Direct Support Professional 7am-3pm, 3pm-11pm, 11pm-7am- Compassionate Living Home

QUALIFICATIONS:                      

High school graduate preferred. Prefer one year experience as a direct care working with people with developmental disabilities.

• Must demonstrate successful completion of a direct care staff competency evaluation program that addresses all of the State requirements.
• Must be in good standing with the state aide registry if currently required to be entered on that registry.
• Conduct a State criminal background check for all the Direct Care Staff.
• Demonstrates knowledge and competency performing supportive service procedures.
• Exhibits ability to follow care plans.
• Documents client care per Agency policy and procedures.
• Recognizes the needs and concerns of people and maintains constructive working relationships when dealing with them.
• Willing to work towards the good of the team. 
• Participates in quality improvement activities.
• Must have access to valid Illinois motor vehicle operator’s license and have access to reliable automobile with current automobile insurance coverage.
• Must be able to safely perform the essential functions of the position without posing a direct threat to the health and/or safety of him or herself, or others, in the workplace.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:          

• Provides supportive services to consumers and for individual consumers as assigned by the Program Coordinator according to Agency policies and procedures.
• Collects consumer data as assigned and reports pertinent condition changes to the Program Coordinator as appropriate.
• Reports consumer responses to supportive care provided to the consumer within the specified workday and reports to Program Coordinator information that would impact the services and/or direct staff Individual Support Plan. 
• Demonstrates the ability to care for a variety of consumer and reports issues to the Program Coordinator that might indicate a case conference is needed.
• Participates in case conferences as requested.
• Follows Individual Support Plan.
• Functions according to Agency productivity standards.
• Documents findings accurately, in a timely manner and on appropriate forms according to Agency policies and procedures.
• Utilizes nursing and office supplies in a cost-effective and appropriate manner.
• Provides accurate and timely timesheets per Agency policy. 
• Follows assigned schedule as assigned by Agency or notifies Program Coordinator when schedule cannot be followed.
• Must maintain patient confidentiality.
• Evaluates own professional needs and provides suggestions to meet those needs such as in-services or other continuing education.

MARGINAL FUNCTIONS:          

• Participates in agency committees as requested.
• Participates in quality improvement activities as requested. 
• Assists Program Coordinator in training new Direct Support Staff to the team and to their role in the agency. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:                    

• Provide for the Consumer’s daily care:

• Bathing, dressing, and grooming
• Eating;
• Elimination;
• Transferring and ambulating;
• Communication;
• Help create a positive home environment;
• Help the consumer develop trust;
• Offer emotional support to the Patient and work with the family;
• Communicate and actively listen;
• Follow all infection control practices;
• Maintain a clean, safe environment and report safety problems immediately to the Program Coordinator;
• Determine measurements accurately (temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, weight, intake, output, and food consumption if in High risk plan)
• Observe and report any changes in the consumer’s appearance, behavior, and/or mood to the Program Coordinator; and
• Other direct care tasks as assigned.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL/             

MENTAL FUNCTIONS:               

• Must be able to speak clearly and distinctly.
• Must have visual, hearing and mental ability to initiate and comprehend written and verbal communication.
• Must be able to climb three flights of stairs.
• Must be able to perform tasks involving physical activity, such as heavy lifting, extensive bending and standing.
• Must be able to maintain calm in emergency situations.
• Must be willing to be responsible for, and to maintain job-related supplies and equipment according to agency policies and expectations.

ESSENTIAL HAZARDOUS          

PHYSICAL EXPOSURES:            

• Must be willing to travel between consumers sites in inclement weather.
• Potentially exposed to variable temperatures in working environment.       
• Potentially exposed to threat of physical violence to self.    
• Potentially exposed to dangerous animals/insects such as dogs, rodents, reptiles, spiders, etc.
• Potentially exposed to infectious diseases, needle sticks, etc.

CHEMICAL OR HAZARDOUS   

MATERIALS EXPOSURES:        

• Potential exposure to cleaning substances with consumer environment.
• Potential exposure to substances within office environment including copy machine toner, VDT emissions and cleaning solvents.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE         

EQIPMENT REQUIRED:             

• Must follow Universal Precautious techniques in accordance with all agency policies and procedures to include use of personal protective equipment.

OTHER SPECIAL                          

CONSIDERATIONS:                     

• Must be willing to accept assignments without regard to location, socio-economic environment, disease, ethnic origin or religion.
• Must be willing to make scheduled visits on weekends or evenings when assigned.
• Must comply with organization policies and procedures regarding therapeutic relationships with consumers.