Compassionate Direct Support Specialist

Young Adult Institute; New Jersey; On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Young Adult Institute in New Jersey is seeking dedicated staff to support individuals with personal care, safety, and community participation. You will follow person-centered plans, assist with daily living activities, monitor health and safety, and collaborate with families and external providers to ensure quality of life for each person.

The role emphasizes teamwork, crisis management, documentation, and adherence to behavioral support protocols while maintaining a respectful, patient approach

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 DDD Standards.
• Ensures implementation of person-centered, individualized plans following levels of supervision and safeguards including Behavior Support Plans (BSPs), Individualized Service Plans (ISPs), 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 handing procedures when working with individuals and implements infection control protocols.
• Assists with a variety of tasks for people we support, as appropriate/authorized, including: Providing personal care and assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) including intimate care and personal hygiene (e.g. bathing, dressing, and toileting), laundry and housekeeping.
• Teaching/developing habilitative and rehabilitative skills.
• Supporting person-centered advocacy with the individuals.
• Assisting in communication, self-expression and resolving disputes amongst individuals.
• Facilitating ethical decision making.
• Providing supervision for and/or planning and preparing balanced meals and snacks for people we support in accordance with dietary restrictions and guidelines of specific individuals, including for modified diets or liquid consistencies.
• Transporting and escorting individuals on recreational activities, medical appointments, home visits, volunteer and/or employment sites; actively participates in establishment and/or creation of schedules for, volunteer opportunities, community and/or therapeutic activities for program.
• Assisting people with making purchases, as well as safeguarding personal allowance funds and any additional funds provided.
• Ensures that medication is administered as prescribed, in accordance with applicable guidelines.
• Assists with medication inventory, including medication cabinet checks and over-the-counter (OTC) inventory, performing within applicable timeframes and reordering medication and/or supplies, as needed.
• Assists with scheduling of medical appointments for people supported and ensures that follow-up appointments are scheduled and attended in a timely manner.
• Appropriately utilizes petty cash and house funds, including store cards, obtaining and maintaining documentation or receipts for purchases in accordance with applicable rules in coordination with supervisor.
• Operates agency vehicle to transport individuals to and/or from programs, residences, community and/or other locations on a regular basis and updates related logs and maintenance sheets, coordinating appointments with supervisor.
• 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/Behavior Guidelines and Protocols as specified in applicable plans.
• 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.
• Communicates by phone, email and/or in person with circles of support, including families and external providers, to provide updates and/or obtain information, as directed by clinical or program leadership.
• 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 polic

Job description

Young Adult Institute in New Jersey is seeking dedicated staff to support individuals with personal care, safety, and community participation. You will follow person-centered plans, assist with daily living activities, monitor health and safety, and collaborate with families and external providers to ensure quality of life for each person.

The role emphasizes teamwork, crisis management, documentation, and adherence to behavioral support protocols while maintaining a respectful, patient approach