Residential Services of Northeastern Minnesota, Inc.
2900 Piedmont Ave
Duluth, MN 55811
Phone: (218) 727-2696
Fax: (218) 727-2893
Website: http://www.residentialservices.org
Residential Services of Northeastern Minnesota, Inc.
2900 Piedmont Ave
Duluth, MN 55811
Phone: (218) 727-2696
Fax: (218) 727-2893
Website: http://www.residentialservices.org
Residential Services of NE MN, Inc.RSI is always accepting applications for part-time Direct Support Professionals to work in our Mental Health Foster Care Homes. Typical part-time schedules include at least every other weekend, and one to two shifts a week, averaging around 24 hours a week.
For qualifications and duties, please see the Direct Support Professional Job Description.
A Mental illness is an illness of the brain that can affect an individual's ability to lead a fulfilling life. About one out of every six people needs some form of mental health care at one time in his or her life. These needs range from seasonal depression, phobias, anxiety disorders, or post-traumatic stress to more severe disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or chronic depression. Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) refers to a condition that is chronic or long-lasting and for which symptoms are not consistently controlled. RSI provides a wide variety of supports to persons with SPMI in both Adult Foster Care settings and in the client's own home.
Working with a person with mental illness requires a stable staff person that can empathize with the person's symptoms and assist them through difficult times. Symptom management and lack of motivation can be key challenges for many individuals with SPMI, so a person with a zest for life that is excited about sharing their interests with their clients is preferred in this setting. Some people with SPMI can exhibit unclear thinking, hallucinations, and extremely challenging behaviors that can be at times violent. A staff person that is confident in him or herself and is consistent and able to form a relationship with their clients, and has the ability to deescalate crisis situations while remaining calm is often successful in these settings.
A typical day working with an individual with SPMI can vary greatly from day to day. Some days are calm and laid back. Clients enjoy activities such as playing cards, watching movies, taking walks outdoors, listening to music, cooking, and exploring creative ideas. Other days can be very stressful when clients have had particularly tough times managing their symptoms. They may lash out at staff verbally, calling names and threatening staff. They may become violent towards staff, themselves, and their house mates. It can be difficult to deescalate these behaviors, and it is crucial for staff to remain calm and try to redirect the person. Working with people diagnosed with SPMI can be very challenging, but also very rewarding at the same time. It is harder for some people with SPMI to form lasting relationships, so when staff are able to connect with their clients, it can be greatly beneficial to everyone involved.
RSI is always accepting applications for part-time Direct Support Professionals to work in our Mental Health Foster Care Homes. Typical part-time schedules include at least every other weekend, and one to two shifts a week, averaging around 24 hours a week.
For qualifications and duties, please see the Direct Support Professional Job Description.
A brain injury is an insult to the brain that causes permanent damage and changes to cognitive abilities, memory, judgment, emotions, and/or behavior. Brain injuries can result from trauma or acquired from other causes such as suffocation, stroke, illness, or infection. RSI provides a variety of supports and services to adults and children with brain injuries, mostly in an Adult Foster Care setting or in the client's own home.
Working with a person with a brain injury can be challenging at times. Clients may need some assistance with activities of daily living, or may be somewhat independent in this regard. Persons with brain injuries often have difficulties with impulse and emotion control, and may become agitated, upset, sad, or angry. They may have short or long term memory loss, and have difficulties learning and remembering skills and information. They can often be very repetitive in what they say, and may require staff to patiently listen to the same information over and over again. Many are capable of performing day to day living tasks, often with prompting and encouragement, as well as continuous reminders and supervision. It's beneficial for most people with brain injuries to keep well organized and on a strict routine. A patient, calm individual that is confident in dealing with challenging behaviors is often successful in this type of setting.
A typical morning working with a person with a brain injury may include waking them up and offering morning medications, motivating them to get out of bed and to assist you in preparing breakfast, setting up a medical appointment while your client watches some television, playing a game of rummy with several of your clients, mediating an argument that escalates into name calling and threats of physical violence, going for a walk with a client to cool off, returning to the program to debrief with the other staff person involved in the incident and documenting the details.
RSI is always accepting applications for part-time Direct Support Professionals to work in our Mental Health Foster Care Homes. Typical part-time schedules include at least every other weekend, and one to two shifts a week, averaging around 24 hours a week.
For qualifications and duties, please see the Direct Support Professional Job Description.
A Developmental Disability (DD) is a permanent condition that results in significant limitations in major life activities such as language, mobility, learning, self-help, and independent living. The disability onsets in the developmental years (birth to age 22) and affects about 1 or 2 out of every 100 people born in the United States. RSI provides a variety of residential supports in Adult Foster Care homes, in the client's own home, and in an Intermediate Care Facility setting, which includes more intensive nursing supports.
Working with a person with a developmental disability may require fairly involved hands-on care from staff in areas of daily living, such as grooming, and bathing, dressing, eating, using the bathroom,recreational and home activities and other tasks. Many of our clients with DD's have co-curring physical disabilities or medical conditions that may limit their mobility and require additional assistance from staff. A person interested in helping others and staying busy often does well in this type of setting. Several of our DD programs prefer staff who are interested and/or experienced in nursing or direct care work.
Many people with a DD like to keep a strict routine, so tasks and activities may be similar from day to day. A typical morning working with a person with a developmental disability may include waking them up, emptying and cleaning their urinal, assisting with a transfer from their bed to their wheelchair, helping them use the bathroom, giving them a shower, helping them dry off and get dressed, preparing breakfast, passing morning medications, and making sure they have everything they need for their day program. You may then assist with the cares of your other residents, do some laundry, wash the dishes, and clean the bathrooms.
RSI is always accepting applications for part-time Direct Support Professionals to work in our Mental Health Foster Care Homes. Typical part-time schedules include at least every other weekend, and one to two shifts a week, averaging around 24 hours a week.
For qualifications and duties, please see the Direct Support Professional Job Description.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) occur as an injury to the brain of a developing fetus due to alcohol exposure from the pregnant mother drinking alcohol. While the severity and affects of FASDs are different in every child, some common behavioral characteristics result. These include:
Many alcohol-exposed children exhibit severe behavioral problems. As teenagers and young adults, they find themselves in trouble repeatedly in school and with the law, often repeating the same mistakes again and again. Some children with FASD are diagnosed with mental retardation, therefor qualifying for support services in school and at home. However, many more have average or above average intelligence, but exhibit such poor judgment and reasoning that they will need supports throughout their lives to live successfully. RSI has a unique setting in Brookston, MN where a majority of our clients with an FASD diagnosis live. There is an adult foster care home that serves people new to the program or those who have more severe needs. As clients develop new skills and achieve their goals, they "graduate" in to a more independent apartment setting on the Westbrook ranch.
Working with a person with FASD can be very challenging at times. Clients may need some assistance with activities of daily living, but are usually fairly independent in this regard. They need reminders and coaxing to complete their grooming and other personal care activities, but usually have the ability to complete these tasks. Persons with FASD often have difficulties with impulse and emotion control, and may become agitated, upset, sad, or angry. A patient, calm individual that is confident in dealing with challenging behaviors is often successful in this setting.
