Direct Support Professional - Weekends

Optimae values diversity and we encourage everybody**,** including those from traditionally overlooked identity groups, to apply!

JOB SUMMARY

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) assists people living in the community as they move to achieve personal goals of their own choice. The Direct Support Professional supports individuals in the expansion of their abilities, empowering them to choose and be successful in valued roles within their living, learning, working, and social environments. The Direct Support Professional does this by offering a variety of individual and team supports. The position encourages community participation to promote community inclusion of people we serve.

EDUCATION & WORK EXPERIENCE

• Must be 16 years or older. Employees under 18 years of age will not be scheduled during school hours or overnights when school is in session
• High school diploma or GED preferred
• Must have a valid drivers’ license, a safe driving record, and proof of adequate automobile insurance. Employees under 18 years of age shall not drive customers or company vehicles
• Effective 7-1-22 DSP’s working with home-based habilitation customers are required to be 18 years or older AND have a high school diploma or GED
• Experience working with individuals with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, and developmental disabilities is preferred

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide direct service to customers.
• Consistent, reliable attendance and punctuality are essential for this position, as it provides for uninterrupted customer support and team collaboration.
• Follow the service plan and use it as a guide to deliver services.
• Support customers in achieving personal goals of their own choice.
• Recognize and document goal progress and relevant personal interventions in an objective, clear, and brief manner.
• Medication manager certification required when customer need exists.
• Legal ability to drive (including obtaining insurance) and use of your personal vehicle may be an integral aspect of service delivery.
• Support and develop social and learning environments where customers can interact and build relationships of their choosing.
• Support customers with maintaining a living environment in compliance with lease.
• Advocate for our customers while promoting role recovery/discovery to others.
• Assist customer with setting up and attending healthcare appointments as scheduled and assigned.
• Know the available local community resources and reinforce their use.
• Understand and maintain privacy and demonstrate respect.
• Address emergencies as they arise and use appropriate crisis intervention as needed.
• Must take part in on-call phone support rotation.
• May be cross trained to work in multiple site locations.
• Promote the use of assistive technology devices as needed.
• As needed, support our customers with their personal hygiene and health needs in a respectful and dignified manner; this may
• occasionally include cleaning up urine, feces, or vomit from people or property.
• Be respectful and model professionalism when providing services and working with co-workers and community partners.
• Demonstrate good role modeling for the customers we serve.
• Be active in individual and team problem solving.
• Promote teamwork and build morale. Act in a professional manner (respectful, tactful, and objective) without personal attacks on others.
• Follow a customer’s schedule that meets customer wants and needs and meets team billable hour requirements.
• May be required to help with coverage as needed. Schedule flexibility may be required. Customer needs, behaviors, and
• schedules change; this may include working evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Meet multiple demands simultaneously and efficiently with little supervision.
• Consistently complete assigned tasks and all required paperwork within designated time frames, this includes, but is not limited to, contact notes, documentation, timecard entry, and expense forms.
• Attend scheduled mandatory meetings.
• Attend regular coaching sessions to develop skills and actively participate in annual evaluation.
• Help facilitate fire and safety drills monthly and turn into designee.
• Assist customer with financial documentation and receipt collection.
• Review mail received with the customer and direct entitlement and other business mail to designee.
• Ongoing assessment of customers. Communicate customer behaviors and incidents to designee as soon as possible.
• Daily quality assurance regarding maintenance of vehicles, medication systems, and buildings.
• Complete orientation and training as required, in a timely manner, based on accredited regulation and/or Iowa Statute.
• Other duties as assigned.

Work Location: In person