Compassionate Direct Support Professional

YAI; Queens (WV); On-site; USD 22,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

YAI is seeking a Direct Support Professional to assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in daily activities, promoting independence, safety, and community connection. You will follow individualized service plans, document progress, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to ensure respectful, person-centered care.

The role requires strong communication, physical capability, completion of trainings, and flexibility to cover shifts.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Ability to meet essential physical demands of position including lifting, walking, standing and mobility.
• Effective written and oral communication for billing, records and documentation.
• Enthusiasm for working with people with intellectual/developmental disabilities with patience and compassion.
• Ability to assist with a variety of supports and activities of daily living.
• Basic computer skills including email and using Workday/DA systems.
• Must obtain SCIP-R within one year of appointment.
• Must obtain additional certifications within one year as required by program assignment.
• Ability to develop professional relationships aligned with YAI’s mission.
• Ability to remain calm in a fast-paced, high-energy environment.
• Willingness to work beyond regular hours and shifts as needed.
• Must hold or obtain a valid Driver’s License and Van certification if transporting.
• HS diploma or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Assists individuals in maximizing their strengths, interests, and abilities, upholding their personal rights, displaying patience and tolerance while providing emotional support and building positive relationships.
• Supports people to meet personal goals that characterize quality of life, engages in respectful communications and conversations through person-first language, encourages socializing and facilitates activities that provide social capital and connections to the community.
• Responsible for the overall supervision, protection, and care of individuals at all times including maintenance of program guidelines for the protection of individuals, facilitating learning and training in fire safety and identifying and appropriately escalating signs of an individual’s potential harm to self or others.
• Ensures health, wellness and safety by providing appropriate supervision of the people we support and by managing crisis situations while adhering to applicable policies, procedures and regulations.
• Provides support in a variety of settings and in accordance with each person’s individualized service and behavior support plans, utilizing support skills for people with varying levels of need and demonstrating the OPWDD Core Competencies.
• Ensures implementation of person-centered, individualized plans following levels of supervision and safeguards including protective oversight (IPOPs), as well as Behavior Support Plans (BSPs), Staff Action and/or Life Plans for all people we support, understanding the intentions and goals of the plans.
• Maintains a clean, safe and organized therapeutic environment.
• Utilizes safe and appropriate handling procedures when working with individuals and implements infection control protocols.
• Assists with a variety of tasks for people we support, as appropriate/authorized, including:
• Develops an understanding of specialized clinical knowledge for person specific needs (supporting adults, challenging behaviors, autism spectrum disorders, complex medical needs).
• Implements Behavior Support Plan as written by Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS).
• Collects, records, and summarizes data on individuals’ observable behavior.
• Observes and reports any changes in behavior, or other signs and symptoms, to clinical and/or leadership team.
• Serves as a member of a highly effective team (teamwork within the circle of support), providing feedback and communicating programmatic needs to members of team and maintaining a solution-oriented approach during conflicts.
• Completes and maintains all necessary trainings and certifications, including specialized trainings based on program and position to ensure compliance with YAI policies and all applicable rules or regulations and applies skills.
• Reviews communication logs daily and makes entries of events, progress notes, services and/or information; collects and enters data as part of daily operations using an electronic health record (e.g. Digital Agency (DA), Electronic Medication Administration Records (eMAR).
• Reviews and completes all other required paperwork and documentation to ensure compliance and/or billing completely, accurately and within appropriate timeframes (e.g., notifications, logging, incident reports, update files, maintenance requests, phone calls, and tracking of incidents).
• Uses foundational teaching skills (Explain, Model, Observe and Evaluate [EMOE], task analysis, essential skills, supports and modifications, etc.) and progressive teaching.
• Understands behavior as communication and employs person-centered thinking to support positive interactions and prevent further escalation.
• Complies with all Federal, State, Local and other relevant regulatory agency requirements, including HIPAA.
• Reports maintenance, upkeep and safety concerns observed at YAI facilities to Program Supervisor or appropriate designee.
• Consults with program leadership, clinical and other direct support staff to ensure streamlined and top-quality care for individuals and attends and actively participates in team meetings.
• Utilizes/demonstrates approved YAI and OPWDD training techniques (i.e. verbal, environmental, and physical interventions, including take downs) to respond timely and appropriately to challenging and/or self-injurious behavior, ensuring the health and safety of the people we support, self and others.
• Provides coverage for other direct support staff as requested, which may include assisting at another YAI or off-site location (e.g. hospital) based on needs of program and/or individuals supported, including remaining on shift to ensure maintenance of minimum coverage levels for program.
• May participate in the development of treatment plans.
• For certain assignments, may be required to operate YAI motor vehicle to transport individuals to and/or from programs, residences, community or other locations on a daily (or other regular) basis with appropriate credentials.
• Performs all other duties, as assigned.

Skills

Communication skills

Empathy

Teamwork

Education

HS diploma or equivalent

Job description

YAI is seeking a Direct Support Professional to assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in daily activities, promoting independence, safety, and community connection. You will follow individualized service plans, document progress, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to ensure respectful, person-centered care.

The role requires strong communication, physical capability, completion of trainings, and flexibility to cover shifts.