Direct Support Professional Job Coach - Float

Position Summary:

The primary duty of the Direct Support Professional Float is to provide support and advocacy to clients across various job sites, enabling them to achieve the desired outcomes of their Support Plan Addendum. This position involves floating between multiple work locations and duties, covering any clients or coworkers as needed or providing supplemental support. Additionally, the Float DSP engages with clients, maintains accurate documentation, and fosters professional relationships with coworkers and other stakeholders.

Essential Responsibilities:

1. Encourage clients' personal growth by supporting them in reaching their personal, independent, and employment goals.
   
2. Provide training and assistance to clients in various job tasks and settings, offering guidance and support to help them overcome challenges and maximize their strengths.
   
3. Float between job sites, adapting to the unique demands of each location and providing flexible support and assistance to clients in diverse environments and settings.
   
4. Complete documentation accurately, including client attendance, payroll, Pavillio, Data Sheets, incident reports, and other required documentation to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and organizational protocols.
   
5. Facilitate communication by regularly communicating with clients' guardians, homes, family members, employers, Program Plan Coordinators, and department supervisor to keep all relevant parties informed of client progress, needs, and any issues that arise.
   
6. Coordinate clients' time off from work in collaboration with transportation services, department supervisors, and worksite employers to ensure smooth transitions and effective scheduling.
   
7. Collaborate with coworkers and other team members to provide comprehensive support to clients and maintain positive relationships with worksite employers.
   
8. Assist with personal cares, as needed, ensuring clients' comfort, well-being, and dignity are upheld at all times.
   
9. Handle challenging situations that may arise in the workplace by providing guidance, support, and conflict resolution to clients as necessary.
   
10. Ensure compliance with all client and department-specific safety measures, prioritizing the safety and security of clients and coworkers in all activities and environments.

Other Responsibilities:

1. Perform other duties as assigned.
2. Complete in-service and annual training as required in Minnesota Statutes, Vulnerable Adults Act, Positive Supports Rule, and Department of Labor standards.
3. Comply with all company policies and procedures, including meeting the attendance and punctuality requirements.
4. Maintain current PSR, First Aid, and CPR certifications and perform the physical demonstrations of an emergency use of manual restraints, with or without reasonable accommodations.
5. Ensure the highest ethical standards and maintain a professional appearance that is appropriate for scheduled work activities in accordance with the company’s policies and practices.

Qualifications:

1. High School Diploma
2. Six to twelve months’ experience supporting individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities is preferred.
3. Experience assisting clients with challenging behaviors is preferred.
4. Ability to use electronic devices including databases and internet-based applications.
5. Reliable transportation to and from the workplace.
6. Maintaining a current DOT medical examiner certificate and medical waiver is preferred.
7. On-going commitment to strengthening diversity, equity, and inclusion within the workplace.
8. Commitment to promoting a safe and hazard free work environment.
9. Ability to pass a criminal background check and drug/alcohol test following a conditional job offer as well as throughout the course of employment, required by driving policies.

Essential Physical Functions:

The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities of this position. The employee must be able to continually sit, stand, walk, and communicate throughout each day. The employee must also be able to stoop, bend, kneel, twist, run, reach, push, pull, regularly move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally move up to 50 pounds. This may include moving clients who are unable to support their own weight or pushing and pulling wheelchairs used by clients weighing 100-200 pounds. Reasonable accommodations can be made of all essential physical functions.

This position description does not cover all the activities, duties, or responsibilities that may be required by the employee, and are subject to change by Merrick, Inc. as the needs of the company and responsibilities of the position change. In addition, this position description does not constitute an employment agreement or contract between Merrick, Inc., and the employee.