Direct Support Professional

General Description of Duties:

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) is responsible for a variety of duties related to the overall care of individuals with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities who reside in Langton Green residential programs. This includes direct care of program individuals and implementation of person-centered-plans (PCP) and behavior plans (BP). Direct Support Professionals are required to perform all duties in accordance with State of Maryland regulations and Langton Greens policies and procedures.

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities:

In a manner, consistent with supporting Langton Green, Inc. Mission Statement, the Direct Support Professional (DSP) shall do the following:

• Ensure all individuals served are living according to their rights and responsibilities and are free from abuse and neglect.
• Communicate and interact positively and effectively with each person receiving supports, visitors, family members, peers, and supervisors.
• Provides support to other team members when individuals are having behavioral and medical issues.
• Acts as a representative for Langton Green Inc. in a professional manner when required, to families, service coordinators, State officials, community partners, local businesses, and employers.
• Maintains people receiving services confidentiality.
• Completes and maintains all required State mandated trainings such as Medication Technician Training Program (MTTP), CPR / First Aid, MANDT, and all State Developmental Disability Administration (DDA) trainings within 60 days of employment.
• Attends meetings and training sessions as required by Langton Green Inc. Including all scheduled House Meetings.
• Ensure residence is kept clean, neat and promote a healthy and safe environment; follow shift chore chart.
• Ensures individuals are dressed neatly and appropriately and are groomed at all times.
• Assists and encourages individuals to care for immediate personal needs such as toileting, bathing, washing their hands, and eating.
• Encourage individuals daily skills such as household chores, laundry, cleaning, and washing dishes, as appropriate according to their person-centered plan.
• Prepare and serve meals consistent with the planned menu; follow individualized or specialized diets are followed as prescribed.
• Encourage individuals to assist in the preparation of meals and snacks as appropriate to their person-centered plan and behavior plan.
• Ensure that each individuals healthcare needs are met. This includes maintaining up-to-date medical appointments, ensuring that all follow-up appointments and referrals are completed, and all appropriate documentation is obtained for each medical appointment and/or procedure all within a timely manner.
• Complete and Follow all documentation protocols to include PCPs, fire dills, shift summary, medical documentation, medication administration, behavior plan documentation, and emergency plan others as assigned.
• Ensures that all documentation is completed accurately and in a timely manner.
• Administers medications to individuals as assigned, completing required 3 and 4 ways checks to minimize potential medication errors.
• Observes individuals for any changes in behavior or health that may have resulted from medication administration. Including proper follow up and documentation.
• Ensure that the 45-day nursing reviews are reviewed and signed off for individuals that receives nursing services.
• Complete facility request for any residential repairs.
• Follows safety protocols to foster a safe working environment.
• Report significant changes, issues, and incidents regarding participants, programming to the House Manager.
• Reports any noted problems to the House Manager immediately and complete an incident report form.
• Communicates with House Manager when items related to individuals personal needs, needs to be purchased.
• Promptly and properly alert the administration of any safety hazards in the individuals environment.
• Promptly and properly report all individuals illness or injuries to the nurse and administration as soon as possible.
• Report all Quality Enhancement (QE) concerns and issues to the House Manager or On-Call staff as soon as possible, this includes; but is not limited to, any health and safety concerns and allegations.
• Assists and promote individuals in the pursuit of recreational, social and community activities based on their preferences and person-centered plans.
• Works all assigned shifts including but not limited to arriving and departing on time, requesting time off in advance, and notifying your supervisor of changes to your assigned work schedule.
• Properly file individuals medical and programming documentation correctly in the medical and programming book.
• Ensures all deadlines are met.
• Other duties as assigned.

Awake Overnight Direct Support Professional (AON)

• All duties described above are still required if an employee is selected to serve as an AON DSP, However the following statements below are exclusive to AON:

• This position requires staff to be awake for the entire overnight hours.
• Periodically check on the individuals at least hourly or as determined in the Person- Centered Plan to ensure that they are safe within their environment while sleeping.
• Fill out the required documentation every two hours.

BENEFITS SUMMARY 

The Company is pleased to offer the following current employee benefit programs and retains the right to change benefit programs at its discretion: 

1. Health Insurance 

2. Dental Insurance 

3. Vision Insurance 

4. Short-Term Disability 

5. Long-Term Disability 

6. Life Insurance 

7. Paid Holidays 

8. Annual Leave 

9. Sick Leave 

10. Personal Leave 

11. Jury/Witness Duty 

12. Bereavement

Qualifications:

Knowledge and understanding of the needs of individuals with disabilities is preferred. At least 18 years of age. Caring demeanor and have a genuine interest in supporting individuals with Developmental and Intellectual disabilities. Current maintenance of all required training's under DDA and CMT guidelines and Langton Greens. Flexibility of scheduling to meet Agency and program needs.

Education and/or Experience:

High school diploma/GED required. Two years or more experience providing direct care to individuals with Intellectual and Developmental disabilities. Basic Computer skills.

Language Skills:

Ability to read and interpret documents. Ability to write reports and complete forms or other documents as required. Ability to communicate with others including individuals in Langton Greens programs, family members, medical professionals, stakeholders and co-workers.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

Must have valid Motor Vehicle Class C Drivers License and access to reliable transportation.

Maintenance of all required training's under DDA and CMT guidelines and Langton Greens.

Physical Demands:

While performing the tasks of this position, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, bend, kneel, and use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with arms and hands, balance, lift, stretch.

Must be capable of lifting/moving over 50 pounds and the transferring of individuals with or without equipment. Vision abilities required for this position include, near distance, far distance, peripheral vision, color vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Other:

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Therefore, the employee may be requested to perform other reasonable, related duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor or other management as required. This may include the transferring of the employee to a different home to meet the needs of the individual and/or agency. Duties may vary home to home in order to meet the special needs of individuals served.