Direct Support Professional (Eastern Queens/Nassau)

A Career at Little Flower

Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York is a nonprofit organization that has worked to improve the well-being of children, youth, families, and people with developmental disabilities across New York City and Long Island since 1929. Our staff of more than 500 provides prevention services, foster care, residential treatment care, adoption services, medical and mental health services, and programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities. 

A career with Little Flower can be rewarding in so many ways. We are looking for conscientious and caring people who are ready to commit to the work of strengthening families and supporting the well-being of children and adults with developmental disabilities. If you’re looking for a career where you can truly make a difference, we hope you will consider joining our team. 

Join our team now as a full-time or part-time Direct Support Professional and receive a new employee incentive! 

• Full-time employees will receive an $800 incentive ($400 at onboarding and $400 after 6 months of employment!)
• Part-time employees will receive $400 incentive ($200 at onboarding and $200 after 6 months of employment!)

The Direct Support Professional Role  

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) is responsible for implementing person-centered services and supports for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) residing in Little Flower’s Individual Residential Alternative (IRA) programs. The DSP is responsible for teaching and implementing the individual’s goals/valued outcomes, both in the residence and in the community. DSPs must be able and willing to teach, provide counseling, and problem solve, while fostering a nurturing, personalized and therapeutic environment. The primary responsibility of all DSPs is to ensure the individual’s overall health, safety, and well-being. 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: 

• Ensure the overall health and safety of all individuals in the residence.  
• Promote the skills development, interests, and hobbies of the individuals in the residence in a therapeutic environment. 
• Assist individuals with meals and all other Activities of Daily Living skills (ADLs) including but not limited to personal hygiene, toileting, laundry, domestic chores, etc. 
• Provide daily person-centered support/services, including direct care, which are both cognitively and developmentally appropriate. This may include supporting individuals with challenging behavioral and emotional needs, high medical needs and/or physical disabilities. 

• Administer medications as per OPWDD’s AMAP regulations and requirements.  
• Respect the confidentiality and privacy of the people we support. 
• Promote and ensure that the human rights of the people we support are exercised through just, fair, and equitable treatment. Assist people we support in understanding and expressing their rights and responsibilities. 
• Recognize that each person we support is a valued member of society and help others to understand their value through advocacy, inclusion, and full community participation. 
• Ensure all services and supports are delivered in accordance with the agency’s policies and procedures while adhering to all OPWDD, State and Federal regulations and guidelines. 

• Identify, intervene, and report all instances of suspected abuse or neglect of any people we support, while fully participating in all investigations involving suspected and reported incidents 
• Be knowledgeable of and implement the person-centered plan for each person we support, including but not limited to habilitative plans, staff action plans, behavior support plans and life plans 
• Complete and submit all required clinical and billing documentation contemporaneously into the Electronic Health Record. If unable to enter the data electronically before completion of hours worked, supervisor must be notified immediately. 
• Complete Data Sheets to report any unusual behaviors for the Behavior Specialist to review. Data sheets must also be uploaded into the Electronic Health Record System.  
• Participate in all scheduled or required meetings and trainings as requested by the Residential Manager or designee 

• Drive individuals to and from agency approved activities such as recreational outings, medical and/clinical appointments, etc. as assigned by your supervisor, using an agency vehicle 
• Ensure when driving and operating the agency’s vehicles to follow and respect all city, state, and federal laws, as well as the agency policy and procedures, and the vehicles are always driven and maintained in safe condition 
• Assess and monitor progress while recognizing that each person we support has the potential for lifelong learning and growth. 
• Responsible for monitoring your time and attendance, as well as accurately entering time and attendance into Little Flower’s payroll system contemporaneously. 
• Must participate in recreational activities and Active Treatment for the Residents.  

• Must participate in monthly staff meetings.  
• Other duties as may be assigned from time to time without notice by your supervisor 

Qualifications/Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s Degree Preferred, High School Diploma or Equivalent required 
• Valid NYS Driver’s License and must be in good standing. 
• Must have current CPR/AED certification and maintain certification every two years.  
• SCIP certified preferred (Within 90 days of employment) 
• AMAP certified preferred (Within 90 days of employment) 

• Professionalism, integrity, and excellent communications skills 
• Ability to be patient, alert, and always awake 
• Must have computer skills  
• Flexibility in scheduled work hours as needed. 
• Eager to learn and hone skills to be a professional in the field 

• Able to work with a diverse group of people and be a collaborator 
• Work/life experience supporting people with IDD preferred 
• Ability to participate in NYS mandated OPWDD initial trainings during normal business hours, upon hire. 
• Tuberculosis test mandatory (1x QuantiFERON-TB Gold Blood Test or 2x 2-Step PPD Tests) 
• As needed to perform any of the activities, be able to ascend/descend stairs, assist individuals with feeding, bathing, dressing and/or toileting, lift at least 50 pounds, walk, crouch, bend crawl, squat, stand, sit, etc.   

**This is an Hourly position. We have various shifts available, including Full Time, Part Time and Per Diem.

Full Time and Part Time staff start at $17.00/hour. Per Diem staff start at $15.00/hour

Join our team now as a full-time or part-time Direct Support Professional and receive a new employee incentive! 

• Full-time employees will receive an $800 incentive ($400 at onboarding and $400 after 6 months of employment!)
• Part-time employees will receive $400 incentive ($200 at onboarding and $200 after 6 months of employment!)

Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected group status