Direct Support Professional

Direct Support Professional

PURPOSE:

The Mishkon Division of The Jewish Board provides supports and services in a healthy and safe environment for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities living in residential programs and in community settings. Our core values are to provide a healthy and safe environment that promotes person centered planning, community integration, and close collaboration with families and the community. This is all accomplished through an Orthodox Jewish lens, and with an understanding that staff, at all levels of the division, is the determining factor in achieving positive outcomes for our clients.

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) supports individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in a residential treatment setting and is responsible for ensuring that those portions of the Life Plan/Individual Program Plan, which deal with day-to-day and independent living skills, are implemented. Acting as a support and providing therapeutic partnering, the DSP is charged with following the Life Plan/Individual Program Plan and the fundamental responsibility of the Individuals health and safety.

• Responsible for day-by-day care of the Individuals in the program including supervision of personal hygiene, social guidance, use of leisure time, and food planning and preparation.

• Develop, supervise and run activity sessions.
• Accompany Individual on trips and outings and supervise activities.
• May be required, to perform SCIP in the event its necessary Employees are required to attend appropriate SCIP training prior to performing such a restraint.
• Drive the Individuals to medical, social or other necessary appointments.
• Accompany Individual on medical appointments as a liaison of the interdisciplinary team, working closely with the medical team to present and receive information to all medical professionals.
• Shares their experience and observation of the Individual under care with the IDT team and immediately brings to the attention of the supervisor any unusual issues.
• Assist/Supervise Individuals with meal preparation including setting dining room table, warming food, portioning for specific Individual and adhering to specifically prescribed modified diets.
• Ensures that Individual are always treated with dignity and respect.
• Supports and encourages Individual’s decision making on the appropriate level to further promote independence.
• Responsible to oversee activities of daily living (ADL) and all personal hygiene of the Individual.
• Assist the Residence Manager in the development and implementation of community inclusion activities using individuals and family feedback as guides.
• Work with Individual in a group setting or on a one-to-one basis depending on the need of the particular individual.
• Participate in regular staff meetings and training.
• May be asked to travel to offsite meetings and trainings.
• Completes regular and timely documentation of all individuals’ interactions, including progress and informational notes in the respective electronic records.
• Coordinate and collaborate with the interdisciplinary team.
• Complete incident reports as appropriate following an incident.
• Administer medication as needed.
• Comply to the Divisional specific Jewish Orthodox culture and practices
• Other assigned duties as assigned.

• Compassion, empathy, patience, and genuine desire to make a positive impact on individual's lives.

• Excellent client engagement skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Attentiveness to individuals and colleagues.
• Adaptability to address situations.
• Building and Maintaining Positive Relationships.
• Ability to adapt to changing situations and work effectively as part of a team.
• Demonstr…