Direct Support Professional

Knoxcountyarc; Vincennes (IN); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A community support agency in Indiana is seeking a Direct Support Professional Assistant to work closely with participants, providing essential life skills training and ensuring their personal care needs are met. Responsibilities include administering medications, maintaining documentation, and assisting with mobility. Candidates should have a high school diploma and experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities. The position requires effective communication, empathy, and the ability to lift up to 75 pounds. The role is hourly and involves a flexible schedule.

Qualifications

• Flexible schedule to meet department demands.
• Ability to communicate effectively with varied backgrounds.
• Computer literate.

Responsibilities

• Instruct and provide Life Skills training to participants.
• Administer medication as needed.
• Document participant progress and behavior.

Skills

Ability to assist with personal care

Effective communication

Ability to multitask

Empathy and tact

Education

High School diploma or GED equivalent

Job description

Description

Job Title: Direct Support Professional Assistant

Supervisor: Vice President of Program Services or designee

Department: Program Services

FLSA Status: Hourly

Summary: The Direct Support Professional Assistant will work with participants in various agency and community locations.

Essential Duties

1. Adhere to KCARC’s quality policy of striving to continuously improve delivery of all services and products to customers meeting or exceeding requirements.
2. Promote the mission and values of KCARC through personal example, providing educational opportunities, communicating with honesty, inviting input, and expecting mutual accountability.
3. Instruct and provide Life Skills training to assigned participants. Ensure participant’s needs are met through services within program guidelines and billable service definitions. Instruction should be provided in a manner that maximizes the participant’s independence and minimizes the intervention of staff using least invasive prompting methodology.
4. Assist in implementing individualized training plans, comprehensive assessments, task analysis, community resource assessment and collecting appropriate data.
5. Medication administration as needed to meet the needs of individuals served. Instruct and assist participants with personal hygiene needs as appropriate.
6. Strictly adhere to each participant’s risk plan, dining plan, wellness plan, and seizure plan as applicable.
7. Provide and/or assist with lifting, turning, moving, positioning, and transporting participants into and out of beds, chairs, bathtubs, wheelchairs, lifts, etc. (as needed).
8. Complete all required documentation and forms for each participant, i.e., behavior tracking, task element progress, sleep tracking.
9. Provide medical assistance to participants as needed. Regularly complete all required medical routines and documentation including but not limited to medication administration. Address participants’ medical issues proactively.
10. Assist participants with operation, usage, and maintenance of adaptive devices.
11. Always maintain professionalism and confidentiality, as well as a positive attitude within the work environment.
12. Be able to frequently lift 75 pounds independently and over 75 pounds with assistance.
13. Follow all policies, procedures or regulations set by local, state and federal regulatory agencies, including ISO standards.
14. All other duties deemed necessary.
15. Additional hours if needed are mandatory.

Requirements

Qualifications:

1. Possess ability to maintain flexible schedule to meet the demands of the department.
2. Maintain good hygiene.
3. Possess ability to assist with full spectrum of participant’s personal care needs.
4. Possess the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
5. Possess the ability to use tact and empathy when dealing with people of varied backgrounds.
6. Possess the ability to establish effective working relationships.
7. Possess the ability to work independently and in a team environment.
8. Be Computer literate.
9. Accept responsibility and demonstrate leadership.
10. Be able to multitask effectively in a sometimes fast paced environment.

Education and/or Experience

High School diploma or GED equivalent preferred. One year experience working with participants with developmental disabilities and three years of driving experience is preferred.

Certifications/Licenses/Registrations

Medication Administration: Core A and Core B, Medication Administration and side effects and show competency.

CPR/First Aid.

Physical Demands

The employee must be able to perform the essential duties of this job.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to fumes, airborne particles and outside weather conditions. The noise level is usually moderate but occasionally loud. Use of Personal Protective Equipment such as vinyl or latex gloves is occasionally required.