Direct Support Professional (DSP) - Shared Living - $500 Bonus

$500.00 SIGN-ON BONUS*

STARTING AT $17.00+ PER HOUR

Would you like to inspire people to their greatest potential and be part of an amazing team?

Join the team of caring, and talented Direct Support Professionals at Group Main Stream (GMS) where you can make a difference in people’s lives. This position offers you an opportunity to pursue your career while receiving excellent support, training, and have flexibility and variety in your work.

GMS provides a variety of services aimed at supporting the independence of people with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders. GMS is focused on providing quality services that promote empowerment, community inclusion, health and safety.

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. The DSP is responsible to work with individuals, encouraging growth and independence while giving 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 Residential Manager.

Essential Functions:

• Adhere to planning guidelines and treatment as identified in the consumer PCP and ISPs.
• Maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job.
• Assist consumers with self-advocacy and promote independence.
• Complete daily shift documentation according to outcomes and supports of consumers, which may also include Health Tracking, Monthly Progress Notes, General Event Reports, and DHHS Reportable Event Forms. Documentation must be completed prior to end of shift.
• Distribute and control prescribed medication, once trained as a Certified Residential Medication Aide (CRMA). Follow all CRMA procedures.
• Plan, perform, or assist with cares 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 or perform personal care by repositioning the consumer if necessary-bathing, bowel bladder cares, 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. Involve consumers in making choices of selection of meals.
• Maintain consumer safety at all times and provide assistance and oversight as required to meet the needs of the consumer.
• Work collaboratively with professional consultants, i.e., Psychiatrist, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist, Psychologists, Primary Physician, and other medical personnel.
• 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 DHHS.
• Follow all DHHS regulations.
• Follow all GMS rules as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Operations Manual.
• Maintain the general upkeep of the home on each person’s shift, i.e., laundry, dishwashing and all normal household responsibilities. The home and grounds are to be clean and neat at all times. Immediately address any safety issues.
• Provide regular security checks on all windows, doors and vehicles as required.
• Individuals working an overnight shift must be prepared to meet each consumer’s needs should they occur during the night. Individuals will follow the protocol for documentation during overnights. DSPs are to remain awake and alert at all times.
• Notify transportation company and 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.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; sit; walk; use hands to finger; 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 in order to assist in life skills, such as bathing, physical rescue, and wheel chair assistance. Specific vision abilities may include close vision; color vision and the ability to adjust focus. Exposure to outside weather conditions while working with consumers. 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.
• Prior experience as a DSP and CRMA 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.
• 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.