Home & Community Based Services Direct Support Professional I

This role operates in a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Setting, defined as “medical, social, and supportive services for Iowans with functional, cognitive, and other physical or mental health needs” (Iowa Health & Human Services). Rather than institutionalizing individuals who have these physical and mental health needs, HCBS settings provide these individuals with the opportunity to live and receive services in a way honoring to them and their abilities. 

Direct Support Professionals are the heartbeat of what we do at Imagine the Possibilities – empowering people to reach individual achievement across the spectrum of life. If you’re passionate about empowering people to reach their goals and help them strive for more, we want you to join our team. As an integral part of the overall care team, you will collaborate with other Direct Support Professionals, Programmers, Supervisors, individuals-served, and their families to ensure the best possible care for those you serve. You will fulfill an individual’s behavioral care plan by creatively strategizing the best way for each individual to reach and exceed their goals. Your innovative and impactful solutions and strategies will make the difference for those you serve. 

What Winning Looks Like:

While it’s not a competition, we do recognize that each person wants to ‘win’ at life; and you’re a central part of someone else’s wins as well as your own! In this role, you’ll be responsible to: 

• Collaborate with the HCBS Supervisor and HCBS Programmer to develop goals for the individual served.
• Provide services to individuals based on their unique goals and behavioral care plan. This includes:
  • Teaching individuals how to accomplish their goal (rather than completing a task for them).
  • Using behavioral strategies that support individuals and address any behaviors that do not lead to their success.
  • Motivate and encourage individuals to participate in their behavioral care plans and reach their goals.
  • Participate in recreational, community, and social activities with those you serve, honoring the choices of the individual. 
  • Display and understanding of when it is appropriate to apply rights-restrictions, only as determined by the interdisciplinary team and when indicated in the individual’s behavioral care plan. 
• Provide complete, consistent, and accurate documentation of the individual’s progress. 
• Provide safe environments and instruction to individuals served regarding the practices that will help them reach their goals.
• Provide care to individuals that help them present their best selves to the community. This may include helping with hygienic needs, choosing appropriate clothing, administering medication, and ensuring they have food options suitable for their dietary needs. 
• Be an advocate for individuals receiving services to have as much control over their own lives as possible. All individuals should be treated with respect and should feel empowered to live their life as independently as physically possible. 

Know We’re For You:

We know finding the right opportunity can be tricky – that’s why Imagine is focused on making sure your time is well spent. We take pride in the benefits we offer our employees. As an employee, you’ll have access to a variety of benefits that are sure to sweeten the deal. Depending on your full-time or part-time status, you’ll have access to: 

• Competitive Wages: The base pay is $17/hour. With education and experience, you could start out making more than that.
• Flexible Scheduling: We’re a 24/7 service provider, so we have all sorts of opportunities that will fit your schedule. 
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO): We all deserve a break now and then – don’t feel bad about taking time for you. 
• 401k Retirement Plan: Secure your future with a cushioned fund that will allow you to live your best life. 
• Comprehensive Insurance Plans: Whether its medical, dental, vision, or life insurance – we’ve got you covered. 
• Pre-Paid Legal Services: Be prepared for the things you just can’t be prepared for on your own.
• Discounted Costco or Sam’s Club Memberships: What can we say? We know a great deal when we see one. 
• Advancement Opportunities: We believe in your future, which is why we have a specifically designed leadership development opportunity purposed to launch your career. 
• Employee Assistance Program: We’re there for you through all life’s ups and downs. 

Functional Experiences, Skills, & Requirements:

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and professional experiences:

• Mission-oriented: We’re on a mission to empower people to reach individual achievement across the spectrum of life. We know you are, too.
• An Attitude of Leaning: The truth is, the field of caregiving is always changing and requires adaptability. We need people on our team who are always ready to learn new ways of doing things, helping people, and changing lives. 
• Ability to Communicate Well: We’re looking for people with strong communication abilities so we can rely on you to communicate effectively to the rest of the team and the people we serve. 
• Confidence: We’re looking for people who know how to balance being bold and being humble. We’re looking for team members who are self-aware enough to know when to stand up as an advocate for others and when it’s time to follow the leader.
• Age Requirement: Depending on the setting, we may have additional age requirements. For Supported Community Living settings (SCL), you must be at least 16 years of age. For Habilitation settings (HAB), you must be at least 18 years of age. If you’re not sure which category this job posting falls into, we encourage you to apply – we’ll work with you on what we have available! 
• Driver’s License: You’ll be responsible for transportation at times, so we need to trust your ability to be safe behind the wheel.
• Educational Requirement: While no higher education is necessary, we do look for candidates who have obtained their diploma or the equivalent representing their high school education. 

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Must remain awake during working hours.
• May assist in the transfer of individuals to/from wheelchair, chair, bed, toilet, vehicle, etc.
• May require lifting at times, up to 35 pounds. Lifting more than 35# requires the use of a two-person lift, mechanical lift, or assistive equipment.
• May attend and participate in activities of consumer’s choice (e.g., church services, swimming, bowling, etc.).
• May require prolonged walking and standing for up to eight hours.
• May require frequent bending, stooping, and stretching.
• May require driving for up to eight hours.
• May experience various climatic conditions.
• May require working with difficult emotional and physical behaviors (e.g., seizures, physical aggression, etc.).
• Must have ability to see objects/persons at a distance.
• Must have ability to see close work such as typed or handwritten material.
• Must have ability to hear conversations in a quiet and a noisy environment.
• Must have ability to determine where a sound is coming from.
• Must have ability to hear differences among bells, buzzers, beeps, horns, etc.
• Must have ability to communicate through speech.
• Must have ability to drive and transport for service provision as needed.
• Must remain awake during working hours, if applicable.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain an all-inclusive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Further, this job description does not imply a contract between employees and Imagine the Possibilities, Inc.

Imagine the Possibilities is an equal opportunity employer. All candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, or any other protected stat