Direct Support Professional
: Job Details :

Job Type Full-time, Part-timeDescriptionProvides necessary support to all Saguaro Foundation group home consumers by functioning as a direct caregiver, teacher and mentor to both the consumers and their families/guardians. Requirements3.0 REQUIREMENTS3.1 Education:3.1.1 Must possess a high school diploma or G.E.D., or higher education diploma from an accredited post-high school institution.3.1.2 Must complete Saguaro Foundation's Residential Aide Training Program.3.2 Experience:3.2.1 Preferred: At least 6 months ofexperience working with developmentally disabled individuals.3.3 Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:3.3.1 Ability to develop and maintain respectful and positive relationships with group home consumers and their families/guardians3.3.2 The ability to follow instructions and complete tasks with minimal supervision3.3.3 Must have reliable transportation and constant and effective means of communication with Administrative Office and Residential Managers3.3.4 The ability to deal tactfully with consumers, families/guardians, other professionals, outside agencies and the general public3.3.5 Must pass Saguaro Foundation's Residential Aide examination3.4 Physical:3.4.1 Walking: Continuous - The ability to exert a reasonably paced mobility from one point to another within a generally accepted time frame, and recognizing the conditions of the environment as to breadth/narrowness, clutter, etc.3.4.2 Bending: Frequently - The ability to move and control one's torso so items or individuals can be picked up from a lower level surface3.4.3 Kneeling: Frequently - Ability to flex legs at the knees so that one can lower the body coming to rest on one or both knees3.4.4 Handling: Continuous - Ability to grasp, hold, set down, redirect with hands or fingers, turn, control and manipulate objects and commodities3.4.5 Finger Dexterity: Frequently - Ability to control and utilize fingers in a dexterous and coordinated manner for such activities as writing, slicing, chopping, operating equipment, passing medications in bubble packs, vials, etc.3.4.6 Reaching: Frequently - Ability to stretch body and extend arms to place or secure objects or individuals at a distance above, to the side of, or below the normal standing level of the individual3.4.7 Squatting: Frequently - Ability to flex legs at the knees to lower the body position3.4.8 Lifting and Pulling: Frequently - Ability to use body parts, usually arms, hands and legs (occasionally shoulders and back) to elevate an object or individual above its previous surface, or pulling as if out of a bundleUp to 15 pounds lifting or pulling force: FrequentlyUp to 20-25 pounds lifting or pulling force: FrequentlyUp to 30 pounds lifting or pulling force: FrequentlyUp to 50 pounds lifting or pulling force: FrequentlyMore than 50 pounds lifting or pulling force: Frequently3.4.9 Climbing: Occasionally - Ability to ascend steps, ladders and other vertical and semi-vertical surfaces to reach a higher level3.4.10 Stooping: Frequently - Ability to flex legs at the knees and move the upper body forward and down3.4.11 Note: This position may place the employee at risk of physical aggression by consumers.3.4.12 Must obtain a negative Tuberculosis screening at own cost prior to consumer contact3.5 Sensory Requirements:3.5.1 Hearing: Ability to hear in one or both ears so that verbal communication can be received, understood and acted upon, either on a face to face or telecommunications basis3.5.2 Speaking: Ability to express oneself verbally with clarity on either a face to face or telecommunications basis3.5.3 Vision: The ability to, with or without corrective lenses, see small markings, shapes and colors of medications along with calibrations of medication dispensing devices (i.e., insulin syringes, graduated medication cups, bottles, containers, etc.).3.6 Mental Requirements:3.6.1 Basic Skills: Reading, writing, arithmetic and mathematics, speaking, listening and spelling fluently in the English language3.6.2 Thinking Skills: Thinking creatively, making decisions, solving problems, the ability to learn, reasoning3.6.3 Personal Qualities: Individual responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, self-management and integrity3.6.4 Reactions to Emergencies: The ability to react quickly and efficiently in medical emergencies and the ability to utilize skills learned during training sessions3.7 Interpersonal Skills:3.7.1 Working on teams, teaching others, serving consumers, leading, negotiating and working with people from culturally diverse backgrounds3.8 Information:3.8.1 Acquiring and evaluating data, organizing and maintaining files, interpreting and communicating, and the ability to process information3.9 Work Environment:3.9.1 Field environment (group homes) and occasional office environment. Often, general public environment in order to facilitate community immersion. Occasional medical offices, hospitals, or clinics3.10 Other Requirements:3.10.1 Must obtain food handler certification, at employee's own expense, prior to working in homes3.10.2 Flexibility in scheduling4.0 REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS4.1 The Residential Aide reports directly to the Residential Manager and the Residential Program Manager when the Residential Manager is not available4.2 The Residential Aide reports to all functional positions superior to the Residential Manager5.0 RESPONSIBILITIES AND PRINCIPAL DUTIES5.1 Supervise, assist or ensure, depending on consumer needs, activities of daily living for each group home consumer (i.e., hygiene, bathing, shopping, transportation, money management, meal preparation, cleaning, etc.)5.2 Understand and implement all consumer programs and maintain appropriate data collection pertaining to the programs, including Behavior Management Programs, and consumer objectives5.3 Ensure and maintain the highest possible health status for each consumer:5.3.1 Monitor for changes in medical conditions and report to Residential Manager or appropriate supervisor5.3.2 Follow all prescribed treatment plans for each consumer5.3.3 Intervene as needed in emergency medical situations5.4 Maintain and ensure cleanliness of group homes and vehicles, including but not limited to:5.4.1 General home appearances5.4.2 Homes are maintained free from offensive odors5.4.3 Vehicles are kept clean and free from offensive odors5.4.4 Employees are required to clean with substances such as bleach and other chemical cleaning agents in accordance with OSHA regulations5.5 Maintain thorough and comprehensive documentation regarding all consumer related issues including but not limited to:5.5.1 Individual progress notes5.5.2 House logs5.5.3 Special medical monitoring5.5.4 Program data5.5.5 Medication documentation5.5.6 Vehicle documentation and mileage5.5.7 Incident reporting5.6 Supervise, assist and encourage community outings and planning for such5.7 Supervise, assist and encourage meal planning/preparation, including adherence to nutritional limitations/needs and documentation of such5.8 Medication administration and related documentation5.9 Attend staff meetings, training sessions and in-services when scheduled5.10 Participate in consumer objective and program development if requested5.11 Serves as special advocate for assigned consumer5.12 Any other duty deemed necessary by Residential Manager or higher supervisor6.0 MEASUREMENTS OF PERFORMANCE6.1 Actively involved, giving as minimal assistance as necessary, with all consumer activities of daily living6.2 Effectively and accurately implements all consumer Behavior Management Programs and objectives and maintains appropriate data collection relating to such6.3 Accurately and responsibly reports all changes in consumer health conditions or any other health care needs to Residential manager or appropriate supervisor6.4 Maintains clean and odor free homes and vehicles6.5 Maintains thorough and comprehensive documentation regarding:6.5.1 Individual progress notes6.5.2 House logs6.5.3 Special medical monitoring6.5.4 Program data6.5.5 Medication documentation6.5.6 Vehicle documentation and mileage6.5.7 Incident reporting6.6 Encourages and facilitates consumer community outings6.7 Assists in meal preparation and follows all consumers' special dietary needs/limitations and completes documentation of such6.8 Accurately administers medications and completes related documentation6.9 Attends and participates in staff meetings, training sessions and in-services when scheduled to do so6.10 Participates in consumer objective and program development by offering insight, ideas and consumer preferences6.11 Adequately and appropriately performs other duties as deemed necessary by Residential Manager or higher supervisor