Direct Support Professional - Abilities

Overview

• Abilities Of Northwest NJ Inc Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) in a residential setting are responsible for providing direct care, supervision, and support to individuals with developmental disabilities, focusing on their overall well-being and fostering independence in daily activities.
• They assist with essential personal care tasks, including bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, and mobility, while promoting the acquisition of life skills such as cooking, cleaning, and money management.
• DSPs adhere to individualized support plans to help residents achieve their personal goals, ensuring consistent implementation of behavior support plans.
• In addition to personal care, DSPs engage residents in community activities to encourage social integration and participation in meaningful experiences outside the home.
• They maintain a safe, structured environment, provide transportation as needed, participate in medication administration, and respond to medical or behavioral emergencies using approved crisis intervention techniques.
• DSPs also support residents in establishing constructive routines, building positive relationships, and achieving greater independence within the home while ensuring adequate staff coverage.
• Collaboration with healthcare providers, families, and other team members is key to ensuring comprehensive care.
• DSPs are committed to adhering to agency and state policies, including accurate documentation of services, compliance with Medicaid requirements, and active participation in ongoing training and professional development.

Responsibilities

Essential functions

1. Assist with instruction and training of individuals with developmental disabilities in pre-vocational areas such as production, cleaning, grounds maintenance, and community activities. 2. Interact with individuals professionally, respectfully, and compassionately, fostering peer-like relationships throughout daily activities. 3. Follow behavior plans as written and properly trained. 4. Administer First Aid to individuals as necessary. 5. Provide Crisis Intervention using appropriate Crisis Management techniques. 6. Assist individuals with tasks such as cooking, shopping, feeding, toileting, ambulation, and other custodial care as required by their disabilities and as assigned by the supervisor or designee. 7. Provide input into individuals' program needs and goals, contributing to the development of functional work and life skills. 8. Accurately complete and maintain all required paperwork and records related to individuals’ progress/needs, goals, charts, and incident reports, in a timely manner. 9. Create and maintain an organized, consistent, and structured environment. 10. Encourage individuals to achieve success and challenge them to progress to higher levels of independence. 11. Work willingly with individuals who present challenging or aggressive behaviors, require physical assistance, or need one-to-one supervision and training, including those who may need help with toileting or feeding. 12. Tolerate prolonged standing, lifting, pushing, pulling, and being able to move around the program environment to meet the needs of individuals served. 13. Communicate supply and material needs to the supervisor promptly. 14. Be flexible and willing to accept various job assignments, including on-site and off-site training, cleaning, providing transportation, assisting with community and volunteer activities, and serving as back-up for other housing units. 15. Comply with workplace safety and health policies and procedures, promoting a safe work environment. 16. Adhere to the Abilities attendance policy and ensure program coverage is maintained appropriately. 17. Ensure staff adhere to policies and procedures related to the Electronic Health Records System. 18. Attend all required trainings as mandated by position, supervision, or agency administration. 19. Comply with all agency, DDD, and Medicaid policies and procedures. 20. Perform other duties as assigned by management to support the overall function and success of the program.

Qualifications

Salary

• Starting at $19.40/ hr depending on education / experience
• SKILLS: 1. The ability to exercise good judgment and use common sense. 2. The ability to remain calm in crisis situations. 3. The ability to interact with a wide range of people respectfully. 4. The ability to learn and accurately complete paperwork, including basic math and daily progress notes. 5. The ability to approach daily work from a person-centered perspective. 6. Proficiency with technology, including tablets, computers, and Microsoft Office programs (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). 7. Ability to lift and transfer at least 50 pounds 8. The ability to sit, bend, squat, reach, and stand for several hours at a time. 9. Must be able to read, write and verbally communicate in English and direct/respond to individuals needs