Direct Support Professional

Direct Support Professional Job Description

Direct Support Professionals (DSP) work as home health and companion care providers assisting clients in day service programs, group homes or residential settings. Clients include people with cognitive impairments, chronic illnesses and other disabilities needing assistance with daily living activities. Direct Support Professionals aid and support services to clients both in the community and in their homes. The ideal candidate will have a strong desire to create long-term impacts on their clients’ lives and enjoy encouraging, mentoring, and coaching others to achieve their goals.

Direct Support Professional Job Responsibilities:

• Provides direct care to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• Performs personal care tasks, including assistance with basic personal hygiene and grooming, feeding, and ambulation, medical monitoring, and health care related tasks.

• Fosters positive relationships between caretakers and individuals.

• Ensures client safety and maintains a safe environment.

• Reminds and assists clients with self-administration of medications (with proper training).

• Encourages self-help activities.

• Reports changes in client’s condition or family situation to administrators and supervisors.

• Documents services provided.

• Performs home management functions such as light housekeeping, laundry, bed making, and cleaning.

• Plans meals, shopping for groceries, preparing and serving food/meals, feeding and clean-up.

• Accompanies clients to scheduled appointments and transports clients or running errands for clients.

• Assists with toileting, including bedpans, urinals, and commode chairs, as necessary.

• Other duties as assigned.

Direct Support Professional Qualifications / Skills:

• Ability to work in client home settings

• Communication skills (verbally and written) with all levels of personnel, internal and external to the company

• Ability to handle physical aspects of job, including bending, stooping, lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, and walking for periods of time

Education, Experience, and Licensing Requirements:

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent

• 18 years of age or older

• Valid driver’s license – Proof of valid auto insurance

• Must Pass background check

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: From $19.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• 12 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• Caregiving: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person