Community DSP - PWW

Enjoy making a difference? Join the team at FREE, enriching the lives of others, one individual at a time.

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual / developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to support people of all abilities reach their full potential and thrive in their communities. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing; recovery services; transition to work; employment; day, community and family services; respite; crisis services; education and after school support; specialty health services; and advocacy.

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Manager or Senior Manager, the Community Direct Support Professional (DSP) provides habilitation services to individuals in community-based settings to support skill development, independence, and meaningful community integration. Services focus on assisting individuals with activities of daily living and building skills related to communication, socialization, transportation, problem-solving, money management, life safety, and other areas that promote independence and valued outcomes. Habilitation services are primarily community-based and typically center on recreational, volunteer, and social opportunities. The Community DSP is responsible for organizing and implementing services in a manner that promotes health, safety, and personal choice while adhering to all agency policies, procedures, mission, and values. This role requires the ability to speak, read, and write in English at a level sufficient to successfully complete required training, understand and follow support plans, communicate with care teams and providers, accurately document services and patient information, and to comply with health and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• of All FREE Employees
• Always communicates in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community.
• Complies fully with FREE’s confidentiality policies by holding in strictest confidence all information pertaining to members, residents, the people we support and their families, clients, providers, contractors, and employees.
• Meets all safety training requirements; adheres to all safety policies and reports any and all unsafe conditions; takes measures to prevent accidents and/or eliminate conditions that pose a safety or health risk.
• Coordinates, supports, attends and participates in all required events/ meetings/ reviews/ committees, including ones outside of standard working hours.
• Meets all job requirements and stays in compliance.
• Adheres to FREE’s standard of ethical behavior as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct as well as applicable laws and regulations. Please note the above duties, responsibilities, and essential functions are a non-exhaustive list, and may be changed by FREE at any time, with or without notice to the employee.

Qualifications

• Education: oHigh School Diploma or equivalent is required

Experience

• oExperience performing related job duties preferred
• Specialized
• Training,
• Licenses,
• Certifications: oNot required, training will be provided upon hire as needed
• Knowledge,
• Skills,
• Competencies, and
• Abilities: oFunctional proficiency in spoken and written English oProficient computer skills preferred oProficient writing skills with grasp of basic grammar and spelling oDemonstrated ability to work in a team environment with flexibility, keeping others informed and anticipating needs is essential oMust be efficient, well organized, and have excellent communication skills

Other Requirements

o18 years of age or older oValid Driver’s License and satisfy criteria to be a driver for the agency is required oBased on business needs, loss of driving privileges may result in change of work location, shift, weekly hours, or termination of employment. oMust be able to be reached by phone

• WORK ENVIRONMENT This role is performed in-person and requires extensive travel. Community DSPs might be required to utilize their own transportation to provide services (program dependent). Staff might be required to utilize their personal cell phone for the Electronic Health Records system (program dependent). PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
• Employee is required to sit, walk and stand for prolonged period of time (at least 8 hours).
• Employee is required to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Employee is required to operate standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, fax and filing cabinets.
• Employee is required to reach with hands and arms.
• Employee is required to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch or stand on a stool as needed.
• Employee is required to be able to lift 50 pounds at a time. Notwithstanding the above listed physical requirements of this position, FREE will provide reasonable accommodations to allow employees to perform the essential functions of the position, provided such reasonable accommodations do not cause undue hardship on FREE. FREE is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected characteristic. In addition to federal law requirements, FREE complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in all of its locations. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises’ affirmative action efforts related to protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are set out and described in our affirmative action plan for protected veterans and individuals with a disability. If you have any questions or would like to view the affirmative action plan, please visit our website www.familyres.org