Direct Support Professional

catalight; Dublin (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Easterseals Northern California is seeking a Direct Support Professional to work with adults with disabilities in a caring, supportive environment. You will help clients develop skills, set goals, and achieve independence under supervision of the Care Coordinator and Program Managers.

Responsibilities include supervising activities, teaching daily living skills, coordinating with families, and documenting progress.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Must be at least 18 years old (21 years to operate company vehicles).
• Experience coaching adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and train participants on skills needed to perform tasks and daily activities.
• Assist participants in reinforcing essential life skills and teaching new skills.
• Coach participants to stay on task and build a support network with family and staff.
• Supervise and assist participants to maintain a safe, healthy environment and maximum participation.
• Provide support with basic living skills (toileting, hygiene, food prep, dressing, chores).
• Assist with planning, organizing and implementing program activities; IPP goals and behavioral plans.
• Document unusual incidents with Special Incident Reports and report suspected abuse.
• Provide updates to parents regarding participants' progress and needs.
• Coordinate with Easterseals Northern California team and community resources.
• Procure and prepare daily snacks and ensure clean-up; provide transportation (21+ to operate vehicle).
• Conduct weekly inventory of program supplies and inform Program Manager of needs.
• Adhere to federal, state and local laws including HIPAA.

Skills

Effective communication

Respectful interaction

Inclusion

Bilingual/ASL

Patience

Teaching

Confidentiality

Decision making

Transportation

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Are you a self-motivated and reliable person who can work with adults with disabilities while helping them develop their skills and grow? Then we need you! Our Kaleidoscope Community Adult Program needs your talent to work in a caring and supportive environment to allow our clients to increase skills in various areas, meet their goals, and reach their full potential, both now and in the future.

Under the direction of the Care Coordinator, Assistant Program Manager and Program Manager, the Direct Support Professional works with adult learners with intellectual and developmental disabilities to ensure that they have access to the support, encouragement, tools, resources, and knowledge to lead happy fulfilling lives. The Direct Support Professional works with individuals and their families to develop individualized personal goals and then establish and monitor action plans to help them reach these goals. Our skilled staff will provide you with the training you need to feel comfortable and confident in all aspects of the role.

Core Responsibilities & Essential Job Functions

• Supervise and train participants on the skills needed to perform specific tasks, routines, and personal life activities by applying a systematic process to improve participant's ability to set goals, take action, and maximize strengths.
• Assist participants in reinforcing essential life skills and/or teaching new skills.
• Coach participants to stay on task, and cultivate a support network between participants, other coaching team members, family and community members.
• Supervise, monitor, and assist participants as necessary to maintain healthy, safe environment, and maximum participation in program activities, on site and in the community.
• Provide support to clients with basic living skills which includes toileting, hygiene care, food prep, feeding assistance, dressing, chores, and other activities that are fundamental to daily living.
• Assist with planning, organizing, developing and implementing program activities for both large and small participant groups.
• Implement IPP goals and behavioral intervention plans as directed by Program Managers and Care Coordinators.
• Documents any unusual or special incidences with participants via Special Incident Report ("SIR"), and coordinates with Program Manager for reporting of suspected abuse.
• Provide updates to parents regarding participants' progress and needs.
• Work with Easterseals Northern California team members and community resources to enhance quality of program and services provided.
• Procure and prepare daily snacks for participants and ensure clean-up of work/activity areas.
• Provide transportation to participants (must be 21 years of age to operate company vehicles).
• Conduct weekly inventory of program supplies and inform Program Manager of inventory needs.
• Must adhere to all federal, state, and local laws/legislations as applicable as well as HIPAA laws and regulatory agencies.

Qualifications

Minimum Education, Experience & Training Equivalent to:

• High school Diploma or GED required.
• Must be at least 18 years of age (21 years to operate company vehicles).
• One year experience working in a team environment coaching and/or teaching adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities a plus but not required.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Effective communication skills and an ability to interact respectfully and sensitively with clients, client's family and ESNorCal staff.
• Committed to ESNorCal values, including resilience and inclusion.
• Ability to work with up to three clients during a single session.
• Passionate about teaching and training.
• Patience and a positive attitude.
• Establish a comfortable and supportive relationship with individuals receiving services.
• American Sign Language or bilingual ability a plus.
• Demonstrate good judgement and decision-making skills.
• Exercise confidentiality and discretion pertaining to the work environment.
• Transport participants in company vehicle (if over 21 years of age).

Physical Requirements:

• Constant walking (65%) and supervision of participants (75%).
• Constant speaking and listening (75%) to participants and others.
• Frequent use of arms and fingers to grasp, equipment, utensils, and dishes (60%).
• Frequent bending, reaching, squatting, kneeling, twisting in order to interact with participants (50%).
• Occasional using upper and lower torso, arms, and legs to assist in lifting or transferring participants of up to 50 lbs. (20%).
• Occasional sitting and maintaining close visual attention to write reports and using arms and hands to operate computer (5%).
• Occasional walking to, bending to enter, sitting, and using upper and lower limbs to drive car (5%).
• Ability to stand or sit for extended periods of time, stand for up to 6-8 hours a day.
• Ability to physically implement behavior management strategies including responding to physically aggressive behavior.
• Visual and auditory ability to work with clients, staff, and others in the workplace continuously.
• Ability t