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In communication with the person they support, as well as through gathering information from support plans and co-workers, the DSP has learned that the person has a special interest in classical music. The DSP chooses a classical music station to listen to. When there is a noticeable response, the DSP says, "you seem to be enjoying this song, do you like this one?"
What is Putting People First (Supporting a Person's Potential)?
The DSP notices that a person they support, who typically enjoys spending time with peers, is sitting alone at a dance and not joining in. The DSP approaches the person and asks them to dance. The person shakes their head "no" and turns away. The DSP asks if it is okay to sit with them and the person nods "yes." The DSP asks if the person likes the music, the person nods "yes," but they still do not join their peers. The DSP asks if they want to go to a quieter area. The person gets up and walks to the hallway. The DSP follows and sits next to them on a bench. The DSP then asks the person if they will show them what is wrong. The person supported points to a stain on their shirt and frowns. The DSP suggests that the stain could be washed out in the bathroom and offers to help. The person nods "yes" and walks to the bathroom. The DSP follows to assist with removing the stain. Once the stain in removed, the person smiles and goes to the dance floor.
What is Positive Relationships (Creating Meaningful Communication)?
The DSP is providing support to a person who wants to go to the store today to shop for a gift. The DSP understands that "putting people first" is important and works with the team to plan a shopping trip for the next day.
What is Be a Professional (Organizational Participation)?
The DSP arrives on time for their shift. They review the logbook and pleasantly greet their coworkers. They ask for an update on how the day is going and if there is anything they should know regarding the people they support. The DSP greets each person supported in an enthusiastic manner. The DSP offers to help put together the schedule for the day.
What is Be a Professional (Exhibiting Professional Behavior)?
A DSP is supporting a woman who enjoys fast food. The DSP knows that she becomes anxious when she is around small children and that there will likely be children at the restaurant they are going to attend. The DSP discusses this possibility with the woman ahead of time to plan for how they will handle the situation if it arises. The DSP offers to explore new experiences with her that might help manage her anxiety and suggests that the supervisor set up a team meeting.
What is Health (Promoting Positive Behavior and Supports)?
The person supported is having a phone conversation in the common area with a friend in what sounds like a heated conversation. After the phone call is over, the DSP asks the person how they thought the conversation went. The DSP lists to the person and supports them in figuring out what they were satisfied with and where they would have preferred that the conversation went differently. The DSP roleplays both sides of the conversation with the person until they come up with a satisfying conclusion.
What is Positive Relationships (Building and Maintaining Relationships)?
The DSP supports a person who has head banging as a target behavior in their behavior support plan. The DSP reads the plan and implements both proactive and reactive procedures as written.
What is Putting People First (Getting to Know the Person)?
Sheila, a woman who is receiving supports, arrives at the day habilitation program very upset. She is crying unconsolably. The DSP and other staff on shift ask Sheila what is bothering her; however she does not use words to communicate. Based on what they know about Sheila, they know her mother recently passed away and the afternoon bowling outing was cancelled dur to snowy weather, but the DSP knows that assumptions can be wrong. The DSP asks Sheila if she would like to go to a quiet area where she feels comfortable. Using gestures and pictures, the DSP learns that Sheila is upset because her socks and shoes are vert wet and takes care of that need. During the debriefing later in the day, the DSP shares what she learned with the team.
What is Safety (Supporting Crisis Prevention, Intervention and Resolution)?
The power goes out in the program. It is the evening so there is no natural light. The DSP retrieves the emergency kit and ensures that all coworkers and people supported have flashlights. They explain to the people supported that the power is out so they will be using flashlights and ask everyone to stay together until the power comes back on. The DSP calls the supervisor to let them know about the outage and asks if the supervisor will notify the power company of it they would like the DSP to make that call. The DSP picks an activity to keep the people supported engaged and their minds off the power being out.
What is Safety (Ensuring Safety During Environmental Emergencies)?
After helping a person to go grocery shopping, the DSP completes accurate and detailed notes about the progress and challenges the person supported experienced. The notes are submitted on time and written clearly in easy to understand language. All documentation is returned to its proper location in the person's home.
What is Be a Professional (Creating Meaningful Documentation)?
The DSP supports a person who would like to work in a restaurant. The DSP helps the person look online to find out what restaurants are nearby and decide which ones to visit. Together they visit the restaurants and talk with employees to learn more about what the job is like. The DSP encourages the person to share this goal at their circle of support meeting.
What is Get Into the Community (Supporting Employment, Educational and Career Goals)?
A person is at a party and has loaded a plate with brownies and cookies. The DSP speaks to the person in a private area and suggests alternative sugar-free dessert options. The discuss the person's diabetic concerns and the person's responsibility to follow the guidelines. The person understands it is not in line with their diabetic guidelines, but decide they still want to eat the brownies.
What is Putting People First (Promoting Advocacy)?
A DSP is smoking a cigarette in the designated smoking area outside of the organization where they work. A person who receives services approaches the smoking area and asks the DSP for a cigarette. The DSP is aware of an organizational policy that states specifically that staff are not permitted to share cigarettes, medication, purchase gifts or borrow money from a person who is receiving services from the organization. The DSP wants to be respectful of the person, but also maintain their professional relationship with that person as well. The DSP responds to the person supported by saying they do not have enough to share and then suggests they discuss the choice to smoke more with the person supported later. The DSP employs informed decision making skills to assist them in deciding if smoking is a good idea for them, allowing for choice and education. The DSP decides that it would be better to not smoke at work to avoid modeling a choice that isn't optimal for the people supported.
One of the upcoming activities at the day habilitation program is a music and dance party that includes everyone in the program. The DSP knows that one of the women she supports has a religious believe that may cause her to choose not to participate. The DSP verifies with the person supported that she does not want to attend and supports her in coming up with an alternative activity for the time frame. The DSP ensures that this activity is available during the time of the dance.
What is Be a Professional (Respecting Diversity and Inclusion)?
The DSP is supporting a person who is moving into a new home. The DSP asks the person their favorite color and interests. The person supported lets the DSP know they like the color purple and love flowers. The DSP ensures the bedroom is painted purple and there are pictures of flowers in the person's new bedroom.
What is Home Life (Supporting People to Live in the Home of Their Choice)?
Joe, a DSP, walks into the living room of a group home and sees that a fellow DSP, Steve, seems tired and frustrated with a person he is supporting. The person is extremely upset, and it appears that both might need a break. Although it's not possible to relieve Steve from his shift, Joe steps in and offers to switch duties with him so that Steve can take a break. During that time, Joe continues to follow the person's support plan that is in place. When Steve returns from his break, Joe takes a few minutes to talk with him to make sure Steve and the person supported can continue working together in a positive way.
What is Health (Preventing, Recognizing and Reporting Abuse)?
The DSP is supporting someone who has a friend at the senior living complex. The DSP notices that the person supported seems to enjoy spending time there. The DSP supports the person to spend more time with their friend and asks them if they would like to meet more people there and the person says "Yes." The DSP calls the management of the building to find out if the complex is hosting any activities that they can participate in. The DSP learns that the complex has open social events and is looking for volunteers for their senior companion program, as well as to do tasks like yard work, dog walking, and other small household chores. The DSP asks the person they support if they would be interested in any of those activities. The person picks a social activity to try first. The DSP supports the person to go to the complex and participate in the activity of their choice.
What is Get Into the Community (Supporting Community Participation)?
The DSP supports a person who would like to vote in the next election. They ask the person they support if they are registered to voice. They are not, so the DSP asks a supervisor if there are any available teaching plans on voting. The DSP follows the plan and supports the person in registering to vote. The DSP knows of a group on voting and attends the group with the person. The DSP supports the person in going to the polls on Election Day.
What is Putting People First (Facilitating Personal Development)?
The DSP works with a person that is on an 1800 calorie diet and is struggling to adhere to it. The DSP familiarizes themselves with the prescribed diet and reviews this diet with the person, encouraging them to make healthy choices and helping them to identify what foods they enjoy. The DSP helps the person to learn new ways to prepare food, explore new foods, and visit healthy restaurants. The DSP also finds a healthy cooking class that the person can attend. The DSP makes following the health plan a positive experience.
What is Health (Supporting Health and Wellness)?
The DSP attends all required trainings, arrives on time and fully participates in the training. The DSP applies skills learned while working with the people they support. The DSP is aware of upcoming required trainings and contacts their supervisor, as needed, to schedule those trainings.
What is Be a Professional (Education, Training, and Self-Development)?
The DSP is challenged by a family member of the person supported over what the person is wearing. The family member is upset and speaks in a rude, accusing tone. The DSP remains calm and explains that the person supported chose their own outfit. The DSP speaks with their supervisor about speaking about the importance of personal choices at the person's next meeting.
What is Be a Professional (Developing Professional Relationships)?
A snowstorm has been predicted for later today. The DSP checks supplies to be sure there is enough food to last in the house for several days. The DSP makes sure there are batteries in the flashlights and that the generator is working in case the power goes out. The DSP puts salt and a shovel by the front door.
What is Safety (Supporting Safety)?
The DSP works with a person who has challenges with expressive communication. The DSP reads the Life Plan and participates in planning meetings in order to effectively support the person. At a meeting, the DSP can make specific suggestions of how to support this person to communicate more effectively. The DSP suggests teaching the person how to use an iPad. The treatment team updates the Life Plan accordingly and the DSP beings implementing the new goal.
What is Putting People First (Facilitating Supports and Services)?