Summary: Monitors and supports work of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). Schedules and delegates work and responsibilities. Provides personal care services and participates in implementation of program/treatment plans for individuals served by the program.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

PROVISION OF DIRECT CARE

• Provides personal care and assists individuals served with self-help skills to include toileting, grooming, feeding, bathing, dressing, etc.
• Observes and records data to document progress of individuals served toward objectives.
• Uses appropriate behavior modification techniques to manage undesirable behavior of individuals served.
• Reviews recommendations for positioning of individuals served, transfers, use of adaptive equipment, feeding protocols, etc. and demonstrates good understanding of the needs of each individual served. Proactively communicates any questions or concerns.
• Ensures that individuals served are dressed and ready on time for clinic, medical appointments, and other activities.
• Accompanies individuals on outings as requested.
• May be required to drive Easterseals vehicles, following satisfactory completion of Rules of the Road training.
• Demonstrates understanding that children never stop learning, therefore assists individuals served with leisure time activities by interacting with them, encouraging social interactions, and by organizing/leading/initiating activities and games.
• Cooperates with coworkers and other departments to provide individuals served with a nurturing and supportive living environment.

PROGRAM OVERSIGHT

• Assigns DSPs to care teams and ensures staff have a clear understanding of each individual’s needs and expectations.
• Ensures staff follow work and program schedules and are in assigned locations at all times.
• Directs work of DSPs on shift to ensure each individual’s goals and objectives are implemented and documented accurately.
• Ensures DSPs remain engaged with individuals served and carry out scheduled programming activities during leisure time.
• Ensures DSPs are aware of and adhere to recommendations for positioning, transfers, use of adaptive equipment, feeding protocols, etc. as they provide support, care and assistance to individuals served.
• Ensures DSPs implement behavior programs appropriately.
• As applicable per shift, assigns and directs general duties including straightening and cleaning day rooms, wiping down wheelchairs, emptying trash, and cleaning/putting toys away.
• Attends program meetings as requested by DSP Manager or program director, and provides input as needed in the development and review of IPP.
• Immediately notifies nurse of any indication of client medical problems..
• Shares in on-call responsibilities for staff coverage and for emergent situations as scheduled by DSP Manager. Responds to calls in a timely manner. Comes in if unable to resolve call remotely.
• Reports issues with building/facility to DSP Manager or Program Director and to building services team.

COMPLIANCE AND QUALITY

• Promotes quality services and awareness among DSPs by observation and conducting random quality checks.
• Monitors quality of work of staff including cleanliness and safety of individuals served, implementation of training plans for individuals served, adherence to recommendations on application and use of adaptive equipment, and documentation.
• Ensures program’s compliance with all applicable Easterseals Arkansas (ESA) policies and procedures.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, specifically including, but not limited to the Office of Long-Term Care, and other licensing and certification agencies.
• Responds promptly and constructively to concerns raised from individuals served, families, or employees.
• Reviews and evaluates the quality of services being provided and works with staff to improve program quality, effectiveness, and efficiency.
• Ensures proper processes are followed for reporting incidents, injuries, or complaints, including escalation to the department manager or program Director.

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

• Ensures staff are trained and job expectations are clearly communicated.
• Documents any concerns related to job performance and communicates these concerns to the DSP Manager.
• Assists in maintaining proper staff coverage, working directly with DSP Manager.
• Reviews daily staff assignments and makes alternate assignments in the absence of regular staff, with approval of the DSP Manager.
• Provides input and supporting documentation, as applicable, to DSP Manager regarding concerns about time and attendance.
• Supervises agency staff, ensuring they have received adequate training to perform their job, keeps DSP Manager informed of agency staff job performance.
• Participates in staff performance feedback, as directed DSP Manager.
• Assists DSP Manager with recruitment, interviewing and on-boarding of new staff, as directed.
• Provides feedback to DSP Manager on 90-day and annual employee evaluations. Completes evaluations as directed by the DSP Manager.
• Assists DSP Manager in ensuring time and attendance records are kept up to date and attendance concerns are addressed in a timely manner.

Compliance/HIPAA:

While performing the duties of this job, employee will comply with all federal, state and local laws and regulations pertaining to Easterseals Arkansas.

Employee has access to client protected health information for persons directly served by this position. Employee will not attempt to access any other protected health information unless otherwise approved by Supervisor or Privacy Officer.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Directly supervises up to 10 employees. Carries out supervisory responsibilities under the direction of the Direct Support Professional Manager, in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include assisting in interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Education and/or Experience:

High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required. Associate degree or higher preferred. Six months direct care experience and/or training required. Two years supervisory experience preferred. May substitute associate or bachelor’s degree in related field for one year of supervisory experience.

Language Skills:

Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one situations to clients, and other employees of the organization.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Other Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of behavior modification techniques

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

Arkansas Driver's License

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; talk or hear and taste or smell. The employee is frequently required to walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 20 pounds, frequently lift and/or move 30 or more pounds utilizing 2 person life. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Easterseals Arkansas has designated this position as a “non-safety sensitive” position under the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment.