CLC – Direct Support Professional

Job Title: Direct Support Professional
Department:  Community Learning Center
Reports To: Member Services Coordinator
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Summary

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) provides coaching, assistance, instruction, support, and advocacy to individuals with   intellectual and developmental disabilities onsite, in the community, and remotely.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Community Learning Center – Onsite In-Person and Community

1. Instructs, trains, and supervises Members in a variety of settings throughout the community to enable them to accomplish the goals identified on their ISP service plans and to achieve their full potential for learning and practicing independent living skills at home and in the community.
2. Uses lesson plans, discussions, activities and outings to teach independent living skills.
3. Contributes new ideas, activities, and discussion topics to existing lesson plans in order to enrich the Members’ learning experience.
4. Implements the Members’ ISPs.
5. Reports objective observations of Members’ abilities, behavior, and attitudes to the Member Services Coordinator and carries out intervention strategies recommended by the Coordinator.
6. Maintains accurate daily records including, but not limited to: Member attendance, monitoring sheets, progress notes, annual reports, 90-day assessments, etc.
7. Reports, documents, and maintains records of all Member incidents, accidents, and seizures. Maintains confidentiality of all Member information.
8. Reports all suspected cases of Member physical abuse, verbal abuse, or neglect as mandated by law to the Director or the Program Manager.
9. May need to assist Members who have had a toileting accident while out in the community. (May include assisting non-ambulatory Members’ transfer to /from toilet while out in community.)
10. Follows activity schedules as approved by Program Manager/ Coordinator.
11. For volunteer settings, staff will provide appropriate moral support and encouragement, instruction, coaching, counseling, mentoring, and advocacy as needed for the person to succeed in their job.
12. For recreational activities, staff will ensure that they have all of the necessary materials and equipment needed to engage the Members when they arrive at their destination.
13. Teaches the Member appropriate community social skills and workplace behavior and attitudes.
14. Provides travel training to and from community settings, including use of public transportation.
15. Transports Members out into the community using agency vehicle.
16. Reviews Members’ progress with each Member on an on-going basis and works with each Member towards achieving desired outcomes.

Community Learning Center – Onsite for Virtual Learning

1. Contacts assigned Members on a regular basis as directed by supervisor. Interacts with family members, caregivers, or other support staff as needed to have facilitated communication and support for the Member.
2. Encourages Members to follow daily schedule as outlined on New Horizons website or in weekly packet of activities that is mailed or dropped off to the Members.
3. Uses a variety of creative ways to connect with the Member, such as Zoom, online classes, chat groups, packet drop offs, etc.
4. Participates in the Member’s IPP meeting as directed by supervisor.
5. Provides appropriate moral support and encouragement, instruction, coaching, counselling, mentoring, and advocacy as needed for the Member to maintain relationships and/or increase skills.
6. Reviews the Members’ progress with each Member on an ongoing basis and works with each Member on targeted areas towards desired outcome.
7. Documents daily contacts, interactions, and services provided to the Members on the daily report form, at the end of each shift, for each assigned Member.

Other Duties & Responsibilities

1. Assists with developing curriculum and creative learning opportunities for Members in accordance with personal interests and experience.
2. Participates in cross-training opportunities and support for essential programs. 3. Participates in trainings as directed by supervisor. This may include agency and program-specific trainings, classes to increase competencies and improve computer skills, and learning specific computer applications.
4. Helps prepare for CARF survey as directed by CARF Coordinator.
5. Demonstrates a respectful attitude toward the clients and allows them to have as much independence as their potential allows.
6. Attends meetings as directed by supervisor.
7. Believes in and supports the agency’s core values, mission, and vision. Works effectively with co-workers, Members, and others by sharing ideas in a constructive and positive manner; listening to and objectively considering ideas and suggestions from others; keeping commitments; keeping others informed of work progress, timetables and issues; addressing problems and issues constructively to find mutually acceptable and practical solutions; addressing others by name, title or other respectful identifiers; and respecting the diversity of the New Horizons workforce in actions, words and deeds.
8. Maintains the highest professional and ethical standards at all times.
9. Supports the Agency’s mission and partners with others to accomplish the mission.
10. Performs additional duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The individual must be able to become proficient in the use of agency-provided devices, such as Surface Pro tablet, and in the use of applications such as Outlook, Teams, Google docs, Zoom, GoToMeeting, and other applications as directed.

The individual must have good oral communication skills to engage Members over the phone or in virtual settings. The individual   must have basic knowledge of and be able to demonstrate appropriate communication and interaction styles for individuals with special needs.

Education and/or Experience

A high school diploma or equivalent; one year of experience working with adults with developmental disabilities is preferred.

Language Skills

Ability to receive instructions in English and ability to communicate in English in virtual settings and by phone. Being bilingual in Spanish is advantageous but not required. Ability to clearly and accurately document in English the daily contacts and activities
with Members. Both oral and written English competency is required.

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 the
essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.