Community Direct Support Professional

Woods Services; Levittown (PA); On-site; USD 23,419 - 27,552; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

Life and Disability Insurance

PTO - Paid time off

403b retirement plan

Continuing education programs

Tuition assisted program

Job summary

Woods Services is seeking dedicated Behavior Support Staff in Levittown, PA, to provide care and treatment to intellectually disabled adults in a community-based group home. The role involves implementing behavioral interventions, ensuring client safety, and assisting with daily living skills.

Various positions require different levels of education, from a high school diploma to a bachelor's degree, along with relevant experience working with challenging behaviors. Benefits include medical insurance and a retirement plan.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years of experience in residential and/or behavioral health care.
• Experience working with behaviorally challenged individuals.
• Valid Driver’s License and CPR certification.

Responsibilities

• Implement and support behaviorally based interventions.
• Maintain the safety and well-being of clients.
• Assist clients in daily living skills.

Skills

Behavioral intervention

Communication skills

Crisis management

Client supervision

Team collaboration

Education

High School diploma or GED

Associate’s degree in relevant field

Bachelor’s degree in Human Services

Job description

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Life and Disability Insurance
• PTO -Paid time off
• On-site FREE medical center
• 403b retirement plan
• Continuing education programs
• Tuition assisted program
• Career growth opportunities

Salary

$17 - $20 / hour - depending on experience / education

Job Summary

Responsible for the treatment, care, and supervision of intellectually disabled adults that exhibit challenging behaviors and/or complex medical issues in a Community-Based Group Home setting. Supports clinical services through active engagement and utilizing the principles of positive reinforcement, life skills and communication skills development to decrease maladaptive behaviors while increasing positive replacement behaviors. Implements, monitors, and reports upon therapeutic strategies and programming. Ensures the provision of a safe and therapeutic atmosphere throughout the residence and community. Reports and documents any and all incidents that occur at the home or in the community, documents daily client progress notes and related behavioral data. Maintain a positive working relationship with supervisory, support, peer and other Woods Community Services employees and conduct themselves in a professional manner while adhering to all Woods Community Services, federal, and state policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Actively participates in and contributes to the therapeutic milieu through the implementation, coordination, and support of behaviorally based interventions.
• Ensures the client’s safety and well-being: actively supervises clients in accordance with each client’s needs, level of supervision as stipulated in the ISP, treatment goals, program policies and procedures.
• Provide assistance, instructions and guidance toward client independence in such areas as dressing, washing, feeding, personal hygiene, tooth brushing, toileting, social interactions, effective/appropriate communications techniques, etc.
• Provides community engagement opportunities for residents that include but not limited to leisure or recreational activities, communication activities, spiritual activities, cultural activities, vocational pursuits, volunteerism, educational and training activities, development of living and life skills (i.e. banking, shopping, cooking, cleaning, and budgeting), health and wellness promotion, and teaching safety and community awareness
• Participates as a member of the program’s interdisciplinary treatment team, contributes information regarding client progress in relation to the individual’s general well-being; identifies treatment goals and strategies (including individualized protocols), his or her role and functioning within the program milieu, special needs, community and family interactions, and other pertinent information. Documents information as directed.
• Responsible for fulfilling mandatory training requirements at specified times as per 6400 regulations. Must ensure that required licenses and certifications are valid and current, this includes but is not limited to CPR, First Aid, Driver’s License, Fire Safety and Medication Administration.
• Responsible for training in ODP Incident Management Bulletin to recognize and immediately report incidents that require HCSIS submission to on call personnel.
• Assists in the development of individual treatment goals and strategies; implements planned treatment procedures under the supervision of the behavior therapist.
• Implements crisis stabilization procedures as directed by the behavior therapist and in accordance with established policies and procedures. In the event of any emergency, communicates pertinent information to the appropriate person. Prepare incident reports as directed.
• Responsible for housekeeping tasks including but not limited to cleaning kitchens, bathrooms, living/dining rooms, making beds, sorting laundry, organizing clients and maintaining a neat and orderly residential program.
• Assist in shopping for supplies for the clients and the program. Maintaining resident’s funds and petty cash. Submit receipts to supervisor.
• Participate in individual and/or group recreational and/or social activities based upon the particular needs of assigned clients.
• Transport clients to and from day program, school, medical/therapy appointments, social and recreational activities. Supervise clients and maintain proper levels of supervision while out in the community or day program.
• Administers emergency first aid treatment (including CPR) and implements fire safety procedures in accordance with Woods' policies and procedures.
• Receives/provides relevant information (written and oral) regarding clients, milieu status and programming to/from successive shift staff.
• Maintains satisfactory attendance and punctuality.
• Collect data on observable behaviors to measure progress.
• Help de-escalate disruptive behaviors and maintain safe environment using individualized behavior plans or unit plans to manage safe behaviors.
• Participates in departmental staff meetings and individual supervision.
• Assist clinician in management and delivery of all aspects of client’s programs and instruction.
• Assists Clinician in delivery of instructional activities including selection of instructional and collateral educational materials.
• Monitors client’s behaviors and collects data for skills acquisition and incident reports.
• Write reports and notes as assigned; Inputs and accesses information via CareLogic.
• Assist in maintaining consistency and integrity of program by participating in program assessment.
• Implement evidence-based best practices while consistently adhering to written program
• Assists in evacuation clients during fire drills, emergencies and unusual practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Relates to clients and family members in a manner that reflects an awareness of respect for individual variances including cognitive and developmental functioning, as well as social behavior, familial, religious, cultural, and ethnic differences.
• Communicates with family members and / or agency personnel in a positive, effective manner.
• Establish relations with local law enforcement, EMS, fire department and neighboring communities to ensure residents have positive community interactions and integrated into the community.
• Maintains the confidentiality of clients and their families/guardians.
• Must successfully pass the DPW/ODP medication administration course. Upon successful completion, must administer prescribed and over-the-counter medications and treatments, in accordance with the medication administration training course. Must document the administration of medications, treatments, etc. in accordance with the medication administration training course.

Qualifications

Behavior Support Staff 1

Proof of a High School diploma or GED required; and 1-3 years of experience in residential and/or behavioral health care with experience working with behaviorally challenged individuals including implementation of behavioral and therapeutic interventions and de-escalation.

Behavior Support Staff 2

Associate’s degree required; and at least 1 year experience in residential and/or behavioral health care with experience working with behaviorally challenged individuals including implementation of behavioral and therapeutic interventions and de-escalation.

Behavior Support Staff 3

Bachelor’s degree in any field required; plus 1 year experience in residential and/or behavioral health care with experience working with behaviorally challenged individuals including implementation of behavioral and therapeutic interventions and de-escalation.

Behavior Support Staff 4

Bachelor’s degree (issued in the US or verified by an authorized accreditation agency) in Human Services field required; plus 1 year experience in residential and/or behavioral health care with experience working with behaviorally challenged individuals including implementation of behavioral and therapeutic interventions and de-escalation.

• Must be 18 years of age and must be able to verbally communicate emergency information in English over the phone.
• Must possess a current/valid Driver’s License, an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) as mandated by Woods' insurance company, and successfully complete SMITH driver training. Must maintain current CPR certification.
• Must successfully complete and pass Office of Developmental Programs approved medication administration course within the first 30 days of employment and must maintain all renewal requirements.
• Must successfully complete an in-house training program focusing on a variety of complex behavior intervention strategies and must demonstrate the ability to transfer the skills learned in the client’s daily life.
• Must be to lift a minimum of 50 pounds, be agile, physically pursue clients on foot, physically restrain, bend, squad, stretch, reach, push up and stand for several hours at a time.