Direct Support Professional

Position: Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Department: Community Supports/PAC/Residential

Schedule: 30-40 hours per week

Salary: $15.00/hour

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) is responsible for providing person-centered support to individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities in the community setting, home setting, and day program setting. The DSP will assist individuals in achieving personal goals, enhacing their quality of life, and promoting independence.

Essential Duties:

• Upholds the Agency's Core Values and Code of Conduct.
• Foster and support a person-centered thinking atmosphere.
• Individual Support:
• Provide direct care and support to individuals in accordance with their individualized service plans (ISPs).
• Assist with daily living activities, including personal hygiene, meal preparation, and medication administration.
• Support individuals in developing and maintaining personal relationships, social skills, and community involvement.
• Community and Home Services:
• Accompany individuals on community outings and activities, ensuring their safety and engagement.
• Facilitate participation in community events, recreational activities, and volunteer opportunities.
• Support individuals in their home environments by helping with household tasks, budgeting, and other life skills.
• Day Program Activities:
• Plan and implement meaningful activities and skill-building exercises in the day program setting.
• Monitor and document progress toward individual goals during day program sessions.
• Foster a supportive and inclusive environment that encourages participation and personal growth.
• Advocacy and Empowerment:
• Advocate for the rights and needs of individuals, promoting self-determination and informed decision making.
• Encourage individuals to express their preferences and make choices about their daily activities and future goals.
• Health and Safety:
• Ensure a safe environment by following all health and safety protocols, including emergency procedures.
• Monitor and report any health or behavioral concerns to appropriate personnel.
• Documentation and Communication:
• Maintain accurate and timely records of services provided, including daily logs, incident reports, and service delivery notes.
• Communicate effectively with team members, families, and other stakeholders regarding individual needs and progress.
• Training and Development
• Participate in ongoing training and professional development to stay informed about best practices in the field of direct support.
• Implement strategies learned from training to enhance service delivery.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to maintain a positive relationship with community organizations, as well as with family members and other support service providers.
• Ability to maintain appropriate relationships with people served, families, and providers, i.e. maintaining appropriate professional boundaries, and treating them with respect and dignity.
• Ability to perform with a minimum of supervision. Uses correct judgement, initiative, and flexibility to meet job requirements.
• Ability to represent The Arc of Evansville professionally in the community by developing effective work relationships with internal and external contacts (i.e., verbally, written, attitudinal). Promotes a positive relationship and attitude among others by serving as a role model; interacts in an attentive, courteous, and timely manner.

Working Conditions:

• Must have acess to a reliable and safe vehicle for transportation of people served. Mileage reimbursement is provided.
• Must be ablet to work nonstandard/flexible hours, including some weekends, evenings, and holiday hours to meet the needs of people served.
• Must be able to work in a variety of agency and community settings which may require sitting, standing, and stooping for extended periods of time.
• May be exposed to hot and cold temperatures, as well as inclement weather.
• May be exposed to pets in the homes of people served.

Physical Requirements: (The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people served to perform the essential functions of the job.)

• Requires the ability to hear, see, talk, read, and write on a constant basis.
• Frequent keyboarding on a computer.
• Ability to regularly lift and move 50 pounds.
• Must be able to work in a variety of community settings which may require sitting, standing, and stooping for extended periods of time.

Preferred Minimum Qualifications: (The following statements represent the minimum experience and training standards which will be used to screen applicants, provided that equivalent substitutions will be permitted in case of deficiencies in either experience or education.)

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Experience working with people who have intellectual/developmental disabilities is preferred.
• Must have a valid operator's license to drive Agency vehicles in the community.
• Must have and maintain an acceptable driving record (i.e., less than 3 moving violations within 3 years).
• Good computer, oral, and written communication skills.
• The incumbent must have state minimum insurance coverage amounts for all vehicles an employee may drive on Agency business.
• Maintains certifications of first aid/CPR, and Core A and B for medication administration.
• Completion of crisis intervention Mandt training upon hire.
• Regular attendance is an essential function of the job.