Direct Support Professional

Salary: $15.00/hr – $18.40/hr

Responsibilities

• Actively participates in and contributes to the care of clients through the execution, coordination, and support of programmatic components.
• Responsible for the supervision, safety, welfare and whereabouts of assigned clients by actively supervising in accordance with each client’s needs, communicated treatment goals, and Woods’ Level of Supervision policy.
• Be a client advocate by ensuring Woods’ clients are free from abuse and mistreatment. Immediately report any incident of suspected abuse or mistreatment and cooperate fully with all necessary investigations.
• Provides assistance, instruction and guidance toward client independence in such areas as dressing, washing, feeding, personal hygiene, tooth brushing, toileting, social interactions, effective/appropriate communications techniques, etc.
• Relates to clients and family members in a manner that reflects an awareness of, and respect for individual variances including cognitive and developmental functioning, as well as social behavior, familial, religious, cultural, and ethnic differences.
• Serves as a role model to clients with respect to mature appropriate behavior: problem solving and coping responses, initiative, active listening and other social skills, punctuality, grooming and dress, and accepting direction from supervisory staff.
• Serves as a member of the Interdisciplinary Team, providing feedback relating to the development and/or implementation of ISPs /IHPs and IEPs designed to meet the individual goals set for assigned clients.
• Uses SMART principles and other principles/skills including de-escalation, conflict resolution, and debriefing. Uses safety techniques and restraint procedures in accordance with Woods’ policy and training curriculum.
• Uses behavior management and other strategies as directed by the program psychologist/clinician or their designee.
• Responsible for serving and assisting clients at meals, utilizing adaptive equipment (as prescribed) and for providing close supervision and quality interactions at mealtime when such intervention is required.
• Ensure a safe living environment for clients by identifying and immediately reporting.

Qualifications

• Minimum of a High School Diploma or GED required.
• Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 pounds, be agile, physically pursue clients on foot, physically restrain, bend, squat, stretch, reach, push up and stand for several hours at a time.
• Demonstrated ability in written and oral communication in the English language as well as adequate computer skills for report writing.