Direct Support Professional

JFCS of Southern New Jersey; Berlin, Northern (NJ, KY); Hybrid; USD 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

P.I.L.O.T. Services, Inc. in New Jersey seeks a Direct Support Professional to provide direct care and support to residents in licensed community residences. Training is provided and staff must meet health and safety, documentation, and transport requirements.

The role requires caring for individuals with daily living needs, ensuring rights and safety, and collaborating with the team to plan activities and monitor progress. A clean driving record and background checks are mandatory.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Must be at least 21 years old.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care support for daily living skills.
• Administer or supervise medications and document administration.
• Respect and protect rights of individuals and maintain homelike environment.
• Assist with community planning and meals.
• Complete documentation timely including BSP data and ISP.
• Transport individuals safely in agency vehicle.

Skills

Driver's license

Background check

Drug testing

CARI registry

Training proficiency

Age 21+

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Job Title: Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Reports to: Residential Manager

Minimum Staff Qualifications:

• Shall have a high school diploma or GED.
• Shall be at least twenty-one (21) years old

Duties and Responsibilities:

After completing the agency provided training, the DSP will perform duties and responsibilities detailed below and as assigned by the Residential Manager. The DSP is responsible for providing support services to individuals that reside in P.I.L.O.T. Services, Inc.’s licensed community residences. Individuals may present with challenging behaviors and may need extensive direct care support with daily living skills.

Staff Requirements

• The employee shall possess a driver’s license valid in the state of New Jersey.
• The employee shall cooperate with the Department of Human Services (DHS) staff and P.I.L.O.T. Services, Inc. investigation personnel in any investigation, inquiry, or inspection.
• The employee shall submit to a criminal background check, and be determined to be not disqualified by the Department of Human Services prior to working with individuals served.
• The employee shall agree to have their name checked against the Central Registry of Offenders Against Individuals with Developmental Disabilities.
• All employees hired after 6/15/18 shall submit to drug testing prior to employment.
• All employees shall submit to drug testing conducted randomly and for cause.
• All employees shall complete an application to have their name checked against the Child Abuse Registry Information (CARI).
• Must successfully complete and demonstrate proficiency in all areas of required training.

Key Responsibilities:

• Personal Care
  • o Be responsible for the care of ambulatory, non-ambulatory, and medically complex individuals, i.e. support individuals with daily living skills, specialized diets, eating, bathing, feeding, toileting, lifts and transfers, etc.;
  • o Recognize individuals’ needs and encourage independence.
• Health and Wellness Support:
  • o Provide any needed medication administration assistance or supervision, and assure documentation of medication administration;
  • o Assure proper storage of medications;
  • o Promote advocacy while attending medical appointments.
• Rights:
  • o Foster positive relationships between individuals served and their housemates;
  • o Foster positive relationships between individuals served and residential and day program staff;
  • o Foster positive relationships with individuals’ family members;
  • o Respect and understand the rights of individuals served and assist individuals with advocating for their rights;
  • o Maintain a comfortable and homelike environment.
• Community Integration:
  • o Participate with individuals in planning for meaningful and desired activities in the community;
  • o Assist individuals with the completion of shopping and meal preparation.
• Documentation:
  • o Complete all documentation timely and accurately, in accordance with agency policy;
  • o Accurately document medication administration;
  • o Complete daily assigned program notes, to include required Behavior Support Plan (BSP) data tracking and Individual Service Plan (ISP) documentation, in THERAP prior to leaving each shift;
  • o Complete and review the daily communication log;
  • o Communicate information regarding individual progress, medical/medication information, and concerns in the Critical Information Log (CIL) prior to leaving each shift;
  • o Communicate and report any suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, and unusual incidents in the General Event Reporting (GER) in Therap and DHS, as required, prior to leaving each shift.
• Money Management:
  • o Maintain money management according to policy and procedure for finances;
  • o Assist individuals with money management and purchases.
• Collaboration:
  • o Collaborate with individuals and other team members in meal preparations and clean up;
  • o Provide teamwork with individuals and other team members in maintaining household responsibilities;
  • o Participate in the acclimation of newly assigned DSPs with regard to the home and the care of the individuals;
  • o Provide teamwork in flexibility to provide coverage at alternate sites, as needed
  • o Be available for emergencies and shift coverage, as needed;
  • o Participate in the development of Individual Service Plan (ISP) and Behavior Support Plan (BSP) goals and objectives.
• Safety:
  • o Ensure that the upkeep and care of durable medical equipment, prosthetic devices and adaptive equipment is maintained;
  • o Transport individuals to programs and other community-based designations/activities and medical appointments and assure supervision levels required by each individual are provided, while transported in the agency vehicle;
  • o Ensure safety of the individuals by maintaining the necessary staffing in the home or community, in accordance with the program description, and provide proper shift coverage until relief of duties is available;
  • o Ensure that the individuals and the environment are safe.
• Transportation:
  • o Adhere to all agency policies and procedures regarding the use and care of agency vehicles when transporting individuals, and when carrying out agency and residential program business, as follows:
    • Obtain keys from the home and return the keys to the home upon completion of transportation needs;
    • Be punctual with all appointments, pick-ups, and discharges;
    • Be responsible for passenger safety loading and unloading of individuals;
    • Drive safely and follow all traffic laws (ticketed offenses will be the driver’s responsibility to pay);
    • Immediately report all vehicle concerns, tickets, and vehicular accidents to the manager;
    • Maintain mileage logs each time you take possession of the vehicle;
    • Complete all other program assignments, activities and tasks as delegated by the Residential Manager.