Direct Support Professional (DSP)
The role of Direct Support Professional (DSP) will be to assist the individual to become integrated into their community, encourages their attitude and behaviors that enhance community inclusion. Helping patients with daily activities needed, accompanying them to doctor appointments, cooking and serving meals, performing light housekeeping duties, running errands, and providing companionship.’
Direct Support Professional (DSP) is/will be a person who:
Has successfully completed the Direct Support Professional curriculum as adopted by DHHS, or demonstrated proficiency through DHHS’s approved Assessment of Prior Learning, or has successfully completed the curriculum from the Maine College of Direct Support within six (6) months of date of hire.
Orientation and on-going training program: list of topics, frequency of training
Prior to providing services to a member alone, a DSP will have to complete the following four modules from the College of Direct Support, including computer based and live sessions:
• Introduction to Developmental Disabilities
• Professionalism
• Individual Rights and Choice
• Maltreatment
Other modules and information are listed on the website of Maine College of DSP:
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Maine College of Direct Support | Department of Health and Human Services
Qualification to attend DSP class
Essential Job Functions for DSP:
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Assist the consumer in the development of meal planning, menu development and grocery shopping to ensure an adequate and healthy diet.
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Encourage the consumer to do activities of daily living (ADLs) independently and assist with ADLs if needed.
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Assist the consumer to prepare meals every shift.
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Adhere to the consumer’s care plan and work on daily goals with the individual to help provide a high quality of care.
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Maintains a safe, clean and stimulating environment for the consumers.
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Serves as role model for the consumer by exhibiting professional behavior.
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Maintains accurate weekly progress note and completes all paperwork in a timely manner.
All employees shall be responsible for meeting the core training and program specific training requirements for the program. All employees will be required to maintain active certifications and should not allow their certificate to expire. Employees who allow their certificate to expire may receive disciplinary action up to and including termination. Completion of training should occur before employees/staff begin work with members or within six (6) months of the date of hire and every thirty-six (36) months thereafter. All staff, regardless of length of employment, will have documentation of training completion in their personnel file.
Any new hire will have up to 6 months to complete all the essential training required by the Agency/DHHS. Some training is scheduled for more than one day. Certified Residential Medication Aide, AHA First Aide/CPR and Direct Support Professional are examples of this type of training. To successfully complete these courses, attendance at all day will be required. Failure to complete any training because of lack of attendance without prior approval or the absence of meeting required time frames established by the instructor/Agency will result in disciplinary action.
Training records are completed for each employee upon completion of training. These documents will be kept for at least three years.
200 Years Old LLC schedules the dates of training sessions and communicates:
The contents or a summary of the training sessions
The names and qualifications of persons conducting the training
The names and job titles of all persons attending the training sessions
Employee training records are provided upon request to the employee or the employee’s authorized representative within 15 working days. Such requests should be addressed to the Administrator.
