Direct Support Professional - Northern Nassau County, NY

YAI; Port Washington (WI); On-site; USD 24,796 - 26,243; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

DailyPay available

Tuition reimbursement

Medical and dental insurance

Paid vacation, holiday, and sick time

403(b) retirement with employer matching

Life insurance and long-term disability

Job summary

YAI is seeking Direct Support Professionals for our locations in Port Washington, Manhasset, Glen Cove, and Williston Park. This role involves working closely with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, assisting them in daily activities, and implementing personalized support plans.

The position offers part-time and full-time hours with a starting pay of $18.00/hour to $19.05/hour based on qualifications. Benefits include medical, dental, and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Ability to meet physical demands of position.
• Must obtain Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention certification within a year.

Responsibilities

• Assist individuals with daily living activities.
• Provide emotional support and build positive relationships.
• Implement individualized service plans and behavior support plans.

Skills

Effective written and oral communication skills

Ability to assist with ADLs

Enthusiasm for supporting individuals with I/DD

Basic computer skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

If you are a current YAI employee, please click this link to apply through your Workday account.

About The Position

We are hiring Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) for our Port Washington, Manhasset, Glen Cove and Williston Park locations.

DSPs work closely with people of all ages who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Depending on the supports needed, DSPs may work in a person’s home, in their family’s home, in a YAI residence, at a day habilitation center, or out in the community.

Program

• Residential Services

Location

• Northern Nassau County

Schedule

• Full time, part time, weekday and/or weekend positions available – including morning, evening, and overnight schedules.

Key/Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Assists individuals in maximizing their strengths, interests, and abilities, upholding their personal rights, displaying patience and tolerance while providing emotional support and building positive relationships.
• Supports people to meet personal goals that characterize quality of life, engages in respectful communication and conversations through person‑first language, encourages socializing and facilitates activities that provide social capital and connections to the community.
• Responsible for the overall supervision, protection, and care of individuals at all times including maintenance of program guidelines for protection, facilitating learning and training in fire safety, and appropriately escalating signs of potential harm to self or others.
• Ensures health, wellness and safety by providing appropriate supervision of the people we support and managing crisis situations while adhering to applicable policies, procedures and regulations.
• Provides support in a variety of settings and in accordance with each person’s individualized service and behavior support plans, utilizing support skills for people with varying levels of need and demonstrating the OPWDD Core Competencies.
• Ensures implementation of person‑centered, individualized plans following levels of supervision and safeguards, including protective oversight (IPOPs), Behavior Support Plans (BSPs), Staff Action and/or Life Plans for all people we support, understanding the intentions and goals of the plans.
• Maintains a clean, safe and organized therapeutic environment.
• Utilizes safe and appropriate handling procedures when working with individuals and implements infection control protocols.
• Assists with a variety of tasks for people we support, as appropriate/authorized, including:
• Providing personal care and assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) including intimate care and personal hygiene (e.g. bathing, dressing, and toileting), laundry and housekeeping.
• Ensuring that medication is administered as prescribed, in accordance with applicable guidelines.
• Teaching and developing skills.
• Supporting person‑centered advocacy with the individuals.
• Assisting in communication, self‑expression and resolving disputes among individuals.
• Facilitating ethical decision making.
• Providing supervision for and/or planning and preparing balanced meals and snacks for people we support in accordance with dietary restrictions and guidelines of specific individuals, including for modified diets or liquid consistencies.
• Transporting and escorting individuals on recreational activities, medical appointments, home visits, volunteer and/or employment sites, etc.
• Assisting people with making purchases, as well as safeguarding personal allowance funds and any additional funds provided.
• Developing an understanding of specialized clinical knowledge for person‑specific needs (supporting adults, challenging behaviors, autism spectrum disorders, complex medical needs).
• Implementing the Behavior Support Plan as written by the Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS).
• Collecting, recording, and summarizing data on individuals’ observable behavior.
• Observing and reporting any changes in behavior, or other signs and symptoms, to the clinical and/or leadership team.
• Serving as a member of a highly effective team (teamwork within the circle of support), providing feedback and communicating programmatic needs to team members and maintaining a solution‑oriented approach during conflicts.
• Completing and maintaining all necessary trainings and certifications, including specialized trainings based on program and position to ensure compliance with YAI policies and all applicable rules or regulations.
• Reviewing communication logs daily and making entries of events, progress notes, services and/or information; collecting and entering data as part of daily operations using an electronic health record.
• Reviewing and completing all other required paperwork and documentation to ensure compliance and/or billing completely, accurately and within appropriate timeframes.
• Using foundational teaching skills (Explain, Model, Observe and Evaluate [EMOE], task analysis, essential skills, supports and modifications, etc.) and progressive teaching.
• Understanding behavior as communication and employing person‑centered thinking to support positive interactions and prevent further escalation.
• Complying with all Federal, State, Local and other relevant regulatory agency requirements, including HIPAA.
• Reporting maintenance, upkeep and safety concerns observed at YAI facilities to Program Supervisor or appropriate designee.
• Consulting with program leadership, clinical and other direct support staff to ensure streamlined and top‑quality care for individuals and attending and actively participating in team meetings.
• Utilizing and demonstrating approved YAI and OPWDD training techniques (i.e., verbal, environmental, and physical interventions, including take‑downs) to respond timely and appropriately to challenging and/or self‑injurious behavior, ensuring the health and safety of the people we support, and the safety of self and others.
• Providing coverage for other direct support staff as requested.
• Participating in the development of treatment plans.
• Possibly required to operate a YAI motor vehicle to transport individuals to and/or from programs, residences, community or other locations on a daily (or other regular) basis with appropriate credentials.
• Performing all other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Ability to meet essential physical demands of the position—including frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling and reaching with hands and arms; assisting with lifting or moving individuals of any weight with or without assistance from mechanical lifts or other equipment; lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds on occasion; and performing emergency interventions as required by a Behavior Support Plan.
• Effective written and oral communication skills, including the ability to appropriately document services provided for billing and tracking purposes.
• Enthusiasm for working with people with I/DD, willingness to take initiative and ability to demonstrate positivity, patience, empathy, and compassion in all interactions.
• Ability and willingness to assist with a variety of supports and ADLs as requested, including regular exposure to and handling of various bodily fluids.
• Basic computer skills—including email, Workday and related systems to complete tasks.
• Must hold or obtain and maintain Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention—Revised (SCIP‑R) within one year of appointment.
• Must hold or obtain and maintain additional certifications as required by program assignment and persons supported (for example: Choking – Return Demonstration, Approved Medication Administration Personnel (AMAP), Diabetes Care, CPR, Tube Feeding, etc.) within one year of appointment.
• Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships in alignment with YAI’s mission and vision.
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations and to work in a high‑energy, fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to work beyond regularly scheduled hours/shift and/or report to work as scheduled on holidays, in inclement weather or during other emergencies to maintain minimum coverage requirements of the program.
• For assignments that require vehicle transport, must hold or obtain and maintain a valid Driver’s License and Van certification (based on position/location/program).

Preferred Qualification Requirements

• High school diploma or its educational equivalent.
• Work or life experience in the I/DD field is a plus, but not mandatory (for DSP 1 positions).
• For elevated DSP positions, must have at least three (3) years of direct support professional experience with the I/DD population and must obtain and maintain required YAI certifications based on setting within six (6) months of appointment.

Compensation

• $18.00/hour – $19.05/hour (depending on qualifications and experience).

Benefits

• DailyPay available.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Medical and dental insurance—with options for family and more extensive medical plans, as well as vision for full‑time positions.
• Paid vacation, holiday, and sick time (depending on time type).
• 403(b) retirement with employer matching contributions.
• Life insurance and long‑term disability.
• Discounts on travel, entertainment, wireless services, shopping, and more.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam or disabled veteran. YAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To ensure fairness, safeguard transparency, and promote an equitable workforce environment, YAI Network prohibits the practice of nepotism in the workforce and hiring process.