Direct Support Professional Relief

**Position Title**: Direct Support Professional

**Program**: Supported Living

**Position**Type: Relief

**Reports to**: Team Supervisor

**Rate of Pay**: $26.27-$27.66

**Work Hours**: 0-35 hours bi-weekly

**Work Schedule**: Days, afternoons, some weekends

**About Mainstream**

The goal of Mainstream is, “That all people are able to develop their full potential as individuals with respect and dignity, enjoy integration into the community and have the opportunity to prepare for the future.”

This goal challenges a community to have each of its people experience equality, individuality, and social roles. The dignity and self-respect that people enjoy in their own communities are a result of a supportive environment that fosters personal growth, self reliance, and acceptance.

Recognizing that our daily experiences go hand in hand with our quality of life, our aim is to provide the necessary tools that will enable everyone to:

- exercise self-direction and ownership of choices
- develop social skills and realize their full potential
- deal with real life situations effectively
- enjoy friendships and other supportive relationships
- exercise their rights responsibly

Mainstream is about people supporting people. It upholds the ideals of mutual respect, the value of individuality and an open-mindedness toward the ever-changing needs of its people.

**Job Summary**

The direct support professional (DSP), under the direction of the team supervisor and manager, will primarily be responsible for facilitating independence and improving the quality of life for individuals with developmental, intellectual, and/or physical disabilities. On a day-to-day basis, our direct support professional staff provide person-centred support to inspire the people in our care to lead independent, productive and fulfilling lives.

**Direct Support Professional Job Responsibilities**
- Provide direct care and support to those with developmental differences
- Foster positive relationships with individuals supported and their families
- Remind and assist people supported with self-administration of medications (with proper training)
- Performs personal care tasks, including assistance with basic personal hygiene and grooming, feeding, and ambulation, medical monitoring, and health care related tasks
- Assists with toileting, including bedpans, urinals, and commode chairs as necessary
- Encourages self-help activities
- Facilitate open communication and foster positive relationships with people supported, their families, and community partners
- Ensure person-centered planning and goal planning meetings are completed, and assist with follow through
- Reports changes in client’s condition or family situation to administrators and supervisors
- Documents services provided
- Performs home management functions such as light housekeeping, laundry, bed making, and cleaning
- Plans meals, shopping for groceries, preparing and serving food/meals, feeding and clean-up
- Accompanies clients to scheduled appointments and transports clients or running errands for clients
- Household management duties include but are not limited to:

- Light housekeeping (dishes, sweeping, moping, vacuuming, change bedding, laundry etc.)
- Landscaping (grass cutting, raking, snow shoveling, de-icing etc.)
- Groceries and meal preparation
- Other duties as assigned

**Role Expectations**
- Respect and adhere to Mainstream’s policies surrounding confidentiality
- The DSP exercises autonomy in the planning and implementation of the daily activities and appointments for the people we support. When challenges develop, it is the responsibility of the DSP to reach out to Team supervisor or Team Manager for additional support as needed
- Be familiar with Mainstream policies and procedures, always conduct yourself in a manner consistent with Mainstream philosophies
- Be an active part of the team whose primary goal is that of promoting Mainstream philosophies in ways that positively impact people supported, fellow staff members and the community
- By manner of communication, show respect and consideration for fellow co-workers, a positive attitude and strong work ethic towards responsibilities
- Use effective time management strategies in completing tasks and planning daily activities
- Contribute to team meetings, projects, and initiatives
- Communicate and collaborate professionally with others within the team, the organization, families and community partners
- Comply with health and safety policies, procedures, and safe work practices

**Supportive Living Supports and Activities**
- Daily living
- Medication administration
- Wellness (Physical and Mental)
- Accessing resources
- Life skills
- Self-advocacy
- Coping skills
- Personal care
- Building relationships with peers, family and community members

**Compliance Responsibility**
- Ensure regulations under Quality Assurance Measures (QAM) are being met as part of day-to-day operations
- Complete all required documen