Family Services Direct Support Professional - Imagine!

Join us in making a real difference! As a Family Services DSP, you'll have the opportunity to empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, helping them thrive in their communities.

Purpose of Position

Promotes the health, safety, and welfare of individuals experiencing intellectual or developmental disabilities. Engages in skilled interaction with individuals in services who require additional supports, either in the home or in the community to help them build on their strengths.  Acts in accordance with Imagine! Policies, Family Recruited Employee (FRE) mission and guidelines, and Individual Plans.  Monitors and reports on data to ensure compliance with all applicable regulating agencies.  Maintains professional relationships with individuals in services, other staff, guardians and family members, and all other members of treatment teams. This position is designed to meet the needs of multiple families and individuals in services across Boulder and Broomfield counties and the surrounding areas.

Why You Should Be a Family Services DSP:

• FRE services provide the opportunity to clients that cannot function in group settings to access community resources or to increase various skill levels with 1:1 support.
• FRE services provide parents with respite on the evenings, weekends, or holidays, or during hours or days that typical agencies may not offer support.

Enjoy flexible scheduling that fits your lifestyle. We offer various shifts, including evenings and weekends, to help you balance your personal and professional commitments.  

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

1. Promotes the health, safety, and welfare of the individuals in services. 

• Ensure health and safety requirements set forth by the FRE guidelines, as well as all regulating agencies.  This includes appropriate services and support, such as positive instruction, assistance with personal hygiene, toileting, meals, etc.
• Engages in skilled interaction with individuals in services who require support to replace socially inappropriate behavior and enhance skills.
• Assists individuals in services in accessing and utilizing their community as needed, by transporting them safely to community sites for activities, utilizing personal vehicles, buses, walking, etc.
• Learns and consistently practices effective teaching skills, working with other caregivers or teams as necessary.

2. Acts in accordance with FRE policies, mission, and the Individual Plans.

• Supports and implements activities according to service guidelines, in the context of a nurturing, stable environment.
• Follows Imagine! rules and regulations.
• Implements, monitors, and reports on services provided to the individual. 

• Completes documentation and tracking timely and accurately.
• Communicates effectively with other caregivers, parents/guardians, or the individual’s team. This includes checking email, voicemail, and managing communication.

3. Monitors and reports on data to ensure compliance with all applicable guidelines and regulations, including Imagine! Policies and Procedures.

• Ensures quality service delivery, meeting the guidelines set forth in FRE quality standards, as well as following schedules, information sheets, and plans.
• Provides services in compliance with all applicable Federal, State, County and Municipal statutes, regulations, and Imagine! policies and procedures. 

• Enter hours worked, contact notes, and other requirements for services provided in live time on the date of service.

• Completes all required training, including annual refreshers, in the appropriate timeframe.
• Reports all behavioral incidents, medical emergencies, and/or significant changes in medical condition to supervisor and completes all related paperwork in a timely manner.

1. Maintains respectful and professional relationships with individuals in services, other staff, guardians and family members, and all other members of the individual’s team. 

1. Implements Individual Treatment Plans developed by credentialed professionals as needed.

Other Duties/Responsibilities

• Supports FRE mission in the context of both individual and collaborative work.
• Actively participates in staff meetings, workshops, in-services, trainings, discussions, etc.
• Represents Imagine! within our community by sharing and advocating for inclusive, accessible spaces.
• Must complete all necessary background checks before starting employment.

FRE Services Include:

• Respite Individual Hours: No more than 9.75 hours within any 24-hour period
• Respite “Days”: This is 10 hours of respite within any 24-hour period. No more or no less. This is not 24-hour care. Please note: Respite “Days” and Respite Individual Hours cannot be used within the same 24-hour period for the same client
• Community Connector: This service is used to develop abilities and skills necessary to participate in community life, such as community education, training, volunteer activities, etc. Family Services DSPs will help the individual to build and develop relationships and natural supports in the community. These services include socialization adaptive skills, and personnel to accompany individuals in the community. Community Connector enables the individual to utilize the community as a learning environment through conducting services in a variety of settings.
• Youth Day Services: This service is specifically designed for individuals ages 12-17-years old. This service is specifically designed to provide care while the primary caregiver works, pursues education, or volunteers. This service is capped at 10 hours per calendar day.
• Enhanced Homemaker: This service is used to increase the individual’s skill levels with cooking, cleaning, and laundry.
• Personal Care: This service provides support to the individual for them to maintain or increase their skill level with activities of daily living. This includes, but is not limited to, bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, routine assistance with medical appointments, budgeting, meal planning, grocery shopping, etc.

Job Qualifications

                Knowledge, Skill, and Ability:

• Effective written and verbal communication skills with individuals and groups at all professional levels.
• Effective and creative negotiator and problem solver.
• Ability to work independently- traveling and working in the community.
• Ability to work effectively with various technology including word processing software, internet-based databases, assistive technology, etc.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license and ability to meet Imagine! driving requirements.
• This position requires regular use of a personal mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. All employees are responsible for ensuring they have a mobile device capable of accessing all current Imagine! online systems.

Training/Education:

• Applicants must be 18 years old or older.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 2 years of college preferred.
• Ability and willingness to successfully complete required training curriculum. 

Experience:

• Experience working with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities preferred but not required.

Working Environment/Physical Activities: 

• Ability to lift 50 pounds.
• Ability to drive your personal vehicle.
• Effective with shifting roles, responsibilities, and expectations in a changing environment.
• Willingness and ability to respond to emergency situations as they arise.
• Work is performed in a variety of settings including community locations, the office, outside, and in-home.
• Please note: The Class B License held by the FRE department states that FRE employees are not permitted to provide any supports that are considered skilled care (G-Tube, Lifts & Transfers, wound care, suctioning, etc.)

Are you ready to make a difference? If you’re passionate about helping others and enjoy working in a dynamic environment, we want you on our team!

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job. 

Imagine! is a nonprofit with a goal of helping people aspire to, and achieve, a fulfilling life of new possibilities by providing support services to individuals with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities (IDD). We are located in the Denver / Boulder metro area and support Boulder and Broomfield counties.

OUR MISSION:  Creating a world of opportunity for all abilities.

Our services are community-based and mission-driven. We value creativity, innovation, and teamwork. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, flexible work schedules, comfortable/casual work environments, and meaningful and rewarding work with friendly, supportive co-workers.

Equal Employment Opportunity – Valuing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

Imagine! is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO).  We strive to foster a just, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We also recognize the value of diversity within our organization, and want to employ a workforce that effectively supports the diverse communities we serve. Unlawful discrimination in employment because of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, hair style or texture, genetic information, or other characteristics protected by applicable laws is strictly prohibited.