Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Open Arms Care; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Open Arms Care seeks a dedicated professional to support individuals in residential settings and community activities. You will promote a positive, organized environment, coach clients in independent living, and coordinate transportation and documentation for services.

The role requires CPR and PCM certifications within specified timelines, a valid driver’s license, and the ability to lift 50 pounds. You’ll work as part of an interdisciplinary team to ensure client welfare and CMS compliance.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Must have valid driver’s license.
• CPR certification within 30 days of hire is required.
• Certified in Professional Crisis Management (PCM) within 60 days of hire is required.
• Ability to lift repetitively a minimum of 50 pounds; tasks may include lifting, repositioning, turning, bending, squatting, etc.
• Good oral, written and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with others.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to follow procedures, instructions, laws and policies.
• Ability to project a positive and professional image on behalf of the organization. Must be an effective team member.
• Ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.

Responsibilities

• Represent OAC in a positive and professional manner in community meetings, events and social functions.
• Provides day-to-day organization and implementation of activities that promote an organized and positive environment.
• Independently make decisions regarding best practices, quality assurance, risk management and problem-solving, including reporting of serious injuries.
• Coach, teach, and mentor individuals in home management and personal independence.
• Engage clients in ISP-based activities for the ID/DD program according to CMS requirements.
• Advocate for each client’s needs and welfare and ensure follow-up when concerns are identified.
• Coordinate, schedule and/or transport clients to appointments and activities; prepare and review required documents.
• Document client participation and progress in training objectives to teach independent living skills.
• Communicate with the interdisciplinary team including ISP’s, behavior management, and incident reports.
• Interact with clients’ families and maintain positive relationships internally and externally.
• Attend trainings/meetings and stay current on all certifications.
• Provide support across local operations when necessary.
• Transport clients to medical appointments and client outings as assigned.
• Maintain work schedules and document time worked accurately.
• Perform duties professionally, timely, and efficiently; take on additional tasks as assigned.
• Participate in committees or volunteer as needed.

Skills

CPR certification

PCM certification

Driver's license

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Confidentiality

Time management

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

To promote an environment of teamwork that encourages client teaching, mentoring, and coaching. That involves active treatment, and skill development and promotes growth. Create a home that yields a clean, organized, welcoming environment. In addition to collaborating with fellow coworkers and leadership using a positive team approach.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Represent OAC in a positive and professional manner in community meetings, events and social functions.
• Provides day-to-day organization and implementation of activities that promote an organized and positive environment. Ensure as the primary professional working with individuals, an environment that is person-centered, organized, non-reactive, and promotes independence.
• Is able to independently make decisions in regard to best practices, quality assurance, risk management and problem-solving. This includes timely response to and documentation and reporting of serious injuries.
• Demonstrates the ability to coach, teach, and mentor individuals in all aspects of home management and personal independence. This includes actively teaching and promoting individual rights and self-advocacy.
• Engages clients in ongoing, meaningful active treatment and the individual support plans (ISP’s) for the clients served in the ID/DD program; implements programs and the delivery of services according to the ISP and the requirements of CMS regulations.
• Advocates for each client’s specific needs and personal welfare in the home and community, and ensures follow-up when concerns are identified.
• Assists with coordinating, scheduling and/or transporting clients to appointments and/or recreational activities on a regular basis; ensures all required documents, files and reports are prepared, reviewed, approved and processed in a timely manner.
• Provides accurate documentation of client’s participation and progress in all training objectives/programs to teach independent living skills; ensures day-to-day assigned tasks are completed.
• Communicates and actively participates with the inter-disciplinary process to include but not limited to individual support plans (ISP’s), behavior management, incident reports, etc.
• Interacts with client’s family members/conservator, & maintains positive relationships internally and externally.
• Must attend all required trainings/meetings and remain current on all certifications.
• To provide support and services to all clients across the local operation when necessary.
• Transport clients to medical appointments, Enrichment Center, and client outings as assigned.
• Responsible for maintaining work schedules. Dependability is required. Monitors and manages own time off and documents time worked accurately.
• Carries out responsibilities and duties in a manner that is professional, timely, effective, and efficient, including other job duties as assigned.
• Additional committees as assigned, or volunteer.

QUALIFICATIONS

Job Requirements

• High school graduate and/or GED preferred
• Must have valid driver’s license
• CPR certification within 30 days of hire is required
• Certified in Professional Crisis Management (PCM) within 60 days of hire is required
• Ability to lift repetitively a minimum of 50 pounds; tasks may include lifting, repositioning, turning, bending, squatting, etc.
• Good oral, written and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with others.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to follow procedures, instructions, laws and policies
• Ability to project a positive and professional image on behalf of the organization. Must be an effective team member.
• Ability to prioritize and manage time effectively.

This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

Open Arms Care Corporation provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or genetics.