Easter Seals Jobs

Direct Support Professionals perform a wide variety of person centered supports and services with a strong emphasis on personal choice to individuals with developmental disabilities. These supports and services involve advocating for, encouraging, guiding and teaching individuals in expressing personal choice, developing daily living skills and habits, taking care of their personal needs, assuring community integration, ensuring for their health and safety, and maintaining a healthy, safe home environment. The supports and services performed depend upon the specific abilities of the individuals being served and the nature of the setting where the activities are performed.

CORE COMPENTECIES OF A DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL

*Participant Empowerment  *

• The Direct Support Professional enhances the ability of the participant to lead a self-determining life by providing the support and information necessary to build self-esteem, and assertiveness; and to make decisions.* *

*Communication   *

• The Direct Support Professional should be knowledgeable about the range of effective communication strategies and skills necessary to establish a collaborative  relationship with the participant.  

*Community Living Skills & Supports   *

• The Direct Support Professional has the ability to match  specific supports and interventions to the unique needs of individual participants and recognizes the  importance of friends, family and                 community relationships. *Education, Training & Self-development   *
• The Direct Support Professional should be able to identify  areas for self improvement, pursue necessary educational/training resources, and share  knowledge with others.* * * Advocacy   *
• The Direct Support Professional should be knowledgeable  about the diverse challenges facing participants (e.g., human rights, legal, administrative and financial) and should be able to identify and use effective advocacy strategies to overcome such challenges and barriers.

*Crisis Prevention and Intervention   *

• The Direct Support Professional should be knowledgeable  about crisis prevention, intervention and resolution techniques and should match such techniques to particular circumstances and individual *Building and Maintaining Friendships and Relationships   *
• Support the participant in the development of friendships and other relationships.
• Provides Person Centered Supports.

*Supporting Health and Wellness   *

• Promotes the health and wellness of all.