Direct Support Professional

Company   Summary:  

Beacon   is   a   successful   and   national   private-equity   behavioral   health   company   providing   residential-based services and supports to children and adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Severe Mental   Illness,   Autism,   and   high-acuity   behaviors.   All   activities   related   to   this   position   must   be   delivered in compliance with the company’s policies and procedures, accreditation standards,  state and federal licensing   requirements,   HCBS   guidelines,   and   the   contractual   requirements   of   Community   Mental   Health Agencies and other regulatory bodies.   You are expected to be aligned with the goals and mission of the organization, and   to perform  in accordance with   our  “I CARE” core values   of the   organization  – Integrity, Compassion, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence.  

Position   Summary:  

A   Direct   Support   Professional  (DSP)  helps   individuals   achieve   their   personal   goals,   increase   independence, and  participate fully in their communities while ensuring their health, safety, and well-being.  

Primary   Responsibilities:  

• Always   be   compliant   with   all   company   and   regulatory   policies   and   procedures.  

• Sets   positive   examples   for   Individuals   at   all   times .  

• Adheres   to   the   person-centered   plans,   and   behavior   plans   as   written   for   each   Individual .  

• Provides opportunities throughout the day to help Individuals meet their goals. (An example would include teaching groups to follow activity programs and encouraging Individual  attendance.) 

• Provides   quality   of   care   and   a   safe   and   healthy   setting   free   from harm   while   upholding   the   rights of all Individuals. Creates a space of trust and relationship with all Individuals.  

• Protects all Individuals from abuse and/or neglect and  immediately reports any occurrence to appropriate entities.  

• Maintains   and   protects   the   confidentiality   of   all   Individuals.  

• Follows   and   upholds   all   house guidelines.  

• Cook   meals   as   necessary   for   Individuals   based   upon   food   specifications,   diets,   food   exchanges   and  documentation.  

• Understands   process   for   food   supply   and   storage.  

• Transports Individuals and  attends appointments with Individuals and advocates and obtains necessary documentation, when needed.  

• Utilize   Individual   funds   as   applicable   to   help   Individuals   budget   when   needed.  

• Completes   required   documentation   before   the   end   of   shift,   including,   but   not   limited   to   progress notes, miscellaneous notes, daily support logs, event reports, incident reports, LOA forms, Individual inventories, etc.  

• • Assists   with   supervision   of   Individuals   doing   their   laundry   as   needed   per   assignment sheet.  

  • Coaches   and   assists   Individuals   with   bedroom   cleanliness   per   house   guidelines.  

  • Responsible for cleanliness of home site according to the assignment chart. (Inspection  ready   at all times .) 

  • Must   remain   awake   and   immediately   accessible   in   all   homes   requiring  24/7  care.  

  • Administers   medications   as   needed.  

  • Hand   off   communication   to   next   shift   staff.  

  • Cooperates   with   Beacon   Specialized   Living,   the   Department   of   Human   Services  (DHS)  staff   or   any other regulatory body during any inspection,  investigation or inquiry.  

  • Performs   other   duties   as   assigned   or   requested .  

  • Adheres   to   BSLS   Core   Values,   Mission   Statement,   and   Corporate   Philosophies.  

  Team   Member   Expectations:  

  • Must   be   compliant   with   company   and   regulatory   policies   and   procedures.  

  • Preserve and protect the privacy, confidentiality and security of all medical records, proprietary and other confidential information relating to Beacon Specialized Living, its Individuals served, Team   Members,   activities   and   affiliates,   in   accordance   with   all   applicable   laws  (especially HIPAA) and contract terms.  

  • Promote   Beacon   in   a   positive   manner   and   lead   by   example,   modeling   our   core   values   in   everyday  behavior.  

  • Monitors and corrects employee gossip, harassment, favoritism, and other negative social workplace behaviors to ensure a positive and productive work environment.  

  • Understand   how   to   approach   and   communicate   with   everyone   at   all   levels.  

  • Treat   everyone   with   dignity   and   respect   while   responding   to   their   needs.  

  • Maintain   and   sustain   a   safe   community   environment   and   workplace  

  • Follow   Beacon’s   policies,   procedures,   and   manuals.  

  • Accept   other   duties   as   assigned.  

  Professional   Conduct   and   Management   Effectiveness:  

  In   addition to evaluating   your work performance you   will be evaluated for the following work  behaviors:  

  • Job   Knowledge:   Depth   and   breadth   of   knowledge   supporting   our   organization   goals.  

  • Quality   of   Work:   Freedom   from   errors   and   mistakes,   timeliness.   Accuracy,   quality   of work in general.  

  • Quantity   of   Work:   Work   output   of   the   employee.  

  • Reliability:   The extent   to which the employee can   be   depended   upon to be available   for work, do it properly,   and complete   it on time.   The degree   to   which the   employee   is reliable,   trustworthy, and persistent.  

  • Initiative   and   Creativity:   The   ability   to   plan   work   and   to   go   ahead   with   a   task   without being told every detail and the ability to make constructive suggestions.  

  • Judgment:   The   extent   to   which   the   employee   makes   decisions   which   are   sound.   Ability   to base decisions on fact rather than emotion.  

  • Cooperation:   Willingness   to   work   harmoniously   with   others   in   getting   a   job   done. Readiness   to respond positively to instructions and procedures.  

  • Compliance:   Always   be   compliant   with   all   company   and   regulatory   policies   and   procedures.  

  • Attendance:   Faithfulness   in   coming   to   work   daily   and   conforming   to   scheduled   work   hours.  

  • • Planning and Organizing : The ability to analyze work, set goals, develop plans of action,  utilize   time,   and   delegate   work   as   appropriate .   Consider   the   amount   of   supervision   required and   the   extent   to   which   you   can   trust   employees   to   carry   out   assignments   conscientiously.  

    • Directing and Controlling:  The ability to create a motivating climate, achieve teamwork, train, and develop,   measure   work in progress , take corrective action.  

    • Decision   Making:   The   ability   to make decisions   and   the   quality   and   timeliness   of   those  decisions.  

    • Problem   Solving:   The   ability   to   assess   a   problem,   identify   options   or   solutions,   formulate   a plan, execute the plan, and achieve   and sustain   positive outcomes.  

    • Embrace, support,   and manage the business   in accordance with Beacon’s Mission   and Core  Values.  

    Education   and   Qualifications:  

    • High   school   diploma   or   GED   preferred.  (required   in   certain   states) 

    • Must   be  18  years   or older.  

    • Must   pass   criminal   background   checks,   central   registry   check  (in   applicable   states )  and   child   abuse registry (in applicable states).  

    • Must   complete   and   pass   a   drug   test,   in   applicable   states.  

    • Must   possess   a   valid   Driver’s   License   and   have   reliable   transportation.  

    • Proficient   in   speaking,   reading   and   writing   the   English   language.  

    • Approved   by   state,   federal   and   government   entities   to   work   within   BSLS   programs.  

    • Ability   to   use   office   equipment,   including   BSLS   information   technology   systems.  

    • Ability   to   physically   and   emotionally   work   with   individuals   who   possess   mental   illness   and   co-occurring disorders.  

    Skills   and   Abilities:  

    • Must   be   able   to   communicate   and   function   in   an   interdisciplinary   team.  

    • Strong   computer   skills   utilizing   various   software   programs   and   applications.  

    • Excellent   oral   and   written   communication   skills.  

    • Ability   to   create   professional   employee   communication   materials.  

    • Capable   of   working   well   with   all   levels   of   the   organization.  

    • A   professional   demeanor.  

    • Demonstrated   ability   to   multi- task.  

    • Ability   to   work   with   little   daily supervision.  

    Work   Environment:  

    • While   performing   the   duties   of   this   job,   the   employee   regularly   works   in   a   typical   home   setting   or in the community at various stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, etc. Work may involve the treatment of non-cooperative Individuals with psychosocial problems and needs, or chronic and acute health problems.  

    • The work environment presents situations that cause stress and anxiety due to Individual  behavior.  

    • The   noise   level   in   the   work   environment   is   usually   moderate.  

    • The   employee   may   be   exposed   to   cold,   heat,   dust,   or   smoke.  

    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.  

    While   performing   the   duties   of   this   job,   the   employee   is   regularly   required   to   talk   or   hear.   Specific   vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets, and bend or stand on a  stool as necessary.  

    • While performing the duties of the  job the employee must be able to move about the home or community  50%  of   the   time   and   have   the   ability   to   bend,   squat,   stand,   kneel,   push,   pull,   walk,   and reach   above   shoulder.   Employees   must   be   able   to   remain   in   a   stationary   position  50%  of   the   time.  

    • Ability   to   lift   and   carry   objects   up   to  50  pounds   for   short   distances  (5-10  feet)  daily.  

    • The   employee   will   climb  ( approximately  8-12)  stairs  8-10  times   per   day.  

    • The employees will  operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine and computer printer. Ability to access, input, and retrieve information from the computer and use information technology systems as noted above.  

    • The employee must be able to prepare meals which require the use of an oven,  stove or microwave that may require overhead reaching.  

    • Complete laundry services that include sorting,  washing/ drying, and folding. May be  required to carry loads of laundry up and down ( approximately 8-12) stairs.  

    • Grocery shopping that includes driving to the grocery store daily to  grocery shop, carrying full grocery bags of groceries up and down stairs ( approximately 8-12), and  reach and  stoop to put away groceries.  

    • The   employee   will   perform   cleaning   activities,   which   include   mopping,   sweeping,   and   vacuuming that require regular lifting, turning,  bending and reaching.  

    • Provision of personal care to Individuals, transferring of individuals: from bed to chair, chair to standing, sit to standing that requires the strength to  assist   lifting up to a 200-pound Individual.  

    • Constantly   communicate   and   exchanges   information   with   team   members.  

    • Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus to compare and distinguish administrative data and figures. Ability to make general visual observations of facilities or structures, for safety inspections and hazard identification.  

    • Hearing ability to perceive the nature of sounds at normal speaking level with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make  discriminations in sound.  

    • Dexterity of hands and fine finger movements for medication distribution, manual dexterity to handle objects.  

    • Read/comprehend, write, communicate orally, reasoning, and analytical abilities, and mental flexibility. Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing the English language required.  

    • Duties   performed   routinely   require   exposure   to   blood,   bodily   fluid,   and   tissue.  

    Other Duties:  

    Please   note   this   job   description   is   not   designed   to   cover   or   contain   a   comprehensive   listing   of   activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.  

    AAP/EEO   Statement:  

    It   is   the   policy   of   Beacon   to   provide   equal   employment   opportunity  (EEO)  to   all   persons   regardless   of   age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, status with regard to public assistance,   veteran   status,   or   any   other   characteristic   protected   by   federal,   state   or   local   law.   In   addition, Beacon will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities.  

    This   job   description   is   intended   to   generally   describe   the   nature   and   level   of   work   required   by   the   person assigned   to   this   classification.   It   is   not   an   exhaustive   list   of   all   duties   and   responsibilities.   Other   job   duties and responsibilities may be assigned by the employer at the employer’s sole discretion.   This job description may be amended at any time by the employer.  

    The employee signature below constitutes the employee’s understanding of the requirements, responsibilities, and duties of the position.