property, finances),
- Perform other job related duties as assigned
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of community resources that lead to social inclusion and autonomy of person served,
- Knowledge of employment training and fading that lead to the inclusion and autonomy of person served at the employment site
- Ability to gain working knowledge of Arnold Center, Inc. policies and procedures,
- Ability to act as a representative of Arnold Center, Inc. to the public,
- Ability to effectively communicate and coordinate with other staff members and individuals from diverse backgrounds,
- Knowledge of acceptable meal assistance and safety practices and procedures,
- Knowledge of acceptable work and safety practices and procedures,
- Skilled in the operation of relevant computer systems, including hardware and software, and office machines.
Work Environment:
- Promote safe operations on the job by ensuring person served are following, regulations and procedures
- Noise Level in the work environment is frequently loud
- May occasionally walk on slippery or uneven surfaces
- May occasionally work in temperatures above 100 degrees and below 32 degrees
- Must be independently ambulatory on all surfaces and situations and move safely about work area.
- Work environment involves risks or discomforts that require special safety precautions e.g., safely operation motor vehicle, lifting, transferring and/or position a person served; exposure to aggressive behavior; practices with office equipment; and/or avoidance of trips and falls.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- Demonstrating the physical capacity (standing, lifting, carry pushing, pulling, bending, kneeling, squatting, bilateral use of hands, finger dexterity, strength, range of motion, and balance) to perform assigned work consistent with established quality and quantity standards.
- Ability to lift up to 30 lbs frequently, 50 lbs occasionally
- Ability to continuously stand or walk
- Ability to bend, squat, climb stairs and lift frequently
Essential Personnel:
Non-Essential
Minimum Requirements:
To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
- High School Diploma
- Must be able to work alternating weekends and nights as needed
- One year progressive experience
- Able to meet and maintain Arnold Center and funding jurisdiction current requirements for criminal background/records check
- Valid state-issued driver’s license, driver’s license with current driving record that complies with the agency’s insurance carrier’s “insurability” requirements.
- Must be able to successfully complete First Aide Certification, CPR Certification.
- Successfully complete Community Mental Health required training
- Ability to successfully complete ACRE Customized Employment Training
