Direct Support Specialist (Part time, Third Shift) - Adult Crisis Center

Seven Counties Services•Louisville, KY

About The Position

The Direct Support Specialist provides support to individuals served by the Adult Crisis Center, helping them develop daily living and recovery skills, access community resources, and participate in community activities. The role contributes to a safe, therapeutic environment through verbal de-escalation and authorized behavior-management techniques, and provides personal care and transportation as needed. The specialist coordinates with SCS staff and authorized community providers, documents services, protects confidential health information, and may assist with discharge planning and staff training. Staff are expected to provide responsive customer service, support continuous quality improvement, and follow safety-management policies and applicable Joint Commission standards. The position description notes that incumbents may also perform other job-related tasks.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Zero to one year of full-time experience working with individuals receiving services for mental health, substance abuse, intellectual disability, or physical health conditions.
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.
At least 18 years of age.
Ability to perform considerable physical exertion, lift up to 100 pounds, and frequently lift or carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds; the position may involve frequent lifting of patients.

Responsibilities

Teach, model, and coach activities of daily living, monitor clients’ performance, and provide therapeutic feedback.
Teach psychoeducation classes on recovery topics, including medication side effects, daily living, communication, and stress management.
Plan and facilitate community-based activities and help clients access community resources.
Help maintain a safe, therapeutic environment through verbal de-escalation and, when authorized, other behavior-management techniques.
Represent SCS and its clients in the community, support clients’ community integration, and educate community members about people with disabilities and SCS services and programs.
Collaborate with community systems on behalf of individuals served, such as schools, landlords, families, transportation providers, and employers.
Provide transportation using an SCS van or personal vehicle while following safety practices, and teach and facilitate use of public transportation.
Provide personal care as needed, including hygiene, toileting, laundry, meal preparation, and safe eating techniques.
Administer First Aid and CPR as needed.
Supervise self-administered medication according to the applicable clinical program’s protocols.
Identify clients’ food and medication allergies and take reasonable care to avoid allergen exposure.
Communicate care- and treatment-related information with SCS staff and, when authorized, non-SCS providers.
Take responsibility for specific program assignments as needed, such as food programs or admissions at the Crisis Stabilization Unit.
Complete documentation of services and care in a timely manner and in accordance with SCS and regulatory standards.
Maintain confidentiality of protected health information in accordance with SCS procedures and state and federal law.
Assist with discharge planning as needed.
Provide support for additional direct support staff training needs as needed.
Attend and participate in required staff and service-planning meetings and trainings.
Follow safety-management and other applicable Joint Commission policies and procedures, and contribute to customer-service responsiveness and continuous quality improvement.