Direct Support Professional

PURPOSE:

   The Jewish Board’s Community Behavioral Health treatment programs provide compassionate, high quality, evidence-based services to individuals and families in the communities we serve. Our staff uses a culturally competent, person centered approach to help individuals and their families develop skills and resources to improve overall functioning, to instill hope, and to strengthen resiliency. Our programs work closely with community partners to address health disparities in our neighborhoods while also celebrating the strengths and resilience of our communities. Our children’s community residences are single site residence’s that provide group living for eight children and/or adolescents. The program provides a supervised, trauma informed therapeutic environment which seeks to develop the resident's skills and capacity to live in the community and attend school/work as appropriate.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Direct Support Professional works with children and adolescents in a residential treatment setting and is responsible for ensuring that those portions of the treatment plan which deal with day to day and independent living skills are implemented. Acting as a positive role model and providing therapeutic support, the Direct Support Professional is charged with the fundamental responsibility of the client's health and safety.

KEY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Responsible for day-to-day care of the client in the program including helping consumers to maintain their personal hygiene, social guidance, use of leisure time, and food planning and preparation.
• Develop, supervise and run activity sessions.
• Accompany clients on trips and outings and supervise activities.
• May be called upon to work one on one with a client who is displaying significant stress or assist with management issues as they relate to clients.
• Drive the clients to medical, social or other necessary appointments.
• Shares their experience and observation of the clients under care with the treatment team and immediately brings to the attention of the supervisor any unusual issues. 
• Will be required to cook/prepare meals for residents within the program.
• Participates in weekly team meetings (Virtually/ in-person).
• Participates in regular staff meetings and trainings.  May be asked to travel to offsite meetings and trainings
• Completes regular and timely documentation of all resident interactions, including progress and informational notes in the respective electronic records
• Coordinate and collaborate with the multidisciplinary team 
• Complete incident reports as appropriate following an incident
• Other duties as assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES for the position include:

• Willingness to work with children/adolescents living with the impact of trauma and experience mental health challenges
• Compassion and respect for vulnerable individuals
• Patience and understanding for the sometimes slow  process of stabilization and recovery
• Excellent youth engagement skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Attention to detail

EDUCATIONAL/TRAINING REQUIRED:

• High School diploma is required.
• A current, valid driver’s license with a clean driving record is preferred depending on the program.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED/LANGUAGE PREFERENCE:

• Some work experience with a similar population in a residential setting.

COMPUTER SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Aptitude for learning new systems and application software

VISUAL AND MANUAL DEXIERITY:

• Must have the ability to read and write

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL EFFORT

• Travel in the community with residents utilizing agency vehicle
• Engage in physical activities with the residence