Meadowcreek Day Support
Center for Adult Developmental Services
Region Ten Community Services Board

CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Direct Support Professional I

GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

This is a FLSA non-exempt position. The incumbent serves as a Direct Support Professional I in a Day Support Program for
adults with intellectual disabilities. Services are provided to individuals with mild, moderate, severe or profound intellectual
disabilities. The Direct Support Professional I must maintain safe conditions for the program participants and provide specific
training, supervision, and assistance services, documenting as directed.

The incumbent reports to the Director I or Program Manager I of the Day Support Program and position duties require proceeding
alone under standard practices referring questionable situations to the supervisor. Carrying out position duties requires analysis
of facts and determining actions using a wide range of procedures but within the limits of standard practice. He/she is expected
to perform in accordance with applicable professional ethics, state quality assurance standards, Medicaid waiver regulations as
well as established Region Ten policies. The Direct Support Professional I is an employee of the Adult Developmental Services
Division and may be asked at any time by management to work at any given location as need by various division programs.

The essential functions of this job are starred below (*) under “Major duties.”

MAJOR DUTIES:

1. *Ensures the health and safety of consumers and program participants and provides planned and emergency
services as described:

a) counsels and manages behaviors by prevention or de-escalation of aggression or agency approved restraint
techniques as needed. Uses positive programming methods to address behavior needs in accordance with
licensure regulations and Human rights guidelines.

b) conducts and supervises recreation/community integration with consumers.
c) supervises consumer participation in "normal" daily living, community based and center-based activities
d) provides skills training for identified needs.
e) assists with the self-administration of consumer medications, including insulin and tube feeding and ostomy care,

as required..
f) physically assists, supervises and/or trains all consumers in personal care skills (i.e., toileting, showering/bathing,

tooth brushing, topical medications, menstrual care) as needed.
g) performs CPR/first Aid/crisis interventions for medical or behavioral emergencies following training guidelines.

2. *Assists directly in the development and writing of consumer's individual program plans and in the weekly, monthly, and
quarterly evaluation of all plans.

3. *Records extensive data on individual performances across a wide range of educational and behavioral programs.
4. *Transports consumers to activities in the community. This requires travel by foot, car, and public transportation as

necessary. Transportation requires availability of personal car for client transportation.
5. *Acquires and maintains valid certification in First Aid, CPR, Medication administration, Behavior Management and Crisis

Intervention to comply with state and federal residential staffing requirements.
6. *Reads all consumer, team, division, and agency communications.
7. *Is considered an essential staff and may be required to work at other program locations during scheduled hours to meet

consumer needs. Must not leave consumers who require 24-hour care unattended at any time.
8. *Performs lifting procedures following specific training guidelines. Uses adaptive equipment to assist with mobility and

lifting needs of the clients.
9. *Addresses behavior interventions using positive programming; adheres to the agency policies and Human Rights

guidelines. Staff interventions will include teaching alternative behaviors, using prevention or de-escalation strategies as
outlined by the Region Ten Crisis Intervention/Behavior Management training. Physical restraints will be used as a last
resort method to protect the client or others from harm. Staff must use the methods outlined in Crisis
Intervention/Behavior Management training.

10. *Must have the energy, stamina, and mobility to meet the community integration/domestic skills/personal care needs of
the clients.

11. *Must be able to physically assist individuals to evacuate from a building the event of an emergency.
12. *Other tasks as assigned by supervisor.
13. *Displays professional behavior; works effectively with individuals and team; communicates professionally and with

respect to confidentiality, maintains good interpersonal relationships; works with teammates to problem-solve; and
executes services delivery with attention to safety and quality of care.

14. *Must be able to use a computer effectively to document consumer care in the electronic record; to create word
documents and communicate effectively in writing reports, emails and correspondences in concise and grammatically
correct manner.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To ensure the safe and efficient operation of the program, a valid Virginia Driver’s License plus an acceptable driving record as
issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles are required. For business use of a personal car, a certificate of valid personal
automobile insurance must be provided. To perform duties in this position the incumbent must have own car available for use
each day. The vehicle must be in safe working order and have room for two passengers. Mileage is paid for transporting
consumers. The incumbent must be physically able to respond to behavioral and medical emergencies, able to perform simple
restraints, go up and down stairs, and ambulate quickly at center and in community settings. The incumbent must be able to
perform all duties including physically assisting individuals with wheelchair transfers, which will require lifting, and assistance with
personal care/hygiene tasks. High School Diploma or GED required. Two years experience in human services field preferred.

In addition the incumbent needs to possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities.

Knowledge of: characteristics of intellectual disabilities; autism; aging, epilepsy; cerebral palsy; first aid; CPR; medication
management; emergency procedures; counseling techniques with verbal and non-verbal persons; teaching techniques,
prompting, breaking down information, chaining steps; documentation of different skills; procedures for preventing, diffusing and
managing aggression; services available in Charlottesville for resources and back-up for emergencies; standard residential
operating procedures, personal hygiene care, products, physical assistance support techniques, wheelchair transfers; lifting
techniques.

Skills in: systematic implementation of a wide range of behavioral programs and instructional formats; counseling verbal and non-
verbal persons; recognizing and responding to medical emergencies; written and oral communication of "PRN" information to
other staff, and other shifts regarding client needs; accurately describing and recording data and observations; skills in use of non-
aversive techniques to manage behavior problems; facilitating community integration; and accessing community resources, using
universal precautions; physically assisting adults with personal care needs (toileting, mobility, feeding, menses care); provide
group instruction and supervision in center-based and community settings; computers and keyboard usage.

Abilities to: make sound and safe decisions as regards behavior management, health needs, emergencies; perform work
assignments under little or no direct supervision as the supervisor may be at a different location; analyze needs of non-verbal
consumers and respond appropriately; conduct domestic (daily living and self help skills training), community and recreational
skills training programs following systems of least prompts, chaining, and a variety of reinforcement schedules; de-escalate and
manage aggressive persons; and drive defensively, physically assist including lifting and transfers (wheelchairs, etc.).Ability to
meet the physical demands of the job including lifting a consumer who needs assistance and use of assistive devices. Staff should
be able to support consumers as needed so that consumers may attain mobility goals. Incumbent must have the energy, stamina,
and mobility to meet the community integration /domestic skills/personal care needs of clients. Ability to work as a team player to
deliver consistent care to clients.

DIRECT CARE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION STANDARDS:

This position is evaluated according to the Direct Care Performance Evaluation Standards.

POSITION LOCATION: Meadowcreek Center

2000 Michie Drive
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901

POSITION ORGANIZATION CHART

Director I
I

Program Manager I
I

Direct Support Professional I
GRADE: 4

SCHEDULE: 40 hours weekly; Monday through Friday, shifts may vary 8:00-4:00p.m.; 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. or 7:30-3:30 p.m.

Position Description Updated: March 4, 2021




I have reviewed this job description and acknowledge the duties as well as the KSA (knowledge, skills, abilities) included in this
description. I also understand the performance standards as they apply to this position.