Direct Support Professional/ Professional Caregiver

Description

Easterseals Blake Foundation started as the Cerebral Palsy Foundation of Southern Arizona. Since then, we have expanded our services to better serve our community members. We are now one of Arizona's top providers of comprehensive behavioral health services, child welfare, and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We serve more than 40,000 individuals and families across 10 counties and support more than 3,700 children in Foster Care throughout Southern Arizona. Are you ready to make profound, positive differences in people's lives every day?

We offer our full-time employees the following benefits:

• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Flexible Spending Account
• Health Savings Account
• Voluntary Life insurance
• Voluntary Short-term Disability insurance
• Critical Illness insurance
• Accident insurance
• Employer paid life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and Employee Assistance Program

General Position Description: Provides supports and assists to individuals with intellectual, physical and/or developmental disabilities to live as independently as possible.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assists individuals with personal care and hygiene needs. This includes assistance in the restroom, assistance with eating, and moving, carrying, and lifting (using one-person, two-person, and mechanical lift transfers).
• Performs housekeeping tasks such as cleaning, cooking, laundering, making beds, yard work, and other household chores or tasks.
• Provides transportation and support out in the community to our members for outings/field trips, medical appointments, and shopping.
• Provides guidance on community participation, household budgeting, exercise, nutrition, and supports vocational responsibilities.
• Administers medications and/or assists members in the self-administration of medication including non-prescription and prescription as prescribed by licensed medical specialists.
• Keeps individual file on each person up-to-date. Reads and follows members individual support plan (ISP).
• Reports incidents to appropriate staff and assists in the completion of incident forms.
• Assesses and provides behavior/physical management techniques in crisis situation and attains assistance if needed. Perform standard First Aid and Perform Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) if needed.
• Job Coach/Direct Support Professional: Provides on-the-job training tailored to the needs of the member and supports them to adjust to their chosen work environment. Discovers member’s motivation and helps develop their skills. Presents and teaches job searching skills and techniques. Counsels members on fine-tuning work habits/skills in preparation for competitive employment.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED preferred.
• Three (3) months of caregiving experience preferred.

Regulatory:

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Current, unrestricted drivers with no more than two (2) minor moving violations or one (1) accident within the past three (3 years). Three (3) years of driving experience required.
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check.
• Ability to obtain and maintain an AZ DPS Level 1 fingerprint clearance card (paid by organization).
• Ability to obtain and maintain CPR, First, Aid, Article IX, and Prevention & Supports certification (paid training).
• This position requires that employees remain awake during working hours.

Skills/Job Knowledge/Abilities: Able to establish and maintain team atmosphere of communication and collaboration for with team and members. Must be self-directed and be sensitive to cultural and linguistic diversity. Excellent customer service in stressful situations. Maintains a professional in appearance, communications, and actions. Must be able to direct and assist members for their safety. Basic knowledge of principles and practices of self-determination and individualized support. Able to work in a fast-paced environment with multiple interruptions. Able to remain calm in emergency situations.

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements (with or without accommodation):

In home, day program, or group home environments. May required visiting different sites or homes for member care. Driving to member homes and other locations on a regular basis. Interacts with employees and members on a daily basis. Able to lift up to 50lbs to support member care. Visual acuity to assess the wellbeing of members and drive. Able to communicate verbally with members and emergency personnel as needed for daily operations. Hearing ability for communication in persona, phone, and/or other electronic methods. Manual dexterity to assist members with paperwork and daily functions. Able stoop, squat, reach, pull, push, stretch, ascend and descend stairs, stand and sit for long periods of time. Able to use required personal protective equipment (PPE). Work outdoors and indoors as needed. May be required to work additional hours or days depending on circumstances.

Additional Information: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible duties, skills job knowledge, responsibilities, and/or qualifications. EBF reserves the right to revise the job description or to assign other duties to this position. This job description is not intended to create a contract or property right to continued employment between the employee and EBF.

Easterseals Blake Foundation and Aviva are an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative action employer that promotes a work environment of inclusion and diversity. We are committed to provide employment opportunities to all candidates based on their qualifications free of discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation or gender identity), age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, mental or physical disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you have any questions, require assistance or reasonable accommodations while seeking employment, please contact the Human Resource Department at HR@blake.easterseals.com or call 520-327-1529.