Direct Support Professional

Birch Family Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 27,552 - 32,029; Full time

Job summary

Birch Family Services is seeking individuals to counsel, assist, and train people with developmental disabilities in New York, NY. The role focuses on personal care, social skills, and community integration.

Candidates need a High School diploma (or GED), at least one year of experience in a relevant setting, and a valid NYS Driver's License. The position offers an hourly salary ranging from $20.00 to $23.25 depending on education and experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1-year experience working with developmentally disabled population in a residential or health-related setting.
• Valid NYS Driver’s License is required.

Responsibilities

• Assist individuals in personal care and social skills.
• Monitor individuals’ personal health continuously.
• Provide a safe and clean environment for individuals.

Skills

Specialized training in direct care provision

First Aid and CPR certification

Ability to apply proper lifting techniques

Education

High School diploma or General Education Degree (GED)

Job description

To counsel, assist and train individuals with developmental disabilities in the areas of personal care, travel skills, social skills, home management and life skills to maximize their functioning in the community.

Specialized Knowledge, Licenses, etc.

• Specialized training in direct care provision preferred.
• Must complete and obtain certification in OPWDD Approved Medication Administration Course (AMAP) during probationary period and maintain AMAP certification.
• Ability and willingness to be First Aid and CPR certified.
• Ability and willingness to obtain certification in SCIPR Competencies and advance to Promote.

Competencies

• Demonstrated competency in written, verbal and computational skills to document records in accordance with program standards.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to speak clearly and hear the spoken word well.
• Regularly required to utilize near‑vision ability to read data and documents, including spreadsheets and reports, in printed form and on computer screens.
• Regularly required to provide physical care for clients and individuals, which may include, but is not limited to, bathing, feeding, changing clothes or diapers and pushing wheelchairs.
• Ability to physically restrain challenging behaviors that include aggression, self‑injurious, and destructive behaviors.
• Ability to apply proper lifting techniques.

Work Environment

• Noise level is consistent with levels usually present in an office, education, group home, residential, rehabilitation, industrial, workshop or health‑related environment.
• Hazards present are consistent with those common to an office, education, rehabilitation, industrial, workshop or health‑related environment.
• Working with individuals whose age ranges from childhood to adulthood.

Essential Functions

• Support the individual by supporting a comfortable home environment.
• Work towards the satisfactory completion of each of the core competency goals according to the OPWDD timeline requirements.
• Provide a safe and clean environment for the individual based on skill level and risks, and support the safety of all individuals in everyday situations.
• Use verbal and physical means to create a positive environment that will encourage and enable individual growth.
• Assist the individual in the development of social skills that will help the individual become integrated/included in his or her community.
• Perform protective oversight while engaging in community activities.
• Monitor each individual’s personal health on a continuous basis (during situations of high activity, while bathing/showering/swimming, in the morning and the evening, at meals, while in the community, at all times).
• Assist individuals in learning and practicing skills necessary for home living (indoor household chores such as, but not limited to, cooking, sweeping, dusting, bed‑making, vacuuming, and dish‑washing, laundry, folding and storing clothes, etc.).
• Perform advocate responsibilities, while demonstrating respect for the processes and people involved.
• Responsible for all documentation related to the essential function and services for the individual.

Qualifications

Education

High School diploma or General Education Degree (GED).

Experience

• Minimum 1‑year experience working with developmentally disabled population, preferably in a residential, health or treatment‑related setting.

Valid NYS Driver’s License required.

Salary range: $20.00 - $23.25 Hourly (based on education and experience)