Direct Support Professional - Initial Certificate Level

National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) and American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR)

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Individual state requirements may vary. Please contact your local apprenticeship office to ensure this version is suitable to your state’s requirements.

Work Process Schedule

Work Process Content

On the Job Training

Anonymous

The apprentice, with support from a skills mentor or supervisor, will receive on the job mentoring and work experience that will help the apprentice to demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skills in the following three competency areas: Community Living Skills and Supports, Communication, and Documentation.

The competent DSP assists the participant to meet his/her physical (e.g., health, grooming, toileting, eating) and personal management needs (e.g., human development, human sexuality), by teaching skills, providing supports, and building on individual strengths and capabilities.

The competent DSP assists the participant with household management (e.g., meal prep, laundry, cleaning, decorating) and with transportation needs to maximize his/her skills, abilities and independence.

The competent DSP assists with identifying, securing and using needed equipment (e.g., adaptive equipment) and therapies (e.g., physical, occupational and communication).

The competent DSP supports the participant in the development of friendships and other relationships.

The competent community based support worker assists the participant to recruit and train service providers as needed.

The competent DSP uses effective, sensitive communication skills to build rapport and channels of communication by recognizing and adapting to the range of participant communication styles.

The competent DSP has knowledge of and uses modes of communication that are appropriate to the communication needs of participants.

The skilled DSP learns and uses terminology appropriately, explaining as necessary to ensure participant understanding

The competent DSP maintains accurate records, collecting, compiling and evaluating data, and submitting records to appropriate sources in a timely fashion

The competent DSP maintains standards of confidentiality and ethical practice.

The competent DSP learns and remains current with appropriate documentation systems, setting priorities and developing a system to manage documentation.

Related Instruction Outline

Related Instruction Content

Training Provider(s):

Core work skills in physical and personal management, and teaching daily living skills

A. Health of participants B. Grooming of participants C. Toileting and basic hygiene needs of participants D. Human development needs of participants E. Human sexuality needs of participants

Core work skills in household management and transportation, and teaching these skills to participants

A. Cleaning of household B. Ownership and responsibility of household C. Ability to be as self-sufficient as possible D. Knowledge of ranges of community transportation E. Appropriate menu planning for a healthy lifestyle

Adaptive equipment

A. Assisting participants to use adaptive equipment B. Teaching participant how to properly use adaptive equipment C. Securing needed equipment D. Therapeutic equipment, physical and occupational therapy equipment E. Assisting to repair or replace equipment

Supporting the participants in developing friendships and relationships

A. Supporting connections to friends and advocates B. Opportunities to develop friendships and relationships C. Normal patterns of friendships and relationships D. Awareness of exploitation and abuse

Rights and Responsibilities

A. Awareness of human and civil rights of participants B. Barriers that participants face including exclusion, segregation, oppression C. Methods of full inclusion D. Quality of life for participants E. Learning preferences and choices F. Teaching strategies and principles of reinforcement G. Customized skills training for participants and recognition of unique learning styles H. Recognition of the unacceptability of punishment as teaching strategy I. Teaching that leads to support of personal choice and a self determined lifestyle J. Recognition of barriers for participants to normal lifestyles

Definitions of communication, language and speech

Receptive language 1.) Expressive language 2.) Comprehension 3.) Barriers to and facilitation of communication

Forms of communication

A. Verbal, non-verbal B. Writing, gestures, sign C. High tech: electronic D. Low tech: pen and paper E. Behavioral: full spectrum

DSP as communication facilitator and partner

A. Listening, responding, building rapport B. Recognition and interpretation of non-verbal communication C. Promoting and improving communication 1.) With service participant 2.) Within cultural context 3.) Among other professionals 4.) Facility with repair of communication breakdown 5.) Strategies a.) Modeling b.) Contextual and cultural responding c.) Augmentative and alternative communication d.) Assistive technology e.) Environmental structuring f.) Etiquette and respect

Purpose of documentation

A. Communication of pertinent information 1.) Areas: services and supports, team, organization, regulation entities 2.) Record of continuity and change B. Compliance with rules, regulations, policies 1.) Governmental 2.) Organizational

Types of documentation

A. Medical and physical/mental health B. Medication administration C. Behavioral support plans D. Personal goals and record of progress E. Incident and accident reports F. Team and organizational communications: logs, forms G. Data collection 1.) Electronic: applicable hardware, software 2.) Paper: forms, filings 3.) Video and voice

Effective documentation

A. Timeliness and accuracy B. Fundamentals of report writing C. Fundamentals of verbal reporting D. Objective reporting E. Subjective, interpretative reporting

Confidentiality

A. Protection of integrity, privacy, and human rights B. Security of information: electronic, paper, verbal C. Releasing of information 1.) Consent, authorization 2.) Need-to-know basis: legal, regulatory, policy protections and exigencies

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