Direct Support Professional

The Arc Eastern Connecticut; New London (CT); On-site; USD 20,798 - 29,621; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental insurance

Employee assistance program

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Referral program

Job summary

The Arc Eastern Connecticut is hiring Direct Support Professionals in New London, CT. Join a team that provides residential, daytime, employment, and social supports to people with IDD, helping them achieve greater independence.

Responsibilities include training, health needs support, medication administration, documentation, safety, transportation, meal prep, and mentoring across life skills. Qualified candidates will have a high school diploma or GED, a valid driver's license, English

Qualifications

• Must have at least a High School Diploma or GED.
• Excellent communication skills in English; ability to mentor across life skills.
• Valid driver’s license is required.

Responsibilities

• Deliver training, support, and assistance in personal care, recreation and daily living skills, social skills, health needs, and rights.
• Participate in design, implementation and monitoring of individualized support plans.
• Accurately administer prescribed medications as ordered by physicians.
• Complete required documentation (program data, incident reports, daily logs, progress notes, health records).
• Ensure health and safety; perform CPR, Standard First Aid, Heimlich; evacuate participants during emergencies.
• Provide transportation to recreational and community activities; prepare meals per menus.
• Mentor and assist participants in recreation, independence, communication, and health.

Skills

Mentoring

English proficiency

Health & safety awareness

Communication

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

CPR certification

First Aid certification

Job description

The Arc Eastern Connecticut has been providing services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities for more than 60 years. We actively champion for full community inclusion and are a licensed and contracted service provider of the Connecticut Department of Development Services. We provide residential, daytime, employment, and social supports to people with IDD and their families. Come join our team!

Schedule

• Thursday & Friday: 2:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday: 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Work Location

New London, CT

Description

Our Direct Support Professionals are committed to facilitate, model, and build skills that will lead to the optimal independence of the people we support.

Essential Functions

• Deliver training, support, and assistance to participants in the areas of personal care, recreation and leisure, daily living skills, social skills, health needs, personal preferences, exercising of individual rights, community integration, and behavior management.
• Participate in the design, implementation and monitoring of the participants individualized support plan. Your observations and opinions are crucial to tailoring an achievable plan.
• Accurately administer prescribed medications to participants as ordered by physicians.
• Accurately complete required documentation including but not limited to program data, incident reports, daily log, progress notes, and health records.
• Always ensure participants health and safety including but not limited to prevention of abuse, perform CPR, perform Standard First Aid, perform Heimlich procedure, and evacuate participants in case of a fire.
• Providing transportation to recreational and community activities
• Prepare participants meals following published menus.
• Must have the ability to mentor and assist people in all areas of life skills including recreation, independence, communication, and health

Expectations

• Demonstrates a positive work ethic.
• Can work with limited supervision.
• Advocates for and protects participants’ rights in accordance with Arc policies and procedures.
• Treats all individuals in an age-appropriate manner, with respect and dignity, and to encourage opportunities that promote choice.
• Maintains a mature and positive attitude when dealing with program participants, staff, families, the public and outside representatives.
• Works with a spirit of cooperation with all departments.
• Carries out all job responsibilities in a professional manner.
• Attends all agency staff meetings and training sessions.
• Maintains attendance. Adheres to policies on attendance, days of absence, and illness.
• Keeps supervisor informed of any significant events or the need to modify any area of the operation/activity.
• Serves as a positive and appropriate role model for program participants.
• Provides advocacy for participants based on their personal choice and their individual plan.
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with participants, their families, and providers.
• Responds to need of participants, families, and providers in a timely and professional manner.

Minimum Qualifications

• Prior experience working with people who have developmental and physical disabilities preferred.
• Must have the ability to mentor and assist people in all areas of life skills including recreation, independence, communication, and health.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• High School Diploma or GED Required
• Applicants must possess basic computer aptitude and be able to speak/write in English

Benefits

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program

If You

• Appreciate paid training while you get state certified.
• Can use medical, dental and life insurance.
• Would enjoy getting 11 recognized holidays off and paid each year.
• Earn paid vacation and paid sick leave; and
• We pay a starting hourly rate of $18.30 per hour.
• We can start you working and earning towards your employment goal.

Opportunities for advancement are offered.

Helping others is a reward that will stay with you the rest of your life.

The Arc Eastern Connecticut is an Equal Opportunity Employer.