Qualified candidates must possess the following:

• A minimum of a high school diploma or GED. A community college AA degree, technical school degree, Human Services degree, or a four-year Bachelor of Arts/Science degree is preferred;
• A minimum of six to 12 months of work experience supporting individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities is preferred;
• A sincere and passionate desire to work with persons with disabilities;
• Committed to self-advocacy and person-centered planning principles;
• Proven crisis management and de-escalation skills;
• Basic computer and data entry skills;
• Comfortable and respectful when assisting individuals with personal cares;
• Ability to problem solve and work independently;
• Ability to focus on quality of work at all times;
• Meet the physical demands of the position, with or without a reasonable accommodation, including regularly standing, walking, sitting, reaching, bending at the waist, stooping at the knees, pushing, pulling and bending as well as assisting persons with personal cares, ambulation, etc. These tasks can entail lifting items of up to 50 lbs.

OTHER JOB-RELATED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be 21 years of age.

• A valid driver license and MVR background check required, acceptable to Options’ insurance carrier.
• Must qualify for employment under MN Rules 9543.3070, Applicant Background Study.
• Must not be excluded from participation in Medicare, Medicaid or other federal health care programs due to fraud.
• Must pass the pre-placement evaluation for back flexibility and cumulative trauma disorder or be determined able to fill position with reasonable accommodations.
• Must follow Options’ Drug and Alcohol testing policy.

PRINCIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES:

DSP-Day Services

Provide person centered services for people with disabilities which may include activities within the center, in the community, or at a work site.

• Supporting individual’s safety and wellbeing while they are engaged in social, community, therapeutic, and work activities;
• Assisting the individuals with a wide range of needs related to communication, personal needs: eating, using the restroom, medications, lifting and transferring those with physical disabilities, transporting etc.;
• Design, learn and assist individuals in small groups in the community and on site with exploring and accessing people’s areas of interest;
• Implementing a variety of person-centered goals; and outcomes
• Documenting on service delivery, progress on goals, outcomes, and relevant events;
• Driving company vehicles.

DSP-Employment Services

Our Direct Support Professionals working in the vocational programs support, train, and supervise adults with intellectual disabilities who are interested in performing facility-based work contracts and/or community-based work opportunities. Specific duties include:

• Help people explore and develop employment skills and provide guidance and supervision at community work sites while they are engaged in work/vocational tasks and occasional rec/leisure activities;
• Overseeing the work performed by the individuals to ensure that they are performing their duties in a manner that meets/exceeds business expectations;
• Implementing a variety of person-centered goals; and outcomes
• Documenting on service delivery, progress on goals, outcomes, relevant events, activities, and time records for payroll;
• Assisting with personal cares as needed; and
• Driving company vehicles.

It is also important to note that this position will be working directly with individuals with disabilities who can become frustrated, noncompliant, and/or aggressive.  To best ensure the clients’ success while they are working or participating in other activities, this staff must:

• Be sensitive to the clients’ frustrations;
• Demonstrate proactive behavioral approaches;
• Possess excellent behavior management skills and the ability to deal with crisis situations; and
• Basic sign language skills are a plus.

This job description is not intended to be all inclusive and the employee will also perform other reasonably related duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor and other management as required.  Options reserves the right to revise or change job duties as the need arises.