Job Description

Direct Support Professional (Adult Program Assistant) MD

Under general supervision, an incumbent in this position is responsible for the safety and well being of adult program participants. Work requires patience, compassion, understanding and the desire to help individuals with disabilities become as self-sufficient as possible.

Duties may include implementing Individual Service Plans to assist the adult program participant in everyday life skills such as personal hygiene, utilizing public transportation, attending community activities and performing volunteer and paid work; and assisting adult program participants in performing tasks associated with those activities. Such assistance may require the incumbent to lift and position physically disabled adults. Based on work location, Adult Program Assistant receives general supervision and direction from the Adult Program Coordinator and Administrator.

This position is classified as non-exempt and in accordance with the Federal regulations is eligible for overtime pay for hours worked in excess of forty (40) hours per week. Note: Overtime must be pre-approved and time off from work either paid or unpaid is not considered in determining hours worked in a week.

Other Performance Measures

Successful performance on the job requires following safety guidelines and policies to reduce accident or injury to self or program participants, dress standards, proper attendance and leave policies and compliance with other policies set forth in the Employee Handbook. Creativity, initiative and effective problem solving is also important to the success of the incumbent.

Examples of Essential Functions

• Provide daily assistance to adult participants in areas such as physical care, toileting, feeding, medication administration, mobility and other daily activities. Such assistance may require the ability to keep up with running program participants and or to lift or to assist with lifting adult program participants is essential to perform this task.
• Plan and provide age appropriate activities for adult program participants with Adult Program Coordinators.
• Research and plan activities and outings in the community for participants.
• Plan and provide activities that assist participants in achieving their goals.
• May provide job development, coaching, or support for paid and/or volunteer work for program participant(s).
• May provide initial and ongoing training, coaching, mentoring and counseling in areas of appropriate work attitudes and skills specific to the individual\'s employment.
• Provide instruction in use of public transportation
• Accompany and supervise participants on community outings or to job sites.
• Assist program participants on job sites with instruction, modeling, coaching and cueing as needed.
• Provide support and loom set-up as needed for adult program participants at Woodmont Weavers.
• Operate cash register, receive payment from customers for purchases, and reconcile receipts and revenue daily.
• Complete required reports and paperwork in an accurate and timely manner.
• Complete Support Analysis Reports daily.
• Ensure that the vocational and non-vocational needs of the participants are being met.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date participant records and information as required.
• Communicate with key stakeholders as needed to report on the program participant\'s progress, needs, health, etc.
• Develop and maintain appropriate working relationships with supervisors, co-workers, program participants, family members, governmental agencies, and general public.
• The essential functions of this position as described herein require the ability to exert moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of bending, stooping, squatting, reaching, kneeling, crouching, crawling and brisk walking, and which may involve lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (40 lbs.).
• Most tasks require oral communication, visual and hearing perception, and the ability to get around the classrooms, cafeteria, gym, campus, etc.
• The ability to keep up with running program participants and or to lift or assist with lifting a program participant is essential.
• Act rationally, decisively, effectively and quickly under pressure.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to fulfill the dexterity and physical requirements of the work, and effectively attend to the needs of adults with intellectual disabilities
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with co-workers as well as program participants and their family members, residential providers and significant others as needed.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow directions found in manuals such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and other procedure manuals.
• Requires strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
• Ability to prepare and maintain required program records in a timely manner.
• Ability to assist supervising instructional staff in the preparation and/or organization of materials.
• Successful completion of the required training courses within specified period of employment. Training courses include, but are not limited to Orientation to MR, Human Rights, HIPAA, Bloodborne Pathogens, Incident Report Writing, Medication Administration, Case Notes and Confidentiality, Behavior Management, CPR, First Aid and Mandt training.
• A recent Tuberculosis screening to assure no significant risk to the health and safety of others.
• Successfully pass a criminal background investigation.
• COVID-19 Vaccination(s)

Examples of Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of conflict resolution and behavior management techniques.
• Some knowledge of Medicaid laws and compliance with such regulations.
• Some knowledge of the legal rights of program participants.
• Ability to operate general office equipment, cell phones, basic computer operation/literacy.
• Ability to apply principles to solve problems and deal with a variety of unpredictable situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret and follow instructions furnished in oral, written, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to read, interpret, and follow safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence using English grammar and spelling.

Education and Experience

High School Diploma or GED and prior experience working with people with intellectual disabilities. Must be at least 18 years of age. A special skill in cooking, weaving, gardening, textile, or fine arts is a plus.

Hours of Operation

8:30 AM \xe2\x80\x93 4:30 PM Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
8:30 AM \xe2\x80\x93 5:00 PM Wednesday
8:30 AM \xe2\x80\x93 4:00 PM Friday

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.

Physical Mobility

Physical Effort

Activity

% of Day

Lifting: Amt of Weight

% of task required

Stand

15

Up to 10 lbs.

10

Walk

15

Up to 20 lbs.

10

Sit

60

Up to 45 lbs.

10

Bend

10

More than 100 lbs.

no

Climb stairs

15

Balance

100

Push/Pull: Amt of Weight

% of task required

Stoop

20

Up to 10 lbs.

10

Kneel

10

Up to 20 lbs.

10

Talk

100

Up to 45 lbs.

10

Hear

100

More than 100 lbs.

no

Ability to perform a 2-person transfer.

Vision Ability

Activity

% of time task required

Close vision

100

Distance vision

100

Peripheral vision

100

Depth perception

100

Ability to adjust and focus

100

Manual or Finger Dexterity

Activity

% of time task required

Finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls

50

Reach with hands and arms

30

Operate computer

40

Operate office equipment

20

PI222149415

St. Coletta of Greater Washington