Caregiver/Direct Support Professional

Would you like to work in the rewarding field of human serivces and are you thinking that a career in social work, behavioral health, applied behavioral analysis, medical or nursing would align with your goals? Come and check out the career options at the Utah State Developmental Center (USDC). Jobs at USDC will help you receive a sense of purpose while helping individuals that have intellectual and developmental disabilities live fuller lives and reach their highest level of independence and personal development. Join our team of dedicated Direct Support Professionals (DSP’s ) and other professionals at USDC providing compassionate care to the individuals that reside at our facility. We offer full time employment at 40 hours per week with competitive salary and benefit options. 

Principal Duties

As a Direct Support Professional you will be trained and develop intimate knowledge of the following duties:

• Participation in active treatment, providing Trauma Informed practices within the scope of individualized treatment programs for the individuals.
• Preparing and serving meals while following dietary guidelines.
• Performing direct care services to include bathing, showering, dressing, toileting or changing incontinent briefs (diapering), and oral hygiene.
• Providing transportation of individuals to their daily activities.
• Supervising and participating in daily activities with the individuals.
• Understanding the developmental needs of others.
• Coaching, mentoring, and helping others to improve their knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Observing, reporting and documenting the behavior and progress of the individuals.

Minimum Qualifications

• You must pass a background check.
• You must be willing to assist individuals with their daily hygiene which may include bathing, toileting, and changing briefs.
• You must be willing to work the afternoon shift from 1:30 pm to 10:00 pm including weekends and holidays.
• You must be willing to provide appropriate care for individuals who may exhibit aggressive behaviors.
• This position requires you to be able to lift up to 50 pounds or 1/4 of your body weight, whichever is less with or without a reasonable accommodation. You will also be expected to use mechanical lifts where required and be able to transfer individuals correctly. 

Preference may be given for the following:

• Experience caring for intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals.
• Experience working as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
• Experience providing behavioral health care for individuals.

Why You Should Join Our Team

The selected candidate will be part of a team promoting independent life skills for people that have intellectual or developmental disabilities in our care. In return, you will be given opportunities for advancement in the Health and Human Services field. (If you have a CNA, you can earn hours toward maintenance of your certification when assigned to work with medically fragile individuals.

The Agency

The Caregiver (Direct Support Professional) will help support the mission of the Utah State Developmental Center which is to serve as a statewide resource center for people with disabilities while promoting opportunity through choice and outcome based support. Click on the following link for more information about the Utah State Devlopmental Center:  https://usdc.utah.gov/ 

• Properly support aggressive, self-injurious, and non-compliant individuals in learning more adaptive and positive behaviors.
• Follow structured daily schedules and daily routines.
• Effectively implement prescribed individualized treatment plans.
• Provide trauma informed care, be reliable and professional in all aspects of the job duties.
• Demonstrate excellent written and oral skills in a professional manner.
• Maintain a calm demeanor in the face of aggressive acts from individuals and the application of appropriate safety precautions and restraint techniques.

Typical Qualifications

• Ability to observe details at close range and at a distance.
• Ability to observe physical conditions, behavior or surroundings for potential areas of concern or inappropriate activity.
• Ability to hear sounds that may indicate potential areas of concern or inappropriate activity.
• Ability to verbally communicate safety concerns to others.

• Only applicants invited to interview will be contacted.
• Cell Phones are not allowed on the floor during Active Treatment with the Individuals.
• Risks which require the use of special safety precautions and/or equipment, e.g., working around operating machines, working with contagious diseases or hazardous chemicals, etc.
• The work requires considerable and strenuous physical exertion such as frequent climbing, lifting heavy objects up to 50 pounds, crouching or crawling in restricted areas, using crisis de-escalation techniques and physical/mechanical restraints with aggressive individuals in potentially dangerous situations and settings. 
• You must successfully pass a criminal history check.
• You must be determined eligible for direct patient access to provide services to a vulnerable adult in accordance with Utah State Code 26B (2) (240) and R432-35. To see what would exclude you from receiving direct patient access please click on the following link and read section R432-35-8. 
• R432-35-8
• Department of Human Resource Management rules regarding promotions and transfers apply to current employees.
• Tobacco use is only allowed in designated areas on the campus grounds.