Community Habilitation Specialist Position Available In Suffolk, New York

Community Habilitation Specialist US Autism Homes Southampton, NY 11968

Job Description:

Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Position:

Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Location:

Collaborative Family Environment within the US Autism Homes (USAH)

Framework Role Overview:

The role of the Direct Support Professional (DSP) can best be described as a fantastic life coach who teaches and models skills to achieve a well-rounded life for the residents they support. Working within a collaborative environment at US Autism Homes, the DSP is hired by families who opt into the USAH model, fostering a community of care and growth.

Key Responsibilities:

1.

Skill Development and Learning:

Create opportunities to model and teach residents, utilizing both natural environments and planned experiences. Support residents in overcoming challenges related to socialization, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Accompany Residents to Community Classes. In the event of a class cancellation collaborate with other DSP’s to plan alternative activities that support the individual’s goals. 2.

Anticipating and Addressing Needs:

Develop a deep understanding of each resident to anticipate and address sources of anxiety and discomfort. Be hypervigilant about changes in behavior, assuming medical causes until proven otherwise, and consulting medical professionals as needed. 3.

Behavioral Support:

Identify antecedent events that trigger maladaptive behaviors and report them using incident reports. Allow residents to correct behaviors promptly, ensuring natural consequences follow maladaptive actions. 4.

Communication and Collaboration:

Regularly communicate with colleagues and enter relevant information into the resident’s SLACK channel, including medications, food intake, bowel movements, self-injurious behaviors, engagement levels, and sleep quality. Use this information to identify patterns of success and areas for improvement. Each DSP will have access to Slack, providing direct communication with all staff, behavioralists, families, and US Autism Homes administration. This tool is essential for continuous improvement, enabling DSPs to share ideas, challenges, and input. 5.

Home Environment Management:

Maintain a safe, tidy, and pleasant home environment. Assist with cleaning, noise management, healthy meal preparation, laundry, and tidiness of residents’ bedrooms. Communicate maintenance needs, practice safety drills, and seek opportunities for residents to interact with friends, family, and the community. 6.

Building Independence:

Promote independence by involving residents in household chores such as laundry, dishwashing, table setting, vacuuming, garbage disposal, raking leaves, car washing, food preparation, dusting, bathroom cleaning, window cleaning, and snow shoveling. 7.

Safety and Professionalism:

Drive safely and within speed limits. Maintain a positive attitude, being cordial and professional with residents, their families, and coworkers. Model good manners and proper dress code, especially within the church community. 8.

Continuous Learning and Improvement:

Prioritize the safety of residents and report any concerns to the operations manager or parent. Engage in continuing education opportunities provided by the organization and seek additional skills beneficial to the role. DSPs will have access to a licensed behavioralist through office hours and weekly house meetings. DSPs are expected to attend at least one weekly 30-minute meeting about resident behaviors for the house they work in most but are welcome to join all meetings they wish for any of the houses. This supports a model of continuous education.

Expectations:

Creativity and Feedback:

We welcome creative input and honest feedback from our DSPs and value their dedication to improving our residents’ lives. The model emphasizes continuous improvement and actively seeks the ideas, challenges, and input from the DSP team.

Feedback:

Receive feedback from Operations Manager regarding areas of success and improvement.

Impact:

DSPs play a crucial role in enhancing residents’ lives by teaching them how to be safer, more independent, and joyful.

Conclusion:

At US Autism Homes, we believe every day is an opportunity to improve the lives of the residents. We are grateful for the commitment of our DSPs and their willingness to help our families within the USAH framework. DSPs change lives.

Job Types:

Full-time, Part-time Pay:

$21.00 – $25.00 per hour Expected hours: No less than 30 per week

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Flexible schedule Health insurance Paid time off Paid training Vision insurance

Schedule:

8 hour shift Night shift Weekends as needed

Education:

High school or equivalent (Preferred)

License/Certification:

Driver’s License (Preferred)

Work Location:

In person