Direct Support Professional

Classification: Hourly
Reports to: Program Coordinator

General Description: The Direct Support Professional supports Easter Seals Capper Foundation. Mission, vision and values by exhibiting the following behaviors: ability and commitment to identify strengths, genuine respect for diverse perspectives and life styles, a capacity to listen and reflect, skill and creativity in helping people become more aware and confident of their own abilities, to help the individual or group assume decision-making and action, knowledge about how to gain access to information and ability to reflect and criticize ongoing process, including one’s own role in those processes. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assists individuals with household management (e.g. meal preparation, laundry, cleaning and decorating) and transportation needs to maximize his or her skills, abilities and independence
• Assist the individual in fulfilling his or her support plan.
• Promotes the health and wellness of people supported.
• Enhances the lives of persons served by providing support and information necessary to build self-esteem, and assertiveness; and to make decisions.
• Follows organizational policies.
• Manages documentation requirements efficiently
• Communicate effectively with persons served so as to establish a collaborative relationship with the person supported.
• Respond to the needs, desires and interests of persons supported.
• Identify the needs of the participant for community supports, working with the participant’s informal support system, and assisting with or initiating identified community connections.
• Know about the range of participatory planning techniques and is skilled in implementing plans in a collaborative and expeditious manner.
• Match the specific supports and interventions to the unique needs of individuals supported and recognize the importance of friends, family and community relationships.
• Identify areas for self-improvement, pursue necessary educational/training resources, and share knowledge with others.
• Be knowledgeable about the diverse challenges facing participants and be able to identify and use effective advocacy strategies to overcome such challenges.
• Support the vocational, educational and career support desires of the person supported.
• Understand crisis intervention and resolution techniques and use such techniques as identified for persons supported.
• Support the mission and practices of Easter Seals Capper Foundation and participate in organizational activities.

Minimum Qualifications:

High school diploma or GED


Education & Experience:

High school diploma or GED  

Job Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Speak fluent English
• Ability to read and write in English
• Prefers applicant has a valid,Kansasdriver’s license with an acceptable driving record.

Supervisory Responsibilities: No supervisory responsibility at this level. A staff may explain work methods and/or provide instruction, assist in training others, or demonstrate work processes/procedures. 

Training Requirements: Must complete orientation training; and maintain training certification based on agency procedures.

Physical demands: Requires physical strength to bend, stoop, lift, and respond to aggressive behavior with prescribed techniques. Employee must be able to lift 50 pounds. 

Personal Protection Equipment:

• Gloves are provided

Equipment Required: None 

Work environment: Involves direct contact with individuals who are severely physically and/or developmentally disabled, and who may exhibit unpredictable behavior and uncontrollable outbursts. The physical characteristics of the work environment are such that noise control and odor control procedures are required. May work with individuals with Hepatitis B and/or other blood borne pathogens.

• Prior to job offer must pass drug test.  

Statement of Understanding:

This description is intended to describe the essential job functions, the general supplemental functions and the essential requirements for the performance of this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and requirements of a person so classified. Other functions may be assigned and administration retains the right to add or change the duties at any time.

 Submit your resume here, or:

• E-mail our human resources director at jobapplicant@capper.easterseals.com

• Mail to:
  Easter Seals Capper Foundation
  Attn: Human Resources
  3500 SW 10th Avenue
  Topeka, KS  66604
• Complete Application at:
  Easter Seals Capper Foundation
  3500 SW 10th Avenue, Topeka, KS
  8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday