Dir Support Professional

Volunteers of America Texas; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Job summary

Volunteers of America Texas is seeking a Direct Support Professional to provide direct care and supervision in residential and life enrichment settings in Plano, TX. The role involves assisting individuals with daily living, safety, and community participation while following organizational policies.

You will support medication administration under RN supervision, document behavior and program progress, and facilitate successful engagement in home and community activities.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of behavioral patterns and problems of individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Ability to document care and training; competency in reporting.
• Ability to maintain safety and follow program plans.
• Ability to assist with personal hygiene, grooming and mobility.

Responsibilities

• Provide complete care including daily living activities.
• Maintain facility safety, cleanliness and report repairs.
• Assist with medications as delegated by an RN.
• Document consumer records and behavior notes.
• Prepare meals and assist with meal planning.
• Support transportation and attendance at activities.
• Facilitate inclusion in community activities and social integration.
• Supervise safety and implement behavior management plans as needed.
• Assist with program planning and training documentation.
• Adhere to Evidentiary Principles in applicable programs.

Skills

Direct care

Medication assistance

Documentation

Communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Description Job Summary: The Direct Support Professional is a direct-care staff position responsible for the operation, coordination, instruction and supervision of consumers in residential support homes or life enrichment center facilities while ensuring the protection of the individuals' rights. This position is responsible for assisting individual consumers in acquiring and maintaining self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills necessary to reside successfully in home and community-based settings, promoting a safe and healthy living environment and increasing the capabilities of the individual consumer within the policies and procedures of the organization.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides for the complete care of the consumers, including direct supervision of activities of daily living (grooming, eating, bathing, toileting, dressing, and personal hygiene).
• Maintains the facility (group home or day hab space) and equipment in a safe and clean condition and reports repair needs in a timely manner.
• Provides reinforcement of counseling and therapy activities; corrects unacceptable behavior and helps people served meet the necessary requirements of the house and/or program rules.
• Provides assistance with medications and the performance of tasks as delegated by an RN.
• Maintains clinical records and documentation as required by organization policies and procedures such as, but not limited to, documentation of consumer expenditures, significant observation notes, and any behavioral management activities.
• Prepares meals and provides assistance with meal planning and preparation as indicated by individual need.
• Assists in securing and providing transportation; keeps inside of vehicles clean and ensures sufficient gasoline level for next usage.
• Provides housekeeping or assistance with housekeeping as indicated by individual need.
• Provides assistance with ambulation and mobility.
• Makes written reports of significant incidents occurring during shift.
• Provides direct supervision of individuals' safety and security through preventive techniques, including conducting fire drills as required.
• Assists in carrying out the training outlined in behavior management plans or behavior strategies, provides input to individual program planning for people served, and completes required documentation in a timely manner, including supervision of people served in workshop activities.
• Assists in facilitating inclusion in community activities, use of natural supports, social interaction, participation in leisure activities, and development of socially valued behaviors.
• Supervises people served in recreational activities both in and out of residence or life enrichment center.
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with consumers, co-workers, families and other agencies.
• Provides habilitation, which could be Day Habilitation at the life enrichment center.
• Assists in program plan development as required by Care Coordinator or supervisor.
• Participates in program plan implementation and provides continuous instruction, supervision, training, encouragement and reinforcement to consumers according to program outlined in plan.
• Participates in review process of individuals' programs.
• Completes documentation of ISP training goals, training reports and other areas of program compliance in a timely manner.
• Advocates for individual consumer rights and reports suspected abuse & neglect to supervisor immediately (within one hour).
• Advises supervisor or support coordinator of any special needs or emergencies and recommends follow-up.
• Assists supervisor with budget control activities, e.g., conserving resources, reducing utilities cost, avoiding waste, reducing overtime, etc.
• When working in HCS programs, will adhere to the program's Evidentiary Principles.
• Promotes an organizational culture that fosters passion for the mission, cooperation, open and frequent communication, teamwork, and is in alignment with the organizational vision.
• Attends all required meetings and trainings.
• Requires regular attendance and punctuality during the scheduled shift to perform the above essential functions.
• Performs other duties and special assignments as directed.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position does not have direct organizational supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing 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 occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, some risk of contact with blood borne pathogens, and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Other

Time commitment:
40 Hours per week (average) for full-time
Mandatory overtime may be required
Must be willing to remain past shift on occasions if replacement coverage has not arrived

If and when driving for VOA-TX business:
MVR background check (good driving record)
Valid Texas driver's license
Criminal background check

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily and must successfully complete any required training and acquire any required certifications within prescribed timeframes. 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. A reasonable combination of the following is required: knowledge of behavioral patterns and problems of individuals with developmental disabilities. Knowledge of basic homemaking skills; availability of community resources; identification of consumer training needs; development and implementation of training plans; and documentation of care and training; and physical ability to assist or respond to consumer needs in their personal environment. Tolerance, patience, consistency, flexibility and creativity in dealing with individual consumers and families are strongly preferred and very important to success.

Competencies

• Working knowledge of basic computer functions.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence and memorandums.
• Ability to effectively relate information to other employees of the organization.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure.
• Ability to recognize problems and take corrective actions as determined by agency and program policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates high degree of integrity and ethical standards.
• Upholds organizational values.

Education and/or Experience

Must be at least 18 years of age. Must have a high school diploma or equivalent, OR be able to pass a competency exam. Prefer six months experience or training with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Valid Texas Drivers License and ability to be insure.

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 frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 75 pounds. The employee may occasionally be required to assist with turning, positioning and transfers. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.