Competency Development and Implementation among Direct Support Professionals in New York State

Competency Development and Implementation Among Direct Support Professionals in New York State by Johanna LoPorto MA, Kaplan University, 2013 BS, Brooklyn College, 2003 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Administration Walden University May 2019 Abstract Direct support professionals (DSPs) serve an important function in the daily supervision and care of clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) through standardization of technical, cognitive, and ethical competencies for all DSPs. It is not clear, however, how these DSPs and managers perceive the implementation process and utility of these competencies or whether implementation results in meeting the desired outcomes for clients. Using Donabedian’s quality of care model as the foundation, the purpose of this qualitative case study in New York State to understand how DSPs perceived the implementation of the DSP core competencies under the direction of frontline managers. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 12 DSPs and front-line managers. Data were inductively coded then subject to Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis procedure. Findings revealed that DSPs and front-line managers implemented the core competencies inconsistently because of organizational perceptions and experiences. The implications for social change stemming from this study includes recommendations to the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals to add a practicum component to the core competencies training which may benefit people living in community residential group homes diagnosed with ID/DD through hands-on approach training that would allow full implementation of the DSP core competencies in various,Direct support professionals (DSPs) serve an important function in the daily supervision and care of clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) through standardization of technical, cognitive, and ethical competencies for all DSPs. It is not clear, however, how these DSPs and managers perceive the implementation process and utility of these competencies or whether implementation results in meeting the desired outcomes for clients. Using Donabedian’s quality of care model as the foundation, the purpose of this qualitative case study in New York State to understand how DSPs perceived the implementation of the DSP core competencies under the direction of frontline managers. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with 12 DSPs and front-line managers. Data were inductively coded then subject to Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis procedure. Findings revealed that DSPs and front-line managers implemented the core competencies inconsistently because of organizational perceptions and experiences. The implications for social change stemming from this study includes recommendations to the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals to add a practicum component to the core competencies training which may benefit people living in community residential group homes diagnosed with ID/DD through hands-on approach training that would allow full implementation of the DSP core competencies in various, every day real life situations. Competency Development and Implementation among Direct Support Professionals in New York State by Johanna LoPorto MA, Kaplan University, 2013 BS, Brooklyn College, 2003 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Public Administration Walden University May 2019 Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to my children. Joseph, Katrina and Franco, you choose who you want to be, and you determine your own path, I will always be there every step of the way. To my husband Louis, for always believing in me when at times, I didn’t believe in myself. For showing me, what real love and friendship really means. To my parents, John and Carmen, thank you for being in my corner when I became a teenage mom. I hope I have finally made you proud. Acknowledgments There have been many people that supported me through this long journey. First, I want to extend my appreciation and gratitude to my committee chair, Dr. Christopher Atkinson for his consistent mentoring, advice and guidance-thank you! I also want to extend my gratitude to my committee member, Dr. Eliesh O. Lane for her feedback and support through the dissertation process, and Dr. Roberts Lewis who ensured that the study adhered to Walden University research standards. I also want to extend my appreciation to the two agencies that allowed me to conduct my research, Cris Marchionne at Person Centered Care Services and Steven DeWater at Able-2. I also want to thank the Supervisors and the Direct Support Professionals that took time from their busy schedules to sit with me and talk. Their input and thoughts throughout this process were truly valuable. A special thank you goes to my husband Luis. I could have not done this without him, literally. I spent weekends locked in our room writing while, he tended to my every need and provided me with every comfort, so I wouldn’t stop writing. Thanks babe!