Direct Support Professional; WA)

Job Description

Job Summary:

The Direct Support Professional establishes a secure and positive environment that nurtures the client’s self-expression, needs, and goals. Provides support, supervision, and training to individuals with disabilities served in the Medicaid Waiver Program. Provides services in the home, at school/work, or in the community. Completes documentation of service provided. Provides independent life skills support services to clients. This position requires one-on-one staffing for a client or up to multiple clients during shifts.

Supervisory Responsibility: No supervisory responsibility may explain work instructions to others.

Essential Job Functions include:

• Assists individuals with independent living skills (i.e., bathing, toileting, personal hygiene, dressing, brushing teeth, cutting nails, laundry, housekeeping, and meal preparation).
• Maintain a clean, safe, and healthy environment by cleaning the home, informing the Waiver Office about any broken/inoperable items, locking up medication and toxic chemicals, and reporting any problems that could cause injuries or illness.
• Assists with planning weekly menus, grocery shopping, and preparing nutritional meals. Ensure meals are prepared in accordance with posted menus
• Provides training and support in areas identified in the PCSP plan and behavior management. Provide training to clients as outlined in the PCSP to meet their goals.
• Participate in the development of the PCSP goals.
• Support the needs and goals of each client by taking them to medical appointments, to visit family and friends, to preferred leisure/recreational activities, and encouraging them to socialize with peers.
• Provides non-Medicaid transportation to enable individuals to access the waiver and other community services and resources.
• Transports clients to and from home to work and or community outings as needed.
• Ensures the individual's rights are honored.
• Accurately completes documentation pertaining to goals and daily t-logs in a timely manner. Completes other documentation that may consist of travel logs, goal/objective data sheets, progress notes, case notes, communication logs, time sheets, billing sheets, MAR and etc.
• Implement approved emergency procedures in the event of a fire, earthquake, or other natural disasters.
• Communicate on a regular basis with Waiver Office, day programs, and other service providers and agencies as needed
• Report special incidents and suspected client abuse according to applicable laws and regulations, including completing General Event Report (GER) forms and reporting to the Waiver Office.
• Attend staff meetings and participate in continuing education and training.
• Administer medications to individuals and follow the five rights for verification purposes
• Provides direct care to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Qualifications - Knowledge/Skills/Abilities include:

• Ability to communicate effectively with consumers, clients, and staff.
• Ability to read and interpret documents, reports, or manuals.
• Ability to understand and operate computer systems and programs i.e. Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel, prepare documents; interpret and develop spreadsheets.
• Valid state Driver’s License.
• Valid vehicle insurance
• Valid vehicle registration
• Ability to read, analyze, interpret, and complete general business documents, regulatory/licensure manuals, etc.
• Experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities in related fields.
• Ability to multitask in a fast pace environment
• Knowledgeable of clients’ rights
• Have reliable transportation and/or the ability to access transportation services required as appropriate.

Work Environment:

• The work environment is consistent with a typical home and setting.
• Exposure to the outdoor elements is typical to the time of year and area of the community.
• May occasionally experience moderate noise levels.
• The work environment is in a client’s home in the community.

Physical Demands: This role requires sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, reaching, pushing, pulling, repetitious computer and phone computer, talking to people, etc)).

• Must be able to lift or push 50 lbs., on occasion
• Ability to sit and stand for long periods of time.

Travel: Les