Group Day DSP Internship

Job Description - Group Day Direct Support Professional Internship
 

This internship opportunity is available only to current undergraduate students enrolled at a Virginia college or university.

Autism Sanctuary is proud to participate in the InternshipsVA Program. #InVA

A group day staff member is a trained DSP (direct support professional) who provides daily support to adults with developmental disabilities while they receive services at day support, facilitating them working toward their goals, engaging with their community, and making meaningful decisions while ensuring that the individual they’re supporting remains safe. DSPs are responsible for adhering to all regulations and guidelines, including documentation procedures, related to group day services. 
 

Minimum knowledge, skills, abilities, experience, or professional qualifications required:

• Has demonstrated ability to support those with intellectual/developmental disabilities
  • This includes, but is not limited to: first hand experience, academic courses, research experience in the area of developmental disabilities, or competencies and abilities approved at the discretion of the supervisor through observation during a supervised training session or other means.
• Has strong communication and teamwork skills
• Has a passion for serving the developmental disability community

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide day-to-day care and supervision to individuals in their day support setting and in the community, ensuring their safety and well-being at all times.
• Assist individuals with meeting their goals as outlined in their individualized support plan (ISP) and ensure that supports are appropriately provided
• Promote independence by encouraging individuals to engage in meaningful activities, including community activities, skill-building activities, and leisure skills.
• Monitor and document the physical, emotional, and behavioral progress of individuals, reporting any changes or concerns to the supervisor.
• Ensure that the environment is safe, clean, and conducive to the physical, emotional, and social well-being of individuals.
• Facilitate communication and cooperation with families, guardians, and other healthcare professionals involved in the care of the individual.
• Collaborate with supervisors, other support staff, and members of the individual’s interdisciplinary team to ensure appropriate and thorough care.
• Provide support for medical and behavioral needs
• Participate in ongoing training and professional development to enhance support skills and stay current with best practices in the field.
• Ensures that they provide care to individuals that adhere to the appropriate staffing ratios, including 1:7 for group day and 1:1 for group day customized rate and community coaching 

Expectations

• Fills out an end of shift report at the end of each shift to reflect daily progress notes
• Completes any additional documentation at the end of each shift to reflect behavior support needs as necessary, including but not limited to customized rate data collection sheets and incident reports
• Administers medication as needed and fills out MAR and other documentation as applicable, or ensures that a staff member trained in medication administration administers required medication
• Complete annual retrainings/refreshers as they come up
• Provides individualized care according to the individual’s ISP and ensures that their support and documentation reflects any changes in goals or support needs
• Follows any additional protocol for individuals they support, including but not limited to 1:1 protocol, PICA protocol, safe space protocol, and behavior support plans (BSPs)
• Communicates promptly with supervisors to address any concerns
• Promptly communicates with supervisors when unable to fulfill responsibilities or provide care, with as much advance notice as possible

Certifications:

• CPR/first-aid training required before start of position (*training will be provided upon hire if not certified*)
• HR and HCBS Rights Training (*training will be provided upon hire*)
• Medication Administration Training as needed (*training will be provided if required*)
• As appropriate, shall be certified in crisis and de-escalation techniques if not already trained, or complete annual refresher training if already trained
• Autism and Behavioral Management training (*training will be provided in the onboarding process*)
   

Hired individuals must consent to a background check and must be able to provide their own transportation to and from the job. 
 

This role reports to: the Autism Sanctuary Director and DSP Supervisors 
 

At Autism Sanctuary, Inc., we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We believe in creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and talents. We celebrate differences and strive to foster an environment free from discrimination and harassment. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply and join us in our mission to support and empower individuals with autism and their families