Direct Support Specialist PRN - Adult Crisis Center

Seven Counties Services•Louisville, KY

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a 2nd shift position working 3:00 - 11:30 pm. The Direct Support Specialist teaches, models, and coaches activities of daily living (ADL), monitors performance, and provides therapeutic feedback. They also teach psychoeducation classes on recovery topics, plan and facilitate community-based activities, and facilitate access to community resources. The role involves contributing to a safe and therapeutic environment through de-escalation and behavior management techniques, serving as an "ambassador" by integrating clients into the community and educating others about disabilities and the organization's services. Collaboration with community systems, providing transportation, and offering personal care are also key responsibilities. The specialist administers First Aid and CPR as needed, supervises self-administered medication according to program protocols, and identifies and avoids food/medication allergens. Communication of relevant care information with staff and authorized external providers is essential. Responsibilities may include specific program assignments like food programs or admissions at the Crisis Stabilization Unit. Documentation of services and care is required, maintaining confidentiality of protected health information. Assistance with discharge planning and support for training needs of other direct support staff are also part of the role. Attendance at required meetings and trainings is mandatory. This job description is intended to be a representative summary, and incumbents may be asked to perform other related tasks.

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.
Position involves considerable physical exertion, lifting a maximum of 100 pounds, with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
May include frequent lifting of patients.
18 years of age or older.
Within the bounds of their respective job descriptions, all staff are expected to exercise principle-centered leadership, focused on customer service responsiveness, with a continuous quality improvement orientation.
Additionally, all staff are expected to develop a working knowledge of and follow all policies and procedures related to safety management and other Joint Commission standards.

Responsibilities

Teaches, models, and coaches activities of daily living (ADL) (e.g., personal hygiene, housekeeping, meal preparation, money management, educational and vocational goal-setting, nutrition needs); monitors performance of ADL skills and provides therapeutic feedback.
Teaches psychoeducation classes on recovery (e.g., medication side effects, ADL, communication skills, stress management strategies).
Plans and facilitates community-based activities (e.g., medical appointments, grocery shopping, leisure/recreation / socialization); facilitates access to community resources (e.g., AA/NA meetings, school, job placement).
Contributes to safe and therapeutic environment by practicing verbal de-escalation and, as authorized, other behavior management techniques.
Serves as “ambassador” of SCS and its clients by integrating clients into the community and educating community members about people with disabilities and about SCS’s services and programming.
Collaborates with community systems on behalf of individuals served (e.g., school, landlord, family, transportation provider, employer).
Provides transportation (e.g., driving SCS van or personal vehicle), ensuring adherence to standard safety practices (e.g., driver certification, seat belts, child safety seats); teaches and facilitates use of public transportation systems.
Provides personal care, as needed (e.g., personal hygiene, toileting, laundry, meal preparation, safe eating techniques).
Administers First Aid and CPR, as needed.
Supervises self-administered medication, depending on the specific clinical program’s protocols.
Identifies assigned clients’ food and/or medication allergies and exercises reasonable care to avoid exposure to allergens.
Communicates information relevant to care, treatment, and services, with other SCS staff members and, as authorized, with non-SCS providers, to ensure appropriate level and quality of care.
May take responsibility for specific assignments within the program (e.g., food programs, admissions at Crisis Stabilization Unit).
Documents services and care provided by timely completing various forms (e.g., attendance records, daily logs, shift/progress notes, incident reports, time reports in accordance with SCS and regulatory standards.
Maintains confidentiality of protected health information, consistent with SCS procedures and state and federal law.
Assist with discharge planning as needed.
Provide support for additional training needs of direct support staff as needed.
Attends and participates in all required staff and service planning meetings and trainings.