Direct Support Professional – Lafayette – Tangram – Lafayette, IN

SIGN ON AND RETENTION BONUS OF $500 FOR LAFAYETTE

Are you enthusiastic about working with people?
Motivated about making a difference for others?
Dedicated to a career in working with individuals with disabilities?
Become a Direct Support Professional (DSP) with Tangram. Our DSPs support adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a home setting so that these individuals they support can achieve personal independence and active community participation.
Tangram creates extraordinary lives for persons living with disability… far beyond what most believe is possible. As a United Way 501(c)3 community benefit organization, Tangram helps individuals with disabilities and their families plan, support and sustain ways to live actively and independently within their communities throughout central Indiana.
Position Summary:
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) directly assist individuals to realize their full potential and to pursue their wishes, needs, and interests. DSPs promote and advocate independence and happiness in all aspects of life such as employment, home care, personal supports, safety, healthy living, needs for social roles and supports, citizenship, recreation, and other areas of importance. DSPs are trained caregivers that demonstrate a broad range of skills across all environments for the people they serve.
Key Areas of Accountability / Essential Functions

1. Consumer Service

A. Responsible for understanding and implementing Person Centered Individual Support Plans (PCISP). PCISPs may include, but are not limited to teaching, assisting, facilitating and building on the individual strengths in the areas of :

Meal planning and food preparation,
Shopping for groceries, clothing, personal necessities,
budgeting and bill payment,
housing keeping and laundry,
personal hygiene,
recreation,
socialization,
health and safety,
self-advocacy
employment.

B. Responsible for understanding and implementing Behavior Support Plans (BSP) if applicable.
C. Responsible for understanding and implementing all medical High Risk Plans (HRP) if applicable.
D. Responsible for providing persons served with opportunities to make informed and thoughtful choices throughout their day.
E. Responsible for teaching consumers how to appropriately advocate for themselves.
F. Responsible for assisting consumers in being an active member of their community through participation in activities of their choice.
G. Assists consumers in the development of meaningful connections by acting as a “bridge builder” to establish greater ties to the community and to support the development of friendships.
H. Encourages and assists the consumers as needed in maintaining communication with parents, family and friends.
I. Engages the consumer throughout the day, whether through participation in activities or in discussions regarding areas of interest, desires or goals.
J. Responsible for teaching consumers to utilize community transportation services or if needed, provide transportation using personal and agency vehicles. (Must maintain drivers insurability as outlined in

Minimum Job Qualifications)

K. Responsible for lifting and transferring consumers as necessary. (Must maintain ability to perform job as outlined in Minimum Job Qualifications under working conditions)

2. Advocacy/Support:

A. Maintain a positive and facilitative role with persons served to encourage independence.
B. Present a proactive, professional image, modeling a healthy life style for persons served, staff, and the community.
C. Build bridges between persons served and their communities so that necessary supports are in place to insure success.
D. Provide support, structure, and guidance to help individuals overcome life issues that are keeping them from realizing their dreams.

3. Consumer Health and Safety

A. As indicated by the PCISP, staff are responsible for:

Assisting consumers with their personal care needs,
Insuring the consumer’s home meets general housekeeping standards – clean, sanitary living environment,
Monitoring medications and/or administering medications as prescribed by the consumer’s health care provider and in compliance with medication administration standards,
Assist consumers with scheduling and attending medical appointments, medical treatments, and therapies.

B. Work with other staff members to insure a safe and healthy environment for the consumers, including but not limited to:

Monitoring the home environment for safety hazards and insuring general safety precautions are in place (for example, batteries in smoke detectors checked),
Providing training for emergencies, including how to respond to fire, gas, severe weather or other emergencies,
Insuring emergency phone numbers are posted and are current and accurate.

C. Responsible for monitoring consumers’ general health, noting any changes in health status, communicating critical health changes directly to the program manager,
D. Responsible for handling any emergencies or crisis according to protocol until emergency personnel arrive on the scene.
E. Responsible for alerting manager of any health/safety concerns or crisis.

4. Program Support and Development

A. Participate in the Person Centered Planning Process, consumer team meetings, staff meetings, training sessions and annual case conferences as requested or assigned.
B. Responsible for identifying and troubleshooting potential barriers to community involvement, including but not limited to environmental, attitudinal and economic barriers.
C. Responsible for identifying community resources which could enhance the individuals’ quality of life and which will help meet the goals of the person served.
D. Responsible for maintaining a working knowledge of adaptive equipment and/or assistive technology used by the consumer.
E. Research and identify community inclusion resources and activities in the person’s served metropolitan area.
F. Responsible for utilizing effective communication strategies and skills necessary to establish a collaborative relationship with the consumer. This would be demonstrated through the use of respectful and sensitive communication skills and adapting communication to the range of participant communication styles.
G. Responsible for maintaining professional, respectful and sensitive communication with co-workers, support staff, Program Managers, Directors, families, medical professionals, etc.
H. Must be current on all required trainings and maintain competency in any areas unique to a consumer.
I. Responsible for acting in accordance with all Tangram Policies and Procedures.

5. Reporting and Record Keeping

A. Responsible for assisting managers with the oversight of consumer expenses, ensuring receipts are obtained and appropriate records kept up to date.
B. Responsible for reviewing all daily documentations at the beginning of each shift (Tangram emails, MAR/TAR, electronic event notes ), completing all required documentations by the end of each shift, and submitting reports to maintain consumer records per regulations and procedures.
C. Responsible for using electronic database to record time worked according to procedure.
D. Responsible for submitting requests for time off in a timely manner, according to policy.
E. Responsible for documenting any health and safety incidents including in the event narrative, precedent, actual event, and antecedent.

Minimum Job Qualifications

1. Education: High school diploma or G.E.D.

2. Work Experience: Experience in a human service field and/or experience with individuals with developmental or other disabilities preferred.

3. General Requirements: Must be 18 years of age or older, must have a valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, meet agency’s driver insurability requirements, reliable vehicle, and up to date automobile insurance. If position involves driving agency vehicles, must be 21 years of age. Must have basic computer skills.

4. Working Conditions: This position requires significant bending, lifting and stooping. Must be able to lift/transfer individuals.

5. Training Requirements during Employment: Must maintain CPR and first aid certification. Must pass Medication Administration and must stay current on all other training as defined by state, accreditation body or agency guidelines.

6. Characteristics, Skills and Abilities:

A. Customer Service: The degree to which the employee makes an effort to listen to and understand the customer (both internal and external) and anticipates customer needs, giving high priority to customer’s satisfaction.

B. Judgment: The ability to make decisions which are based on logical assumptions and which reflect factual information

C. Adaptability: The degree to which the employee is able to maintain effectiveness in varying environments and with varying tasks, responsibilities, or people.

D. Initiative: The degree to which the employee actively attempts to achieve goals, initiate activity directed towards the achievement.

E. Innovativeness: The degree to which the employee is able to generate and/or recognize imaginative or creative solutions and apply them to accomplishing goals.

F. Work Standards: The degree to which the employee sets goals or standards of performance for himself or herself.

G. Integrity: the degree to which the employee maintains and promotes social, ethical, and organizational norms in conducting internal and external business activities.

H. Tolerance for Stress: The degree to which the employee maintains acceptable performance under pressure and/or opposition (e.g. time pressure, job ambiguity) and relieves stress in a way that is acceptable to the organization.

I. Teamwork: The degree to which the employee works effectively with teams, work groups, or those outside formal lines of authority in order to accomplish assignments or goals; takes action that respects the needs and contributions of others.

J. Written Communication: The degree to which the employee is able to express ideas clearly in writing which demonstrates a sound knowledge of organization, grammar, language and terminology adjusted to the characteristics and needs of the intended audience.

K. Oral Communication: The degree to which the employee is able to verbally express ideas and/or convey information respectfully, clearly and effectively in one on one or group situations.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $12.50 per hour

Benefits:

401(k)
Dental insurance
Health insurance
Life insurance
Referral program
Vision insurance

Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Weekends

Supplemental Pay:

Signing bonus

Ability to Commute/Relocate:

Lafayette, IN (Required)

Education:

High school or equivalent (Required)

License/Certification:

Indiana Driver’s License (Required)

Work Location:

Multiple locations

Hours per week:

10-19
20-29
30-39

This Job Is:

A good fit for applicants with gaps in their resume, or who have been out of the workforce for the past 6 months or more
A good job for someone just entering the workforce or returning to the workforce with limited experience and education
Open to applicants who do not have a college diploma

Duties: