Direct Support Professional

About Us

IMPACT of the Piedmont advocates and honors the humanity and rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes. IMPACT is a compassionate community of professional caregivers committed to industry excellence, who honor one another with integrity and respect, whether it be with our team, the persons served, or members of our extended community.

Position Summary:

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) provides compassionate, person-centered support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities or other support needs, helping them live as independently as possible within their community. Working one-on-one, the DSP assists individuals in achieving their personal goals, developing life skills, and participating in meaningful community activities while promoting dignity, choice, and independence.

Responsibilities include providing assistance with daily living activities, encouraging community inclusion, supporting health and safety needs, assisting with transportation, documenting services, and fostering positive relationships with individuals, families, and interdisciplinary team members. The DSP serves as an advocate for each individual's rights and well-being while maintaining confidentiality and adhering to organizational policies and state regulations. The position supports compliance with all Federal, State, and internal policies, addresses issues as they arise, and escalates concerns to the Qualified Professional as appropriate. The role includes rotating on-call responsibilities and may require direct shift coverage when needed.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Understand the person that you are working with (their preferences, history, source of strength and comfort. Triggers areas of meaning)
• In residential environments or as outlined in plan, administer medications as ordered.
• Transport individuals served safely.
• Provide personal care such as bathing, dressing, toileting as indicated.
• Support individuals served in reaching individual goals. Follow the “how to” section of running goals, create a positive learning environment, document thoroughly and timely.
• Use clinical process to achieve positive outcome with individuals served.
• Ensure health and safety needs are met. 

• Provide support and supervision to ensure health and safety. 
• Participate in all staff meetings/training courses and committees as assigned. 
• Provide crises response/emergency assistance to individuals served as necessary.
• Maintain privacy and confidentiality of all records and information per applicable guidelines.
• Ensure individuals served are free from abuse, neglect, or any other irregularity and report any concerns immediately.
• Performs all other duties as assigned such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, and vehicle maintenance.
• Assist the individual served with medical appointments as assigned.  
• Always be professional with respectful communication within agency and outside of the agency.
• Communicate concerns up to manager and as indicated QP.
• Precise attention to administration of medications and vitals as order.
• Depending on the needs of the individual supported, must use proper body mechanics to bathe,liftor transfer individuals supported.
• Maintain and promote the agency

Commitment to the agency core values:

• Honor: We are an inclusive, person-first culture that honors all persons, so that every voice is heard, because each life story includes things that come easy and things that come hard.
• Compassionate Community: As a compassionate community, we serve and celebrate the interconnection and interdependence of our persons served, their natural support, ourstaffand the larger community.
• Integrity & Respect: We take integrity and respect seriously, by proactively demonstrating personal responsibility for our actions, doing what we say we will to, and by being open and authentic in every conversation.
• Professional Excellence:We achieve professional excellence by embracing a culture of continuous learning through personal, team and professional development,training and mentoring.

Required Qualifications:

• Education -High School Diploma (or GED or High School Equivalence Certificate)
• Language Skills –Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common medical and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from people servedand their loved ones. Ability to effectively present information to management and public groups. Ability to interact clearly and effectively, in both written and oral communication with supervisors,staff, and people we serve.
• Mathematical Skills –Ability to apply simple mathematics to practical situations.
• Computer Skills -To perform this job successfully, an individual should be proficient in personal computer skills including electronic mail, record keeping, word processing, spreadsheet, etc.
• Other Qualifications- Valid driver’s license isrequired, auto insurance and registration.

Competencies:

• Action Oriented:Is the first to step up and act.Takes initiative. Willing to make independent choices and accept responsibility for the outcome of decisions and actions. Approaches everything with energy and drive. Takes quick and decisive action. Not afraid to take chances and pursue new opportunities.
• Adaptability:Picks up on the need to change personal, interpersonal, and managerial behavior quickly.Watches others for their reactions to his/her attempts to influence and adjusts.Seeks feedback.Is sensitive to changing personal demands and requirements and changes accordingly.
• Teamwork:Possesses the ability to bring about, cause or influence a joint action by a number of people to achieve a desired result. Understands others quickly and can find common ground.Practices attentive and active listening.Has patience to hear people out and can accurately restate the opinions of others even when he or she disagrees. Provides the information people need to know how to do their jobs and to feel good about being a member of the team.
• Compassionate:Genuinely cares about people. Is concerned about their work and non-work problems.Is available and ready to help.Is sympathetic to the plight of others not as fortunate. Demonstrates real empathy with the joys and pains of others.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the individual is to remain in a stationary position for 60 percent of the time while working with those we serve. The individual needs to occasionally move about the facility to assist those we serve. The individual frequently positions self to assist those we serve with self-care. Most of the activities involve fine and gross manipulation of items. They must regularly push, pull, and/or move up to 60 pounds. 

Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this Job, the individual is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. The individual frequently works in a controlled climate.