Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Nature of Work: The responsibility of the Direct Support Professional (DSP) is to provide a safe environment, to include support and supervision to all persons living in a GMS home or in their own home or apartment. The DSP is responsible for working with individuals, encouraging growth and independence while demonstrating dignity and respect to each person served. The DSP’s work is driven by the GMS mission to improve the quality of life by supporting independence.

The DSP is directly responsible to the individual(s) they support, but is supervised by a Residential Manager, Program Manager, or Shared Living Coordinator, depending on the program. There are many programs in which a DSP could provide services to an individual served, including Home Support Per Diem, Home Support Quarter Hour, Community Support, Work Support, Shared Living, and Community Membership.

Essential Functions:

Individual(s) Served Support

• Adhere to planning guidelines and treatment as identified in the Individual PCP and ISPs.
• Maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job.
• Assist individuals with self-advocacy and promote independence.
• Plan, perform, or assist with care or activities with individuals according to their preference or needs, to include, but not limited to, household chores (cooking, cleaning, personal hygiene, laundry, dishes, vacuuming, fixing bed, household maintenance, etc.), community involvement, social, recreation and leisure skills, communication skills, personal safety skills, appropriate behavior.
• If applicable to the person, assist with or perform personal care by repositioning the individual, bathing, bowel or bladder care, showers, exercising, range of motion, feeding (oral or feeding tubes), hair care (brushing, washing, styling, shaving), dental care (brushing, flossing, dentures), nail clipping, etc.
• Transport (adhering to all safety policies and laws) or arrange for transportation to medical, social, and community activities.
• Assist with teaching and preparing healthy meal plans to encourage optimal health, involving the individual(s) in making choices of selection of meals.
• Work collaboratively with professional consultants, i.e., Psychiatrist, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist, Psychologists, Primary Physician, and other medical personnel.
• Maintain the general upkeep of the home on each person’s shift, i.e., laundry, dishwashing and all normal household responsibilities. Ensure the home and grounds are always neat and clean. Immediately address any safety issues.
• Staff working an overnight shift must be prepared to meet each individual served needs should they occur during the night.
• Notify transportation company and/or work/program if a person is ill or unable to attend due to appointments, an incident, or vacation.
• Effectively manage and redirect behaviors, both physical and verbal.

Safety

• Always maintain individual safety and provide assistance and oversight as required to meet the needs of the person.
• Provide regular security checks on all windows, doors and vehicles as required.
• Staff are to always remain awake and alert.

Documentation

• Complete daily shift documentation according to outcomes and supports of individuals served, which may also include Health Tracking, Monthly Progress Notes, General Event Reports, and DHHS Reportable Event Forms. Documentation must be completed prior to the end of shift.
• Follow the protocol for documentation during overnights.

Training/Certification

• Attend and participate in required meetings and in-service training.
• Support new team members by providing on-the-job training.
• Attend all training and maintain certifications/competencies as required by GMS and federal and state agencies.
• Must obtain Certified Residential Medication Aide certification within six months of hire, unless otherwise coordinated with management.
• Follow all federal and state regulations.
• Follow all GMS rules as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Operations Manual.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand; sit; walk; use hands, fingers; handle; reach with arms and hands; stoop; kneel; crouch; crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. Must be able to lift and/or move at least 75 pounds to assist in life skills, such as bathing, physical rescue, and wheelchair assistance. Specific vision abilities may include close vision; color vision and the ability to adjust focus. Exposure to outside weather conditions while working with individuals. Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to occasionally loud.

Qualifications:

• High School Degree or GED equivalent; preferred two-year college experience.
• Valid Maine State driver’s license.
• Must show proof of all required vaccinations.
• Prior experience as a DSP preferred, however, not necessary.
• Possess basic computer skills.
• Possess good verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with consumers and all members of the team.
• Ability to obtain and maintain all required certifications.
• Demonstrate the desire to treat all people with dignity and respect.
• Ability to pass required background checks, to include: Adult/Child Protective Services; criminal history; OIG Exclusion list; National Sex Offender Registry; Bureau of Motor Vehicles record; and Maine CNA Registry.