Description
This 90-day orientation guide is designed for supervisors and administrators to use when onboarding new direct support professionals (DSPs) to work with people who have disabilities in their homes. The guide includes timelines, checklists, and resource materials to cover essential topics such as human resources policies, safety procedures, and ethical standards. It aims to equip new DSPs with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to provide high-quality support to individuals with disabilities in a person-centered and compliant manner. The orientation also includes structured observations to provide a realistic job preview and help new employees acclimate to their role. For use one-on-one or with small groups. Package contains 1 bound trainer’s guide with 10 employee guides.
The Three-Month Residential Curriculum:
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Month 1 (Agency & Employment Fundamentals): Lays the groundwork for safe, compliant care within the home. This module ensures staff master the essential “nuts and bolts” of residential support, including HR onboarding, HIPAA/ADA compliance, and site-specific emergency procedures. It covers critical daily operations such as medication administration protocols, transportation safety, financial management basics, and an introduction to the Individual Service Plan (ISP) and empathy-based care.
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Month 2 (Promoting Valued Social Roles): Moves beyond basic care to social inclusion and advocacy. This section challenges staff to understand the impact of societal devaluation on people with disabilities. It provides a framework for helping individuals build “Valued Social Roles” and actively facilitates the “Five Valued Experiences”: sharing places, belonging, being somebody, choosing, and contributing to their community.
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Month 3 (Promoting Self-Determination & Confidence): Focuses on empowerment and the psychology of support. Staff delve into the principles of Self-Determination, learning to balance safety with the “dignity of risk.” This module teaches techniques to combat “learned helplessness” and “self-fulfilling prophecies,” guiding staff on how to foster genuine self-esteem, build meaningful relationships, and expand life experiences for the people they support.
