SUMMARY

Provide on-going training and personal assistance to Community Habilitation participants with disabilities with the intent of promoting independence and community inclusion. Work with minimal supervision, provide training, role modeling, structured routines and specialized assistance as outlined in each participant’s habilitation plan. As much as possible, routines will be individualized, based on the participant’s choice of activities and aimed at empowerment and inclusion in the community.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties and responsibilities of the Direct Support Professional - Commhab will include, but are not limited to the following:

• Adhere to ethical principles including the Agency’s mission statement and the standards of conduct.
• Provide support to participant in choosing and participating in a variety of meaningful recreational, vocational, and daily living skills activities based on participant desires, parameters of the program, and their individualized Community Habilitation Plan.
• Assess participants’ interests, abilities, strengths and limitations.
• Follow dietary guidelines as directed in habilitation plan.
• Provide personal care consistent with participants skill level and as outlined in the habilitation plan (including; bathing, grooming, toileting, dressing, laundry, etc.).
• Demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to participants.
• Work with supervisors and co-workers to meet program needs.
• Develop an appropriate rapport and work effectively with participants’ circle of support.
• Keep written and verbal information shared with team members regarding a participant confidential in accordance with HIPPA regulations.
• Work with other service providers within the community in a professional manner.
• Participate in regular staff meetings and required trainings.
• Carry out responsibilities as assigned by the Program Manager (i.e., doctor’s appointments, religious observances, banking, budgeting, session notes, goal plans, etc.).
• Utilize pro-active approach to avert crisis situations.
• Utilize on-call supervisor to receive instruction and report emergency situations.
• Provide opportunity and advocacy in the area of continuing education, technology access, communication systems and emotional well-being.
• Research community resources and provide linkage to increase inclusion within the participants’ community.
• Foster independence and autonomy.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to read, write and speak English
• Computer literacy at a level that will accommodate training in and utilization of Electronic Medical Record software
• Ability to implement a prompting hierarchy and write observant and detailed notes for each session performed by employee.
• Flexible schedule to meet participants needs.
• Willing to travel to participants’ homes or meet them in the community.
• Successful completion of required in-service training.
• Must participate and meet established requirements in a date base check through the Division of Criminal Justice Services as defined by the State of New York, Office of People with Developmental Disabilities, and Chapter 575 of the Laws of 2004.
• Must participate in successful database checks through the State Central Registry of Child

Abuse and Maltreatment, HHS Office of Inspector General, Excluded Parties List System, New York Office of Medicaid Inspector General and Specially Designated Nationals.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• High school diploma required.
• Some college and experience working with people with disabilities preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, write, speak and understand English. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret reports and documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries, concerns or complaints from employees and customers. Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Basic understanding of statistics.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of instructions and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Ability to resolve conflicts and mediate stressful situations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to walk and sit. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Able to move, bend and lift at an active level. Willing to accommodate individuals utilizing wheelchairs in all forms of public transportation.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to a normal office setting with little or no discomfort due to noise or temperature. Some walking, bending and standing required in order to photocopy, access files and so forth; work may be performed under pressure and may be, at times, mentally fatiguing; ability to sit for long periods of time necessary. Staff will be working in the homes of their participants. Each situation will differ. All efforts will be made to match staff with an environment that best suits them and is mutually beneficial to the participant.

Hour Rate: $17.54