Direct Support Professional ("Assistant" in L'Arche terminology Job Arlington area,Virginia USA,Healthcare

Position: Direct Support Professional ("Assistant" in L'Arche terminology)

L’Arche Greater Washington, D.C. provides homes, residential services, and places of belonging for adults who have intellectual disabilities, the ‘core people’, in the context of an intentional, inter-denominational Christian community. An assistant should have the desire and capacity to learn from and relate to core people, and will work on a team to provide direct care to core people. The goal of an assistant is to work toward the mission of L’Arche to "reveal the gifts of people with intellectual disabilities through mutually transformative relationships.""

Responsibilities

To build a relationship of mutual care and support with persons with disabilities
To observe the rights and personal dignity of others
To foster a home life of unity, mutual respect, and participation by all members
To learn and implement the policies and procedures of L’Arche
To provide direct care supports, training, assistance and supervision for, and empower core people in:
Personal care needs (clothing, hygiene, eating, etc.) money management, medical care, appointments, family and work connections, household chores, laundry, medications, meal preparation, transportation;
Achieving personal goals and performing programmatic activities as noted in core person plans and adequately documenting all necessary information;
Communicating and self-advocating effectively with doctors and other professionals
To participate on a team, including sharing responsibility for:

Household and yard maintenance, cleaning, property upkeep, shopping, and household financial management;
Scheduled routines;
Regularly scheduled meetings;
Overnight awake routines as needed
To complete all required training in a timely manner
To complete all required paperwork and records in a timely manner
To communicate and advocate effectively with doctors and other professionals
To accompany core people on vacations and community trips when needed
To undertake other duties as needed

Qualifications

Desire to work with, to learn from, and to relate to people with intellectual disabilities
Desire to work in an interdenominational Christian community
Independence, initiative and maturity as demonstrated by:

Ability to share responsibility for managing a home;
Ability to work cooperatively and constructively as part of a team;
Ability to take responsibility for health and safety of others;
Ability to work with diverse individuals
Trustworthy and responsible
Creativity, flexibility, attention to detail, and ability to organizetime
Ability to learn about intellectual disabilities, mental health, health disorders, and related physical conditions and treatment approaches
Ability to learn and implement simple nursing care, first aid skills, behavior management strategies, personal and environmental hygiene,etc.
Ability to learn and complete online and paper documentation
Physically able to fulfill direct care responsibilities; including ability to transfer adults from wheelchairs to vehicles, beds, etc. and to lift wheelchairs into and out of vehicles
Ability to commit for minimum of oneyear
Strong verbal and written English communication skills
Satisfactory criminal background check
Non-usage of illegal drugs on or off the job
Spanish proficiency highly desirable
18 years of age or older
High School diploma or equivalent; college education preferred
Health certification permitting assumption of role
Proof of U.S. citizenship or visa status permitting employment in the U.S.
Valid driver’s license and ability to drive comfortably in the city preferred

L’Arche Greater Washington DC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.