DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL

## Description
**SUMMARY/OBJECTIVE:**
A Direct Support Professional ensures individuals' health, safety and welfare, enhances the quality of
individuals' lives, and supports community inclusion.
**Essential Functions (Job Duties)**
**Ultimate responsibility for client programming and care**

• Ensure adequate food, shelter and clothing is available for each resident.
• Provide first aid and nursing assistance as necessary or as requested by nurse or supervisor, reporting nursing and medical needs to a supervisor as needed.
• Provide individual assessment and instruction to residents in daily living skills.
• Lift, transfer and position as prescribed.
• Prepare meals, involving residents in preparation.
• Intervene and assist in crisis situations, accessing appropriate resources as needed.
• Provide support for community outings.
• Monitor and dispense medications and adhere to physician’s orders.
• Provide programming as written by Program Coordinator.
• Communicate programming information to Program Coordinator and Manager as needed.
• Ensure staffing ratios are met at all times.
• Demonstrate cultural beliefs in daily interactions.
• Utilize the least restrictive prompting at all times.
• Follow behaviors plans and crisis management plans as written.
• Participate in staff, team, and residence meetings.
• Attend appropriate training in accordance with the agency's personnel policies and maintain required certifications.
• Perform any related duties as assigned.

Complete timely and accurate documentation as required.

• Contemporaneously and accurately document programming as per policy and procedure manual.
• Accurately document client care and medical information as prescribed.

**Miscellaneous**

• Assist with residence cleanliness and upkeep as instructed.
• Follow universal precautions protocols.
• Demonstrate flexibility with scheduling.
• Protect client confidentiality.
• Participate in required trainings.
• Professionally represent Citizen Advocates, Inc. with families, other organizations and the community.
• Follow program policy and procedure manual as written.

## Qualifications
**Competencies**

• Confidentiality
• Putting individuals first
• Building and maintaining positive relationships
• Professionalism
• Ethical conduct
• Organization

**Job Demands**

Must be able to lift fifty (50) pounds, move intermittently throughout the day, provide personal care to clients, work in stressful situations, and work in a team environment.

**Position Type/Expected Hours of Work**

Workweek schedule: Community Living is a 24-hour operation 7 days per week. Schedule determined by supervisor to meet location/departmental needs.

*Hours and schedules may vary depending on Company need and workload. Employees will be given as much advance notice as possible when such changes occur.*

**Travel**

Travel as needed; mostly for resident hospital visits. Travel as far as Albany, NY.

**Required Education and Experience**

One year experience working with people with developmental disabilities/mental health needs.

**Other Duties**

*Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.*