Direct Support Professional

JOB SUMMARY:

Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN) is a Bay Area non-profit organization founded in 1996 and focused on helping individuals with special needs and their families find love, hope, respect, and support through integrated community involvement. Our FCSN Living Services Program is seeking a compassionate, patient, detail-oriented, and reliable Direct Support Professional / Caregiver who is responsible for providing training and supervision to adults with developmental challenges.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Under the supervision of Case Manager, the essential functions of the Direct Support Professional are to:

1. provide personal care assistance, supervision and support and to optimize participant's success in their living arrangements;
2. conduct training and personalized assistance to enhance participant's health, independence and overall skills; and
3. transport participants for essential living functions and community engagement. This position involves implementing Person-Centered Thinking (PCT) activities, promoting participants' living skills, ensuring their well-being, and maintaining a safe and supportive living

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide training, personal care assistance and support to participant in maximizing living skills, independence, optimal health, emotional stability, and community 
• Provide close supervision, assistance and engagement to ensure participant's safety, well-being and needs are 
• Supervise and/or Assist with personal care tasks (bathing, brushing, dressing, grooming, and toileting), household maintenance tasks, healthy meal preparation, health monitoring and medication management.
• Observe and timely report changes in the participant's physical or mental health to 
• Conduct training and organize a variety of activities tailored to participant's diverse needs, skills and interests.
• Motivate and actively engage participants in living-skill training, classes, activities and healthy lifestyle practices to promote their overall skills and optimal 
• Offer emotional support, engage in conversation, and provide companionship to enhance the well- being of the 
• Assist participants in exploring community resources, planning, and attending community 
• Transport participants for grocery shopping, leisure activities, Special Olympic practices/tournament, preferred outings and community engagement and as needed 
• Implement positive behavioral prevention strategies and intervention 
• Assist participants to self-administer prescribed medication or over-counter med. Record on the medication log with signatures.
• Effectively and respectfully communicate with participants, families, team members and supervisors.
• Document participant's daily service log, behaviors, participation, activities, objective tracking and incidents.
• Complete quarterly, semi-annual and annual PCT ISP reports in a timely manner and engage

participants in achieving their ISP objectives.

• Engage in precautionary practices to mitigate health, safety and any other risks to participants' well- being.
• Follow established safety protocols and emergency procedures, intervening as 
• Perform first aid, CPR, and other emergency services (e.g. evacuations) as appropriate to the needs of 
• Participate in team meetings and contribute to the development of care 
• Attend staff meetings, apartment meetings, and staff training (All training and meetings are mandatory).
• Communicate proactively with supervisors regarding participants' well-being, needs, incidents, concerns, 
• Be a supportive team player, support coworkers and promote team 
• Respect participants' rights, dignity, privacy. Timely report observations or evidence of violations of any of the personal rights and dependent adult and elder 
• Comply with HIPAA law and confidentiality.
• Participate in FCSN special events 

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Education: a high school diploma is required; a higher education degree is preferred
2. Experience: have at least one year of experience working with the developmentally disabled or being an enthusiastic, quick learner with an impeccable work
3. Professional Skills
   • Good oral and written communications skills 
   • Good behavioral management 
   • Ability to teach, conduct training, arrange activities, work effectively and 
   • Sufficient skills in using Microsoft Office applications, email, and data entry, 
   • Ability to adapt to the changing needs of participants and respond to unexpected 
   • Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to multi-task to meet deadlines
   • Proficient critical thinking skills in decision making situations, good organizational and record keeping skills, and good independent 
4. Environmental Conditions
   • Must be able to meet flexible schedule and be open to assignments and 
   • Able and willing to perform tasks that may involve lifting (25 lbs), bending, and assisting with personal care and mobility 
   • Extensive amount of time driving and transporting clients in the community, standing and 
   • Must have a reliable vehicle with full car insurance (proof of vehicle insurance), clean DMV record and willing to transport participants in personal vehicle for participants' traveling 
   • Use electronic devices for documentation and 
5. Personality Traits:
   • Patient, caring, empathetic, with a genuine commitment to enhancing the quality of life for program participants.
   • Take initiative, energetic, reliable, multi-tasks, a quick 
   • Have a creative, innovative, open, and positive mindset and a 'Can Do' attitude.
   • Have great interpersonal skills, collaborate with diverse people, and maintain a positive, uplifting, and optimistic work environment.

COMPANY-WIDE HIRING REQUIREMENTS:

• Must pass DOJ fingerprint-based background clearance prior to onboarding
• Must pass a health screening and TB test prior to onboarding
• Must possess a valid driver's license and have a clean driving record
• Obtain valid CPR and First Aid Certificate within one month of joining (employer-covered)

BENEFITS:

• Health Insurance (Medical/Dental/Vision)
• Life/AD&D Insurance
• Lifestyle Spending Account (LSA) for Wellness & Fitness
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Sick Leave (PSL)
• 401(k) & company matching
• Holiday Paid Days
• Sign-on Bonus
• Referral Bonus Program