Direct Support Professional (CLS)

AHRC Nassau; Locust Valley (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

AHRC Nassau is seeking Direct Support Staff to provide ongoing guidance and support to individuals in Community Living Services, ensuring a high quality of life through assistance with self-care, health, safety, and wellbeing.

You will help individuals participate in community activities, support household chores, and follow treatment plans while documenting progress and maintaining records. Responsibilities include transportation, mentoring new staff, and attending team meetings.

Qualifications

• Must be able to communicate and understand written and oral directives/information.
• High School Diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Must have the ability to communicate and understand written and oral directives/information.

Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing guidance and support to individuals to ensure active participation in daily life, including self-care, health, safety, and wellbeing.
• Support individuals in becoming active community members and maintaining relationships.
• Assist with household chores to ensure a safe, clean home and participate in chores as needed.
• Follow treatment plans and use adaptive equipment to promote independence and health.
• Assist with meal preparation, including nutrition and cooking basics.
• Assist with medication administration according to AMAP policy and procedures.
• Document treatment plans, medical notes, logs, and progress toward goals.
• Attend meetings as part of the interdisciplinary team and share progress and ideas.
• Provide transportation for medical appointments, shopping, and outings.
• Mentor new Direct Support Staff and review training materials to prepare them for responsibilities.
• Participate in House Meetings and maintain certification/training expectations.
• Perform other duties as requested by supervisor.
• This position requires fingerprint/criminal background check.

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Practice and promote the agency’s mission statement and guiding principles in every interaction. Provide ongoing support to the people that live in the Community Living Services program to ensure that a high quality of life is maintained. Provide support in the areas of, for example, self‑care routines, health, safety, household chores, socialization, and overall wellbeing.

• Provides ongoing guidance and support to individuals with intellectual and other disabilities to ensure active participation in every aspect of their lives (i.e., self‑care routines, health, safety, household chores, socialization and overall wellbeing). Provide only the level of support necessary for each individual to ensure independence and engagement in their daily routine.
• Provide support to become active members of the community, as well as maintain and build upon natural supports and relationships.
• Ensures a safe and clean home by providing support to individuals to assist them with the completion of household chores and by participating in said household chores as needed.
• Follows all treatment plans and utilizes all corresponding adaptive and safety equipment needed for each individual to promote independence and ensure their health, safety and well-being.
• Supports individuals in preparing meals by teaching concepts such as diet adherence, portion control and cooking skills.
• Assists individuals with medication administration according to the AMAP policy and procedures.
• Implements and documents all treatment plans and other agency related materials (i.e., residential habilitation goals, medical case notes, communication logs, etc.) to assist individuals in achieving independence in their selected valued outcomes and to ensure their health, safety and well-being.
• Adheres to overtime, scheduling, and minimum staffing policy and procedures to ensure that quality support is provided to individuals each day.
• Serves as member of the inter‑disciplinary team by attending and participating in all meetings to discuss individuals’ progress and goal achievements and to offer and gather information and ideas.
• Provides transportation to individuals for medical appointments, shopping, recreational outings and any other transportation needs.
• Mentors new Direct Support Staff by demonstrating supportive routines and by reviewing training manuals to ensure new employees are sufficiently groomed to complete responsibilities.
• Participates in House Meetings and maintains all certification and training expectations.
• Performs all other duties as requested by supervisor.

This position requires regular and substantial unsupervised or unrestricted physical contact with people receiving services and, therefore, is subject to successful completion of fingerprint/criminal background check.

Training on Personal Outcome Measures (POM) is required prior to completion of evaluations and assessments.

• High School Diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Must submit a valid NYS drivers’ license, and maintain a qualified driver status throughout employment.
• Must have the ability to communicate and understand written and oral directives/information.

Physical Aspects may include but are not limited to lifting and transferring of individuals (children and/or adults). Inability to meet the physical demands of the position may impact employment.