Personal Support Coach

The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region; Aberdeen (MD); On-site; USD 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region is seeking a Personal Support Coach-DSP to support individuals in residential settings, promoting dignity and independence in daily activities and community involvement.

Responsibilities include personal care, transportation coordination, documentation, and collaboration with nursing staff to ensure safety and quality of life, while adhering to agency policies and state regulations.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent is required.
• Two years’ experience in a residential setting is preferred.
• CNA/GNA Certification preferred.
• CPR and First Aid Certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Uphold the mission by empowering individuals to live and thrive with person-centered support.
• Assist with personal care such as toileting, feeding, and hygiene.
• Support daily living skills including meal planning, shopping, grooming, and job skills.
• Model good hygiene, appropriate dress, and respectful social interactions.
• Schedule and transport individuals to community events, appointments, and worksites.
• Maintain daily documentation (Caretracker, medication, behavior charts).
• Administer medications timely and notify nursing staff as needed.
• Provide financial guidance such as budgeting and banking support.
• Follow person-centered/no restraint philosophy and agency policies.
• Develop, guide, and execute PCPs; review BSPs; report abuse or neglect.

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

CNA/GNA Certification

CPR and First Aid Certifications

Job description

Position Summary

The role of Personal Support Coach-DSP is responsible for ensuring that our supported people are served in an integrated, dignified, and respectful environment and receive necessary supports in order to be active in their chosen environments and communities. These supports will be provided with dignity and respect according to their personal preferences, and in accordance with the agency’s policies, procedures, mission, and philosophy, as well as those of the State of Maryland/Federal, mandated laws, policies, and regulations.

Description

Position Summary

The role of Personal Support Coach-DSP is responsible for ensuring that our supported people are served in an integrated, dignified, and respectful environment and receive necessary supports in order to be active in their chosen environments and communities. These supports will be provided with dignity and respect according to their personal preferences, and in accordance with the agency’s policies, procedures, mission, and philosophy, as well as those of the State of Maryland/Federal, mandated laws, policies, and regulations.

Position Responsibilities

In a manner consistent with supporting The Arc NCR Mission Statement the Personal Support Coach-DSP shall do the following:

• Agrees to uphold the mission of the organization by empowering the people supported to live, work, and thrive in the desired manner, and the person-centered philosophy.
• Assist our supported people with personal care such as toileting, feeding, hygiene, etc., as needed.
• Assist our supported people with daily living skills such as meal planning & preparation, shopping, grooming, job skills, home maintenance & cleaning, etc.
• Assist and set the example for our supported people with understanding good hygiene, appropriate dress, and proper social interaction while in their home, out in the community, or in work settings.
• Assist with scheduling and transporting our supported people to community events, socials, worksites, and other appointments.
• Continue to be a liaison between the person supported and the community to provide meaningful and impactful supports to include using all resources to keep the person supported engaged.
• Complete daily documentation, including but not limited to Caretracker data, medication, and behavioral charting.
• If applicable, administer medications timely to all individuals supported and notify nursing staff of any concerns.
• Assist individuals supported with financial guidance such as budgeting, planning, banking, and related documentation.
• Follow the person-centered/no restraint philosophy, and the mission of The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region are always upheld.
• Assists in developing, guiding, and executing supported person(s) Plans (PCPs).
• Reviews and follow all Behavioral Plans (BSPs)
• Reports any instances of abuse and neglect immediately.
• Complete any Incident Reports and Nursing Call Forms within 24 hours to document instances serious in nature.
• Assist in the peer training of new team members.
• Maintains all required training and certification for the position.
• Effectively track all time by clocking in and out and transferring departments when needed in the timekeeping system.
• Agrees to follow all department and agency policies and procedures and to do so in a respectful and positive manner.
• Understands and agrees to work with supported persons and/or locations not regularly assigned, to include other departments; being open to receiving the required training to do so.
• Undertake other duties as assigned, including special projects and cross-program development.

Qualifications

Education, Training and Experience:

• High School Diploma or equivalent is required.
• Two (2) years’ experience in a residential setting is preferred.
• CNA/GNA Certification preferred.
• CPR and First Aid Certifications preferred.

Physical Demands And Work Environment

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a qualified individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

While performing the duties associated with this position, an employee (using approved agency lifting techniques) will be called upon to support and lift an adult with developmental and other disabilities; transfer a person to and from wheelchairs; to and from beds; on and off toilet seats; in and out of showers; and, in and out of vans or other vehicles. An employee in this position must be able to physically intervene (when appropriate and in an approved manner) to protect a person from causing harm to themselves or others and to safely evacuate the community residence/van/facility during an emergency. These duties may entail occasionally exerting 50-70 pounds of force by pulling, pushing, or lifting objects or people. The employee will collaborate with people who possess diverse disabilities and may exhibit a spectrum of behaviors, potentially including assertive and unpredictable behavior.

Employees will regularly be required to stand; walk; sit; use hands (or hands and arms) to carry, finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop; crouch and kneel. Employees will also be regularly required to hear (with or without hearing devices), see (with or without corrective lenses), and speak.

Additional Requirements

• Access to reliable transportation.
• Active valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, and no more than two (2) points.
• Maintain proof of current automobile insurance.
• Maintenance of all required trainings under DDA guidelines and The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region policies and procedures.
• Flexibility of scheduling to meet agency and program needs.