Direct Support Professionals
Over the past four decades, the ways in which Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) help and support people with development disabilities have changed and improved through the hard work and dedication of everyone involved – including parents, advocates, policy makers, and people receiving services.
Besides becoming more person-centered, a greater emphasis is being placed on the ethical practices of DSPs and higher levels of competence when providing services and support.
The Regional Centers for Workforce Transformation provide a substantial resource library to assist DSPs with developing the professional skills, ethics, and competencies needed to move forward in their chosen career and best serve people with developmental disabilities.
We have provided a list of current resources below. Simply click on the links provided to watch a video, webinar, or download a document.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
OPWDD Resources
Code of Ethics Resources
This resource defines the Code of Ethics for DSPs and identifies the nine areas of conduct and professionalism included in the Code. It also provides a list of other resources to help DSPs and their supervisors understand the Code.
Core Competency Tool Kit
This resource explains what the Core Competencies are, the seven goal areas, and includes other resources to help DSPs and their supervisors understand how to implement the Competencies and use them in DSP evaluations.
Evaluations
As of April 1, 2016 OPWDD requires that all NYS Providers use the NYS DSP Performance Evaluations as the evaluation tools for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs); As of October 1, 2017: OPWDD’s Division of Quality Improvement will begin verifying the implementation of the NADSP Code of Ethics, the NYS DSP Core Competencies and the NYS DSP Performance Evaluations.
Demystifying the Performance Evaluation
This resource helps DSPs and their supervisors with the evaluation process. Included are several videos and a PowerPoint presentation that helps supervisors understand the performance evaluation process.
From Caregiver to DSP –What You Need to Know
This resource contains six videos that show the difference between a DSP and a caregiver. A downloadable PowerPoint presentation is available.
What is the Crosswalk?
The RCWT created The Crosswalk webinar and tools in response to a need expressed by service providers for assistance in understanding all the new regulations, competencies, and other initiatives being implemented by state and federal government regarding the changing role of Direct Support Professionals.
Workforce Transformation Video Series
This resources provides links to seven videos that were created to help DSPs, supervisors, people receiving services, and families understand the Core Competencies goals and how they are implemented in order to better serve people with disabilities. Training manuals and other accompanying documents are available for download.
Informational Webinars
This resource includes a number of webinars covering a variety of topics that maybe helpful to DSPs as they learn how to incorporate the Core Competencies and Code of Ethics into their daily work lives.
Provider Shared Resources
YAI-DSP Core Competency Self-Evaluation Tool
This is a self-evaluation tool created by YAI Seeing Beyond Disability for use by DSPs to help them self-evaluate their performances.