Direct Support Professional/CHATTANOOGA

Support Solutions•Chattanooga, TN

22d•$15 - $15•Onsite

About The Position

The Direct Support Professional provides support to individuals with disabilities, empowering them to lead self-directed lives and develop or maintain skills that enhance their quality of life. The role helps ensure supported persons are happy, healthy, and safe while enjoying life to the fullest extent possible. Work takes place primarily in a home environment and also in community, work, and outdoor settings. The position may be part-time or full-time and may require additional hours beyond 40 per week. The employee supports personal care, daily routines, and outcomes identified in each person’s Individual Support Plan (ISP). They use person-centered practices that respect each person’s dignity, preferences, choices, and independence, and help people pursue their goals, build relationships, and connect with their communities. The role also involves transportation, meal preparation, household tasks, medication oversight, documentation in an electronic records system, and communication with families, service coordinators, case managers, and other stakeholders. Employees must attend assigned training and maintain required certifications. They must meet applicable background-check and medical-record requirements. The position has substantial physical demands, including prolonged standing or walking, driving, use of physical intervention and emergency-response techniques when needed, and lifting more than 50 pounds to assist people with transfers or repositioning.

Requirements

Must be at least 21 years old and able to read and write effectively.
ECF staff must have a high school diploma or GED.
Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record.
Must meet state and local requirements for criminal background, sexual offender, abuse registry, drug, and felony offender checks.
Must meet all training requirements and keep training current.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Effective organizational skills, including the ability to handle heavy workloads within established timeframes and work amid frequent interruptions or distractions.
Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships and interact appropriately in varied contexts.
Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding clients and employees.
Ability to perform varied duties that may involve changing tasks, technologies, techniques, environmental factors, physical demands, and work situations.
Must provide medical records required by governing entities and Support Solutions policy; examples include TB skin tests and hepatitis B and flu vaccinations.
Must maintain valid medication certification throughout employment.
Must maintain valid CPR/First Aid certification throughout employment.
Must maintain valid CPI training throughout employment if required.
Valid automobile insurance is required for employees working in homes where the agency does not provide a vehicle; proof may be requested.
Ability to stand or walk for prolonged periods, sit for short or long periods, and occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, bend, or climb.
Ability to drive or travel short distances to transport supported persons and attend appointments, outings, meetings, and training.
Ability to perform CPR compressions, abdominal thrusts, CPI techniques, and pursue a person on foot when needed to prevent injury.
Must have functional sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste; vision requirements include close vision, distant vision, and depth perception sufficient for reading, computer or tablet use, and driving.
Ability to talk and listen for prolonged periods, both by telephone and face to face.
Ability to lift more than 50 pounds to assist with transfers, turning, or repositioning supported persons.

Responsibilities

Support individuals with personal care and daily routines and help them achieve outcomes in their Individual Support Plans.
Respect each supported person’s dignity, preferences, choices, and ability to lead a self-directed life.
Provide person-centered support that helps individuals pursue their dreams, develop significant relationships, and participate in their communities.
Transport and accompany supported persons to events, job sites, medical appointments, and community outings using agency vehicles, personal vehicles, or public transportation; arrange alternate transportation when needed for safety.
Use personal and agency resources appropriately, including funds, vehicles, buildings, utilities, telephones, equipment, food, and supplies.
Attend assigned training meetings.
Prepare meals according to scheduled menus.
Perform daily living activities or teach supported persons to perform them, helping build independence and personal skills.
Work toward and document progress on individual outcomes.
Use the electronic records system and complete required daily shift notes.
Follow customer service standards when communicating with supported persons, their families, conservators, vendors, ISCs, case managers, and others.
Oversee medication storage and administration.
Assist with personal grooming as desired, supporting independence where possible.
Assist with housecleaning and laundry as desired by the supported person.
Protect the confidentiality of supported persons.
Perform other duties as assigned by supervisors, managers, or authorized staff.