Direct Support Specialist PRN - Adult Crisis Center

Seven Counties Services•Louisville, KY

7d•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), including personal hygiene, housekeeping, meal preparation, money management, and educational/vocational goal-setting. They monitor ADL skills, provide therapeutic feedback, and teach psychoeducation classes on recovery topics such as medication side effects, communication skills, and stress management. The role involves planning and facilitating community-based activities like medical appointments and grocery shopping, and connecting clients with community resources such as AA/NA meetings, schools, and job placement services. A key aspect is contributing to a safe and therapeutic environment through verbal de-escalation and authorized behavior management techniques. The specialist acts as an "ambassador" for the organization and its clients, integrating clients into the community and educating the public about disabilities and the organization's services. Collaboration with community systems (schools, landlords, families, transportation providers, employers) on behalf of clients is essential. The role includes providing transportation, teaching public transit use, and offering personal care as needed. Administering First Aid and CPR, supervising self-administered medication, and identifying/avoiding food/medication allergens are also responsibilities. Communication of relevant care information with staff and authorized external providers is crucial for ensuring quality care. Specific assignments within the program, such as food programs or admissions at the Crisis Stabilization Unit, may be assigned. Documentation of services, adherence to confidentiality, and assistance with discharge planning are required. Support for training needs of other direct support staff and participation in meetings and trainings are also part of the role. The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

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.
18 years of age or older.

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.