Direct Support Professional/KNOXVILLE

Support Solutions • Knoxville, TN

6d • $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 supports people in being happy, healthy, and safe, and in enjoying life to the fullest extent possible.

The position works primarily in a home environment and also supports individuals in community and work settings, outdoor activities, appointments, and other outings. The employee assists with personal care, daily routines, meals, household tasks, medication storage and administration, transportation, and the outcomes identified in each person’s Individual Support Plan. The role emphasizes respectful, person-centered support, community integration, individual choice, independence, confidentiality, and accurate electronic documentation.

This is a full-time position in Knoxville, Tennessee, paying $15.37 per hour. The posting notes that the role may require additional hours over 40 per week. Duties may include other tasks assigned by supervisors, managers, or authorized staff.

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 hold a valid driver’s license and maintain an acceptable driving record throughout employment.
• Must meet state and local requirements for criminal background checks, sexual offender checks, abuse registries, and drug and felony offender listings.
• Must meet all training requirements and keep training current.
• Must have effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Must have effective organizational skills and be able to complete heavy workloads within established time frames, including amid frequent interruptions or distractions.
• Must have effective interpersonal skills and be able to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships and interact appropriately in varied contexts.
• Must maintain confidentiality in matters concerning clients and employees.
• Must be able to perform varied duties that may change between tasks and involve differing technologies, techniques, environmental factors, physical demands, or 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 be able to stand and/or walk for prolonged periods, sit for short or long periods, and occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, and reach with the hands and arms.
• Must be able to drive or travel for short periods to transport individuals to appointments and community outings and to attend meetings and trainings.
• Must have a full range of body movements to perform CPR compressions, abdominal thrusts, CPI techniques, and other actions needed to prevent injury; bending, reaching, crouching, stooping, and climbing may also be required.
• Must have command of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste; vision must support close and distant viewing, depth perception, shifting focus between documents and electronic devices, and operating a vehicle.
• Must be able to talk and listen for prolonged periods by telephone and face to face.
• Must be able to lift more than 50 pounds to assist individuals with transfers and repositioning.
• Must hold a valid state-issued driver’s license.
• Must maintain valid Medication Certification throughout employment.
• Must maintain valid CPR/First Aid Certification throughout employment.
• Must maintain valid CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) training throughout employment, if required.
• Must have valid automobile insurance when working in homes where the agency does not provide a vehicle; proof may be requested regardless of site location or vehicle availability.

Responsibilities

• Support individuals with personal care, daily routines, and outcomes identified in their Individual Support Plans.
• Respect each person’s dignity, choices, and preferences, and empower them to make decisions and lead as self-directed a life as possible.
• Provide person-centered support that helps individuals pursue their goals, build significant relationships, and participate in their communities.
• Arrange and provide safe transportation to events, job sites, medical appointments, and other outings using company vehicles, personal vehicles, or public transportation; secure alternate transportation when needed for safety.
• Use the person’s and agency’s resources appropriately, including funds, vehicles, buildings, utilities, telephones, equipment, food, and supplies.
• Attend assigned training meetings and maintain required training.
• Cook and provide meals based on scheduled menus.
• Perform daily living activities or teach individuals to perform them, supporting the development of independence and personal skills.
• Work toward individual outcomes and document progress consistently.
• Use the electronic records system, including completing daily shift notes required by funding entities.
• Follow Customer Service Standards when communicating with individuals, families, conservators, vendors, ISCs, Case Managers, and others.
• Oversee the storage and administration of medications.
• Assist with personal grooming and support individuals in completing grooming activities independently when possible and as desired.
• Assist individuals with keeping the home clean and doing laundry, as desired.
• Protect the confidentiality of individuals supported.
• Provide other duties as assigned by supervisors, managers, or authorized staff.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED