Direct Support Professional Caregiver ICF (Driver)

Job Summary

As a Direct Support Professional you will play a meaningful role in empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live full self-directed lives. Youll provide personalized high-quality care in a home environment that honors each clients rights dignity preferences and independence.

In this hands-on role you will support clients in achieving their goals by implementing individualized service plans fostering daily living skills encouraging community engagement and promoting overall well-being. Youll also ensure accurate documentation and compliance with licensing standards and agency policies to maintain safe person-centered care.

This is more than a jobits an opportunity to make a real impact every day.

What Youll Be Doing: Tasks Duties and Responsibilities

Client Rights Dignity & Well-Being

• Is knowledgeable of residents/clients rights and ensures an environment that protects privacy dignity and overall well-being.

• Maintains client comfort privacy and dignity in all interactions; promotes a warm caring atmosphere.

• Fully understands client rights including freedom from restraints and abuse; promptly reports any concerns or violations.

Quality Care & Direct Support

• Provides individualized attention that promotes the highest practical physical mental and psychosocial well-being.

• Reviews and follows each clients individualized service plan (ISP); contributes observations and information to support ISP updates.

• Assists clients with daily living needs including grooming bathing oral hygiene feeding toileting incontinence care transferring ambulation range of motion communication and other required supports.

• Provides coaching and support to address socially unacceptable behaviors while teaching appropriate alternatives.

• Works directly with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

• Administers medications and performs treatments according to policy; checks vital signs and collects specimens as needed.

• Observes clients for changes in condition or behavior and promptly reports findings to nursing staff.

Safety Compliance & Professional Conduct

• Supports and adheres to procedures related to safety universal precautions fire/safety/disaster plans risk management and security.

• Identifies reports and/or helps correct unsafe working conditions and equipment issues.

• Maintains confidentiality of resident employee and agency information.

• Ensures compliance with licensing regulations agency policies and all applicable laws.

• Upholds a work environment free from sexual harassment discrimination and illegal behavior.

• Conducts self professionally and tactfully in all communication and interpersonal relationships.

• Follows up appropriately with supervisors coworkers and clients regarding concerns or complaints.

• Completes all required in-service trainings meetings attendance expectations and dress code standards (including personal hygiene).

• Performs all responsibilities in accordance with safety and infection-control procedures (handwashing PPE proper disposal etc.).

Environment & Property Care

• Helps maintain a clean safe and orderly facility; reports environmental deficiencies to Maintenance.

• Protects client belongings (clothing eyewear cash equipment etc.) and follows policies for reporting and locating missing items.

• Uses proper body mechanics and lifting devices when moving or transporting clients to prevent injury.

Transportation & Community Integration

• Drives HGH vehicles safely and responsibly.

• Transports clients to appointments activities and community outings.

• Follows all procedures for securing passengers wheelchairs and cargo.

Documentation & Communication

• Accurately completes all required records and documentation in accordance with agency standards.

• Uses computer software for communication documentation and data entry.

• Promotes positive public relations with clients families visitors and regulatory representatives.

Additional Duties

• Performs other duties as assigned.

What Youll Bring to the Role: Knowledge Skills and Education

Education & Certifications

• High School diploma or GED required; Medical Assistant Diploma or Certificate preferred.

• Current CPR/First Aid certification is mandatory.

• Must complete all required new hire training

• Must pass a pre-employment health screening/TB Test and annual TB tests thereafter.

Experience & Professional Knowledge

• Previous experience providing services to individuals with developmental learning or physical disabilities preferred but not required.

• Knowledge of HIPAA Guidelines and must maintain confidentiality of all Protected Health Information and personal client data.

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to read write and understand English.

• Able to establish and maintain effective professional working relationships with clients coworkers neighbors volunteers vendors and the public

• Able to perform housekeeping tasks including laundry bed-making meal preparation cooking and cleaning.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to see talk hear walk bend stoop sit stand reach and lift up to 30 pounds repeatedly during a shift.

• Capable of safely performing physically demanding job functions and client support needs as required.

Licensure Driving & Safety Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of hire.

• Must possess a valid California drivers license proof of a safe driving record (current DMV report required) and have at least 2 years of licensed driving experience

• Must pass required vehicle transportation training and an observed road test annually.

Background & Compliance Requirements

• Must obtain and maintain a criminal records clearance through DHS and/or DSS (Live Scan fingerprinting).

• Must comply with all agency policies confidentiality requirements health and safety standards and regulatory expectations.

Our Values

Innovation We encourage creativity and innovation because we believe that by striving for more efficient and effective ways of doing things we can achieve exceptional results. Our drive for success is shared by all. Our organization focuses on solutions and refuses to maintain the status quo. We challenge our team to be ahead of industry trends as we strive to lead and not follow.

Collaboration We believe that working together collaboratively is the foundation of a culture that values teamwork communication and cooperation. This belief is central to every part of our business both internally and externally and strengthens our community.

Accountability We take responsibility for our actions and for delivering on our commitments. We believe that by being transparent and accountable we build trust and maintain the respect of our stakeholders.

Respect We treat everyone with respect and dignity. We value inclusivity and believe that by upholding a culture of respect we can foster a positive and supportive work environment. We treat others as we would want to be treated.

Empathy We value empathy and understanding in all our interactions. We seek to understand the perspectives and needs of our colleagues clients and stakeholders to meet them with kindness and compassion.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

Physical Demands

• Regularly and frequently required to perform physical activities including walking standing sitting reaching carrying lifting bending twisting stooping and kneeling.

• Assists with lifting moving and transferring adult clients between wheelchairs shower chairs toilets beds chairs and other locations throughout the home and community.

• Occasionally required to lift up to 50 lbs.

• Must be able to perform physically demanding tasks safely and consistently throughout the shift.

Client Transportation & Locomotion

• Work requires significant movement including transporting clients and operating an agency vehicle for both local and freeway driving.

• Supports clients in transitioning to and from vehicles offices clinics community agencies schools and day programs.

Exposure & Safety Considerations

• May be exposed to viruses infections and other health-related risks.

• Must adhere to all safety protocols infection control standards and use of personal protective equipment as required.

Work Locations & Scheduling

• May be assigned to work at any Agency location as operational needs require; responsible for own transportation to and from assigned sites.

• Work schedules may be adjusted with appropriate notice based on agency needs.

• Must be available and willing to work overtime weekends and holidays as necessary to meet service and operational requirements.

• Due to the nature of the role Direct Support Professionals have a Working Lunch and mealtime is included in paid work hours.

Equipment Use & Operational Skills

Employees must maintain the ability to safely and effectively operate the following equipment and devices:

• Telephones and fax machines

• Mechanical lifts (e.g. Hoyer lifts) wheelchairs adaptive equipment

• Adjustable chairs and beds

• Adaptive eating utensils and bath aids

• Transfer benches

• Computers and related software

• Standard household appliances

• Agency vehicles including minivans and automobiles

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Home of Guiding Hands is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race religion color national origin sex (including pregnancy sexual orientation or gender identity/expression) age marital status status as a protected veteran among other things or status as a qualified individual with disability.

About HGH

Home of Guiding Hands is a non-profit organization that was established in 1967 by a small group of dedicated and ambitious community members. The Mission of HGH is to improve the lives of those we serve. We support children and adults in San Diego and Imperial Counties with intellectual and developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome epilepsy autism and cerebral palsy. We provide a full continuum of care including residential care in specialized group homes independent living support respite care and adult foster home services. Additionally we provide early childhood assessments and services tailored day support Life Planning workshops county-wide transportation services and on-site activities at our resource center.