DSP- Direct Support ProfessionalAt — Averys Home

 A \\Direct Support Professional\\ or DSP works directly with people with intellectual or developmental disabilities to become independent and integrated into their community. The main objective is to support and organize personal goals in a respectful, client-directed environment. A DSP performs personal care tasks, including assistance with basic personal hygiene and grooming, feeding, and ambulation, medical monitoring, and health care related tasks. These tasks also include medication administration, balanced meal preparation, behavioral management and proper documentation/ reporting.

Tasks
As a Direct Support Professional (DSP), your job typically involves assisting individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities in daily living activities. Your responsibilities might include:
• Supporting individuals in their homes or community settings.
• Helping with personal care tasks such as bathing, dressing, and grooming.
• Assisting with meal preparation, feeding, and medication management.
• Supporting individuals in maintaining their health, including managing medical appointments.
• Facilitating social and recreational activities to promote independence and inclusion. • Assisting with household tasks like cleaning and laundry.
• Documenting daily activities, progress, and any concerns related to the individual’s well-being.

Since this is also your internship, you may also be gaining specific skills in areas like behavioral support, communication techniques, and person-centered planning.

Training
There are a few areas of training that employees must fulfill. The first one being a certification of completion of an approved medication class. Once this class is completed on site training can occur where staff is walked through training and at least, 6 hours of on site medication shadowing. All direct support professionals are required to complete DSP 1 within the first year of employment and DSP 2 within the second year of employment.The Direct Support Professional (DSP 1 and DSP 2) training is 70 hours of training which is designed to be completed over a two-year period, 35 hours in each year. In Year 1, you will learn about: The California Developmental Disabilities Service System, the Individual program plan, risk management and incident reporting, 7 rights of the self-administration of medication
medication management, maintaining the best possible health and oral health, positive behavior supports, communication. In addition, all DSP's are required to be CPR/ First Aid certified.

Learning Outcomes
In addition to the core tasks of a Direct Support Professional, your internship could help you develop the following skills:
1. Crisis Intervention: Learning how to handle emergencies, de-escalate challenging behaviors, and provide calm, effective support during stressful situations.
2. Communication Skills: Improving both verbal and non-verbal communication methods to interact effectively with individuals who may have varying communication abilities, including those using assistive technologies or sign language.
3. Advocacy: Advocating for the rights and needs of the individuals you support, ensuring their voices are heard in care decisions and other areas of life.
4. Cultural Competency: Understanding and respecting the cultural backgrounds, identities, and personal preferences of the individuals you work with.
5. Time Management: Balancing multiple tasks while providing individualized attention and care, ensuring that all needs are met within a limited time frame.
6. Teamwork & Collaboration: Working alongside healthcare professionals, social workers, and family members to create cohesive support plans.
7. Problem Solving & Decision-Making: Developing critical thinking skills to address individual needs and adapt to evolving situations.
8. Documentation & Reporting: Accurately documenting progress, behavioral changes, and health updates to ensure continuity of care.

These skills can be valuable for both direct care work and future career opportunities in related fields.