Careers

Media Alternative: ServiceSource Responsibilities of the DSP
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74GGTSUj66U
This media alternative provides a complete text-based version of the prerecorded video for users who cannot access visual content.

[Music]

Visual Description: A direct support professional assists a participant exiting a taxi.

Visual Description: A direct support professional helps a participant use a walker.

Voiceover: “Direct support professionals are the foundation of our programs. They provide direct care, which includes programming, active engagement, and any personal care supports that are needed.”

Visual Description: A compilation of clips shows a participant holding hands with a direct support professional, a direct support professional speaking with participants in a classroom, and a direct support professional assisting a participant at a computer.

[Music]

Visual Description: Title appears on screen: “Responsibilities of the Direct Support Professionals.”

Alyson Gray: “The job of the direct support professional is not the same from day to day. They’re supporting the individuals served in engaging in various activities.”

Visual Description: Text overlay reads: “Alyson Gray, Vice President of Long Term & Community Integration Services, ServiceSource Virginia.”

Heather Emmons: “As a direct support staff, my number one thing is that you have to be compassionate. You have to know that you’re coming into a vulnerable population. You’re helping people behaviorally, medically, and with daily living skills. You’re not doing these things for them unless they require it, but you have to be willing to teach them how to get to that independence.”

Visual Description: Text overlay reads: “Heather Emmons, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, ServiceSource Virginia.”

Sunny Han: “They always got my back, and they always help me when I need it.”

Visual Description: Text overlay reads: “Sunny Han, Day Program, ServiceSource Oakton.”

[Music]

Visual Description: Title appears on screen: “DSP Active Engagement.”

Voiceover: “They’re going to be providing a variety of activities, and it’s based on what the individual’s interests and choices are. So that could be art, cooking, community outings, going to the movies, going to their favorite restaurants, a museum, something of interest to them.”

Visual Description: A compilation of clips shows a Direct Support Professional guiding a group of participants out of a ServiceSource van, participants engaging in an art class, two participants seated together at a Chipotle restaurant, and a participant using a computer.

Voiceover: “In addition to that, they might also assist them in participating in expressive therapy, such as music, dance, yoga. Physical movement is something that a lot of our individuals enjoy, and our direct support staff are great at helping them achieve their goals in that area.”

Visual Description: A compilation of clips shows participants engaged in music classes, playing the guitar, attending yoga classes, and participating in dance therapy.

Michelle: “They’re doing a tie dye T-shirt day, right now.

Visual Description: Text overlay reads: “Michelle, Day Program, ServiceSource Chantilly”

Visual Description: A direct support professional assists a participant with tie-dyeing a T-shirt.

Alyson Gray: “When I started as a DSP, I liked the fact that no day was the same and that I remained busy throughout the day. I was able to come up with creative activities because I wanted the individuals to have fun just like I wanted to have fun.

Visual Description: Participants dance and clap their hands

Amanda Smedley: “So some of the physical requirements for participating, particularly at our high intensity sites, are you should be able to bend over and be able to pick something up off the ground. You also need to have that ability to pick up at least 50 pounds. You will not be picking up 50 pounds on a regular basis, but you will be using Arjo lift.

Visual Description: Text overlay reads: “Amanda Smedley, Director, Long Term & Community Integration Services, ServiceSource Virginia”

Visual Description: A direct support professional lifts a participant from their wheelchair using an Arjo lift.

Simone Mitchell: “Arjo lift is a great device to help transfer individuals out of their wheelchairs into any positioning for therapeutic positioning.”

Alyson Gray: “We have a lot of people that are supporting the individual, so the DSP has the support of an assistant program manager, a program manager, a division manager, a behavior analyst, a nurse. So when somebody is a brand new employee and they start off, they are going to be paired up with another experienced Direct Support Staff and they’re going to work with that direct support staff for at least two weeks learning everything about the individuals, every aspect of the plan and care that that individual needs. You’re confident before you kind of take things on your own.”

Visual Description: A direct support professional observes a coworker using an Arjo lift and helping a participant prepare for physical therapy.

[Music]

Visual Description: Title appears on screen: “DSP Personal Care.”

Simone Mitchell: “This is our personal care room. If it’s not illuminated, then you just enter. We have an Arjo lift to support individuals who utilize wheelchairs. We also have a shower. Some individuals may require a little more care in certain areas, so we do have the showers just in case.

Video Description: Text overlay reads: “Simone Mitchell, Division Manager, Long Term & Community Integration Services, ServiceSource Virginia

Visual Description: Michelle points to the Arjo lift and shower.

Alyson Gray: “Some individuals also need help using the restroom, and so that’s supporting the individual going to the restroom.”

[Music]

Visual Description: Title appears on screen: “DSP Food Preparation & Support”

Voiceover: “Some individuals need help eating their lunch. The staff support individuals with heating up their lunches, making sure the food is the right texture.

Visual Description: A direct support professional prepares a participant’s lunch, cleans a food processor, and asks about the required food texture.

Voiceover: “We have different textures. We have individuals who may use ground, chopped, or pureed.

Visual Description: A direct support professional chops a participant’s lunch.

Voiceover: “When they do this, that means someone might have an eating protocol that they’re following just to ensure that individual is safe when they’re eating. Here, we have individuals getting set up for lunch, with staff that are going to assist. Staff put on aprons and so forth.

Visual Description: Direct support professionals tie aprons for participants seated at a table.

Voiceover: “We also make sure that some individuals utilize specialized equipment, such as a scoop dish, or maybe they require a type of spoon like this young lady is holding here.” Visual Description: A participant holds a small pink spoon while seated at the table.

[Music]

Visual Description: Title appears on screen: “DSP Documentation”

Amanda Smedley: “All of the individuals that we serve that have waiver funding require a daily case note, so one of the requirements, of course, is that you are able to use a computer. You’re going to give a summary of their activities and of the supports that they were given, and also of the choices that they made. It’s typically a paragraph to two paragraphs. We do provide documentation training for that. Visual Description: A direct support professional uses a computer to complete case notes.

Amanda Smedley: “It varies by site, but generally people do work in groups. So there might be two DSPs and eight individuals, so you’re still maintaining that one to four ratio, but you have another person that you’re working with in case you need to step away for a minute or you just need additional assistance.” Visual Description: A compilation of multiple direct support professionals working together to support a group of participants.

[Music]

Visual Description: Title appears on screen: “DSP Behavioral Supports”

Heather Emmons: “Direct Support Professionals are really the pillar of behavior. They have to know their individuals in and out, what their triggers are, their likes, their dislikes. As a behavior analyst, I go in, I observe, I kind of see what the problem behaviors might be. Those are going to range from anything, from Pika, of eating everything, to self-injurious behavior, aggression, things like that. Determining what makes them engage in these behaviors and then creating a plan.

Visual Description: A direct support professional ties an apron around a participant, who lightly swats the staff member’s arm.

Amanda Smedley: “It is important to acknowledge that somebody who has a one-to-one does have behaviors that need to be constantly supervised. At high intensity programs, it is important to know that these individuals often do need additional services that you wouldn’t see at a regular intensity program and that might be Physical Therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, also behavior and nursing support. The great thing about that is you have these qualified clinicians who are going to direct you, help you understand what that person needs. On your end as a direct support professional you, need to make sure that you are following the protocols and the guidance that you are given to keep everyone healthy and safe.”

Visual description: A nurse configures a feeding tube for a participant

[Music]

Visual Description: Title appears on screen: “DSP Career Development”

Alyson Gray: “One of the things that’s really unique about ServiceSource is that we have 10, soon to be 11, sites that support individuals with various needs, which allows you the opportunity to be able to work at various sites should you choose to switch locations. If you want to start as a direct support professional, we will do all that we can to help you gain those skills so that you can move up if that’s something that you’re interested in. We promote that here at ServiceSource. I started out at ServiceSource as a DSP. I started out by writing notes, by supporting the individuals, And from there I looked at the different opportunities ServiceSource had and was promoted into different manager positions and learned all scopes of the programs we provide. And now I serve as the Vice President. This is an opportunity to work with individuals that would benefit from your support. You’re going to feel good about what you do every day.”

Visual Description: A compilation of clips shows Alyson engaged in activities with participants at various sites.

Rancy Jah: “It can be challenging sometimes, right, but again at the end of the day, just think about how you are able to help somebody make it, you know it just make you feel good.”

Visual Description: Text overlay reads: “Rancy Jah, Assistant Program Manager, ServiceSource Oakton”

Visual Description: A direct support professional and a participant high-five.

Quophi Adomako: “I like what I’m doing because I like to help people, and I get a chance to do it here.

Visual Description: Text overlay reads: “Quophi Adomako, Direct Support Professional, ServiceSource Oakton”

Visual Description: A compilation of clips shows direct support professionals and participants smiling and laughing together.

Alyson Gray: “The last thing I’ll say is you will make a difference in someone’s life.”

[Music]

Visual Description: ServiceSource logo appears on screen and fades to black.