TRC - IRA - DSP Aide

Direct Support Professional/Aide

The Resource Center has been providing services to persons with disabilities in the Chautauqua County area since 1958. From our humble beginnings as a gathering of parents and concerned citizens who wanted to provide educational and training opportunities for persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities, The Resource Center has grown into a comprehensive agency providing services to thousands of persons with all types and levels of disabilities.

The Resource Center is the largest non-governmental employer in Chautauqua County with more than 1,300 employees on its payroll. The mission of The Resource Center is to support individuals with disabilities and other challenges in achieving maximum independence, contributing to their community, experiencing lifelong growth, and enjoying quality of life.

Responsible to:
Residence Manager/Site Supervisor/Day Program Supervisor

Function:
To provide direct care and supervision in all activities of daily living, implement individual's Habilitation Plan, complete required documentation regarding individual milestones and behavior management programs, participate as an active member of a team with other program/department staff to provide the identified supports to participants, and enhance the skills and/or create the opportunity for consumers to achieve maximum independence, inclusion, individualization, and productivity.

The Direct Support Professional Aide must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of all SCIP protocols and procedures, utilizing positive behavioral support and lesser restrictive means of addressing maladaptive behavior before advancing to restrictive SCIP maneuvers. The Direct Support Professional Careerist must possess the unrestricted ability to routinely implement and perform all approved SCIP-R techniques, as needed or assigned.

Specific duties:

• Responsible for learning each individual's habilitation plan, including milestones, behavior management programs, staff actions, and safeguards and provides needed support/supervision for residents.
• Implements individual Habilitation Plans in order to create the opportunity for each resident to achieve maximum independence, inclusion, individualization and productivity.
• Encourages, guides, teaches and provides assistance to residents in acquiring and carrying out skills in personal care/daily living, including but not limited to feeding, showering, toileting, tooth brushing, etc.
• Unrestricted ability to assist in lifting and transferring, utilizing approved techniques, as needed or assigned.
• Monitors, reports and assists in maintaining health of all assigned residents, including ensuring adequate diet, according to identified individual needs and/or requirements.
• Provides regular opportunities for residents to become part of their community by providing the support and supervision needed to participate in community outings, including leisure/recreational and religious activities, that are based on personal choice and interest.
• Provides a positive role model for residents while at the site and out in the community.
• Completes required daily documentation including milestones, activity schedules and/or service sheets, behavior management programs, and other related paperwork.
• Intervenes when residents display maladaptive behavior according to Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention (SCIP) protocols and/or behavior management program.
• Intervenes and reports any incidents, unusual occurrences or illnesses per policy/procedure. Ensures any immediate protective action is taken.
• Advocates for the residents by communicating any ideas, suggestions, and concerns to the appropriate person in a timely manner, including medical and dietary concerns and participates as an active member of the program planning team.
• Maintains effective and positive relations with family, correspondents, friends, service providers and the community-at-large.
• Assists in providing a safe, clean, comfortable and therapeutic environment to teach residents new skills.
• Maintains compliance with state and federal regulations as well as with agency and program policies and procedures.
• Reports to the supervisor(s) any information pertinent to the needs of the assigned residents and/or the needs of the operation of the residence.
• Performs any other related duties as required by supervisor(s).

Required knowledge, skills and abilities:
Physical condition commensurate with demands of the job, including the unrestricted ability to assist in lifting and transferring on a regular basis. Reliability, adaptability and flexibility, including willingness and ability to maintain a good attendance record. Ability to follow written program plans and document and maintain records related to them. Ability to use educational training techniques for developmentally disabled adults.

Knowledge of, or ability to obtain, computer skills sufficient to utilize direct support certification programs or other software…