Direct Support Specialist - Child/Adolescent Crisis Center (PRN)

Seven Counties Services•Louisville, KY

6d•Onsite

About The Position

This position involves teaching, modeling, and coaching daily living skills, providing psychoeducation classes, and facilitating community-based activities for individuals receiving mental health, substance abuse, intellectual disability, or physical health services. The role requires contributing to a safe and therapeutic environment, acting as an ambassador for the organization by integrating clients into the community and educating the public, and collaborating with various community systems on behalf of the clients. Responsibilities also include providing transportation, personal care as needed, administering First Aid and CPR, supervising self-administered medication, identifying and avoiding food/medication allergens, communicating client information to staff and authorized providers, assisting with discharge planning, supporting training needs of other staff, and attending meetings and trainings. The role may involve specific program assignments such as food programs or admissions at a Crisis Stabilization Unit. Documentation of services and adherence to confidentiality are critical. This is a part-time position.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
Zero to one year full-time experience working with individuals who receive services for treatment of a mental health, substance abuse, intellectual disability, or physical health condition.
Ability to provide nurturing attention and care to individuals with disabilities.
Ability to communicate with verbal and nonverbal individuals.
Good interpersonal skills.
Teaching skills.
Patience and empathy.
Maturity and judgment.
Must be 18 years of age or older.
Ability to lift a maximum of 100 pounds, with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
May include frequent lifting of patients.

Responsibilities

Teaches, models, and coaches activities of daily living (ADL) such as personal hygiene, housekeeping, meal preparation, money management, educational and vocational goal-setting, and nutrition needs.
Monitors performance of ADL skills and provides therapeutic feedback.
Teaches psychoeducation classes on recovery topics including medication side effects, ADL, communication skills, and stress management strategies.
Plans and facilitates community-based activities such as medical appointments, grocery shopping, and leisure/recreation/socialization.
Facilitates access to community resources like AA/NA meetings, school, and job placement.
Contributes to a safe and therapeutic environment by practicing verbal de-escalation and authorized behavior management techniques.
Serves as an "ambassador" by integrating clients into the community and educating community members about disabilities and the organization's services.
Collaborates with community systems (school, landlord, family, transportation provider, employer) on behalf of individuals served.
Provides transportation using an SCS van or personal vehicle, adhering to safety practices, and teaches/facilitates the use of public transportation.
Provides personal care as needed, including personal hygiene, toileting, laundry, meal preparation, and safe eating techniques.
Administers First Aid and CPR as needed.
Supervises self-administered medication according to specific clinical program protocols.
Identifies assigned clients’ food and/or medication allergies and exercises reasonable care to avoid exposure.
Communicates relevant care, treatment, and service information with SCS staff and authorized non-SCS providers.
May take responsibility for specific program assignments (e.g., food programs, admissions at Crisis Stabilization Unit).
Documents services and care provided by timely completing forms (attendance records, daily logs, shift/progress notes, incident reports, time reports) in accordance with standards.
Maintains confidentiality of protected health information.
Assists with discharge planning as needed.
Provides support for additional training needs of direct support staff.
Attends and participates in all required staff and service planning meetings and trainings.