Direct Support Professional

$22 – $23 per hour

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) provides quality care to adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, supports them with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) in a residential facility, implements programs and services as specified in the client’s individualized service plan; documents the care and services provided. 

General Details: 

• Schedule: 40 hours per week (part time available)
• Shift: PM 
• Location: Santee (San Diego County)
• Pay: $22-23/hr commensurate with experience
• Assignment length: 13 weeks to start but likely to extend to 6 months or longer

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides support to the client according to the service plan. Contribute to the service planning process by providing the service and care planning staff with specific information and observations of the clients’ needs and preferences.
• Attends to the individual needs of clients, which may include coaching and assistance with grooming, bathing, oral hygiene, feeding, incontinent care, toileting, prosthetic appliances, transferring, ambulation, and range of motion exercises, communication, and other needs in keeping with the individuals’ care requirements.
• Provides monitoring and management of clients socially unacceptable behavior while providing positive mental and emotional interaction and coaching to teach socially acceptable behavior.
• Maintains the comfort, privacy, and dignity of each client in the delivery of services to them.  Interact with clients in a manner that displays warmth and promotes a caring environment.
• Fully understands all aspects of clients’ rights, including the right to be free of restraints and free of abuse. Responsible for promptly reporting incidents or evidence of client abuse or violation of clients’ rights.
• Assists in maintaining a safe, neat, and clean environment; reporting environmental deficiencies to the Maintenance Department.
• Observes clients for changes in health condition or behavior and promptly report these changes to appropriate licensed nursing personnel.
• Performs all job responsibilities in accordance with prescribed safety and infection control procedures including thorough hand washing, use of disposable gloves where indicated, and proper disposal of soiled materials.
• Lifts, moves, and transports clients using proper body mechanics along with lifting devices and other staff member assistance to prevent injury.
• Completes all records documenting care provided or other information.
• Performs other duties as may be assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• High school diploma or GED required
• A minimum of 6-12 months’ experience providing support to individuals with developmental disabilities who require high levels of behavior support
• Participation and completion of Amergis’ Competency and new hire program when applicable
• Current CPR certification
• TB Questionnaire, PPD or chest x-ray if applicable 
• Understand patient confidentiality and HIPAA requirements  
• Ability to effectively elicit/provide information to and from appropriate individuals (including, but not limited to, supervisors, co-workers, clients) via strong communication skills; proficiency in the English language is required  
• Computer proficiency required 
• Must be at least 18 years of age