About the Role

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) provides person centered support based on the individual’s needs, preferences and choices. DSPs perform a wide variety of tasks and activities based on the valued outcomes of each person they work with and reflecting the specific skills and abilities of each individual. DSPs encourage, guide and offer training to develop daily living skills, ensuring personal needs are met, promoting active engagement in community life and ensuring health and safety. DSPs create a positive and enriching program environment for all people supported. Direct Support Professionals are a vital member of each person’s support team. DSPs are expected to align their performance with the Code of Ethics and OPWDD DSP Competencies.

What You’ll Do

• Supports the person’s developmental needs, desires, preferences, and choices.
• Provides support with the person’s goals as outlined by their Staff Action and Life Plan.
• Escort people supported the community for both recreational purposes and with healthcare professionals as needed.
• Assist with meal planning and preparation
• Provide the necessary level of supervision and support for a person’s needs (behavioral, medical developmental, emotional etc.)
• Safely administer medication under the license of the RN as described in Administration of Medication Training (if applicable)
• Be knowledgeable of all OPWDD, NYSJC, and organizational policies and adhere to them accordingly
• Ensures that the program environment is clean, safe and offers a positive-home like environment
• Complete all mandated OPWDD and Rising Ground Trainings
• Act as a mandated reporter in accordance with OPWDD, NYSJC, and Organizational Policies
• Notify program RN or appropriate administrator when a concern arises that may impact on the health or safety of the people supported.
• Contemporaneously complete all documentation including, but not limited to monthly progress notes, daily billing, medical follow-up, clinical data or other communications as assigned
• Per-Diem status means that this position is not full time, and that the schedule is not guaranteed. However, there is an expectation that you will reliably report to all shifts that you agree to be assigned to. Additionally, while per-diems may opt to perform shifts at multiple programs, it is your responsibility to primarily report to your administrative supervisor first before accepting additional hours elsewhere.
• Per-diems who are able, but voluntarily opt to not perform any hours for more than a 90-day period, will be considered to have voluntarily resigning their position
• Other Duties assigned based on programmatic need

Your Qualifications

• High School Diploma/GED Required
• Must be able to work independently and self-directed.
• Must be able to use technology (for completion of billing data and other assigned tasks)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Positive attitude toward the challenges faced by the people that we support.
• Must be flexible with meeting the needs of the people they support.
• Availability to meet the schedule of the position as assigned, with occasional flexibility
• Prior experience with OPWDD or supporting people with disabilities is a plus

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

Supervisory Responsibility

No

Work Environment:

Field/Residential

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
Per-Diem status means that this position is not full-time, and that the schedule is not guaranteed. However, there is an expectation that you will reliably report to all shifts that you agree to be assigned to. Additionally, while per-diems may opt to perform shifts at multiple programs, it is your responsibility to primarily report to your administrative supervisor first before accepting additional hours elsewhere.

Additional Requirements:

• Authorized to work in the U.S.
• Ability to travel to other Rising Ground sites (if required)

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is the policy of Rising Ground that the Agency wholly complies with equal treatment of all

employees and applicants for employment without unlawful discrimination as to an individual’s

perceived or actual race, creed, color, national origin, alienate, citizenship status, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or

veteran status in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring,

compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, layoff and termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.