Direct Support Professional – Residential

Multiple part time, full time, and on-call positions available in various locations throughout the State of Rhode Island.

JOB PURPOSE

The Direct Support Professional supports participant(s) living in 24-hour residential programs in achieving goals, dreams, and desires as outlined in the participant’s Individual Service Plan (ISP).

Qualifications

• Experience supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
• Strong interpersonal skills, dependability, responsible, of strong character
• Abide by all HIPAA requirements to uphold participant confidentiality
• Motivated, eager to learn, and desire to improve
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in the English language
• Competent in technological applications- basic knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and ability to learn web-based portals
• Clear National criminal background check supported by fingerprints and Rhode Island Criminal background check (BCI), absent from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) exclusions list, a valid driver’s license, and a good driving record
• High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED)
• Must be eighteen (18) years of age

Additional Requirements

• Flexibility: all DSP shifts may change as the needs of the program change resulting in a move to a different location
• Ability to work independently as well as within a group setting
• Current driver’s license, vehicle insurance, registration, and inspection
• DSPs are required to competently operate all program vehicles including cars, lift vans, and vehicles with adaptive equipment. DSPs of programs that utilize lift vans and larger occupancy vans are required to successfully complete agency vehicle training prior to operation

Job Responsibilities

• Observe participant rights per state and federal legislation and regulation
• Activities of Daily Living (ADL) as required by the participant(s) including but not limited to ambulating, feeding, dressing, personal hygiene, and toileting 
• Respect participant’s decision even when in conflict with DSP views
• Socialization including but not limited to community inclusion and internal peer activities
• Building Interpersonal relationships and self-preservation skills
• Transportation
• Promoting leisure, recreational, and independent living skills
• Maintain cleanliness of the property: building and vehicles
• Emergency situations and conflict resolution in accordance to training
• Program and vehicle logs
• Execution of fire drills
• Keep appropriate participant(s) records including:
  • Daily logs
  • Behavior programs
  • Data collection in internal databases and Therap
  • Consultant programs  
  • Staff logs
  • All other documentation as directed by supervisor
• Participate in staff meetings and trainings as required by the Fogarty Center and/or at the discretion of the supervisor
• Attend ISP meeting and participant group meetings as directed by supervisor
• Support self-determination and person-centered delivery of service
• Participate as an active and constructive team member in all aspects of work duties
• Role model appropriate behavior, ensure a safe environment, and respectfully represent the Fogarty Center at all times
• Communicate clearly and concisely with all professionals within participant team
• Provide staffing coverage for vacations, sick, other absences from work, emergencies, or if additional staffing is required as approved by the supervisor, transfer work location as directed by supervisor
• Effectively communicate with parents, legal guardians, and/or other agencies with prior approval from supervisor
• Socialization: participant vacation, family outings
• Implementation and Documentation:
  • Specialized medical care as directed by Nursing team including but not limited to monitoring, reporting, dispensing medication, maintaining communication with Nursing team with any changes in status and updates as needed
  • Medical appointments- coordinating, transporting, reporting
  • Program and Vehicle logs
    • Participant(s) Personal Needs / Clothing and/or Savings as assigned by the Program Manager
  • Keeps appropriate participant(s) records including:
    • Vendor logs
    • Medication logs
• All overnight positions are awake, alert, and active shifts