Direct Support Specialist Wilsonville Area

Grow Development Disability Solutions • Wilsonville, OR

8d • $26 - $30

About The Position

The Direct Support Specialist (DSS) provides individualized, person-centered support to people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who have complex or high-support needs. The role performs the core responsibilities of a Direct Support Professional (DSP), with additional client-specific training, demonstrated competency, preparation, and consistent adherence to specialized support protocols. The position receives an enhanced hourly rate because of these added requirements.

DSS employees provide support according to each client's approved service plans and instructions, assist with daily living activities, and promote community participation, independence, communication, skill development, and progress toward individual goals. They provide supervision and assistance appropriate to each client's needs, follow health, safety, behavioral, and emergency protocols, and report changes or concerns promptly. Employees must maintain professional boundaries and respect client rights, dignity, privacy, choice, and independence.

The role requires accurate, timely, objective documentation, including a unique shift note for every shift worked and required incident reports. For 2:1 staffing shifts, employees must clock in and out in real time, with recorded times accurately reflecting when they were present and actively providing authorized support. Documentation must correspond to the date, time, and services for the shift.

In addition to standard DSP training, employees must complete any additional client-specific training and demonstrate competency before independently providing specialized support when required. Training may cover behavioral support, approved behavioral or safety interventions, risk mitigation, communication and de-escalation, emergency procedures, health and safety, or specialized equipment and support procedures. DSS employees are also expected to participate in relevant training, coaching, meetings, and competency reviews and maintain required certifications.

The position requires consistent reliability, situational awareness, professional conduct in stressful situations, and adherence to detailed protocols without independently modifying them. Employees must follow agency and state requirements, mandatory reporting requirements, and applicable confidentiality standards, and contact agency leadership when clarification, training, or support is needed. The DSS designation and enhanced pay depend on assignment to clients with specialized support needs and may be reviewed if the assignment or requirements change. The designation does not confer supervisory authority unless separately assigned.

Compensation starts at $26.00 per hour. Following reviews at 30, 60, and 90 days of services, successful training and positive client or guardian feedback may increase the rate to $27.00, $28.00, and $30.00 per hour, respectively. The listed rates apply to clients requiring this level of care; rates for additional client assignments should be confirmed with the agency's Administration team.

Requirements

• Meet all agency and state requirements for employment as a Direct Support Professional.
• Successfully complete required background checks and pre-service training.
• Maintain required CPR/First Aid and other applicable certifications.
• Understand and consistently follow written support plans, protocols, and agency policies.
• Demonstrate effective communication, documentation, and problem-solving skills.
• Be capable of performing the physical and essential functions of the assigned position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Successfully complete all additional training and competency requirements associated with the specialized assignment.
• Remain current on standard DSP training and any additional training required for the specialized assignment.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience supporting individuals with complex behavioral, medical, communication, or safety needs is preferred, but may not be required if the employee can successfully complete the required training.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct support according to the client's Individual Support Plan (ISP), Implementation Plan, Risk Mitigation Plan, behavior support documents, protocols, and other applicable care instructions.
• Assist clients with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), as authorized by the service plan.
• Support community participation, independence, communication, skill development, and achievement of individual goals.
• Provide supervision, monitoring, prompting, redirection, and assistance based on identified client needs.
• Follow client-specific health, safety, behavioral, and emergency protocols.
• Recognize changes in a client's condition, behavior, or support needs and report concerns promptly according to agency procedures.
• Respond to behavioral or safety concerns using approved strategies and training.
• Maintain professional boundaries and respect client rights, dignity, privacy, choice, and independence.
• Complete accurate, timely, detailed, and objective shift documentation that reflects the support provided; write a unique shift note for every shift and do not copy or reuse notes.
• Complete incident reports and other required documentation within established timelines.
• Ensure documentation corresponds accurately with the associated shift's date, time, and services.
• Communicate professionally with clients, guardians, families, agency leadership, case management teams, and other authorized members of the support team.
• Follow agency policies, state requirements, mandatory reporting requirements, and applicable confidentiality standards.
• Complete client-specific training and demonstrate competency in applicable protocols before independently providing specialized support when required.
• Participate in additional training, coaching, meetings, and competency reviews related to assigned clients, and maintain required certifications and training.
• For 2:1 staffing shifts, clock in and out in real time, including at shift changes, accurately recording time physically present and actively providing authorized support.
• Contact agency leadership promptly when clarification, additional training, or support is needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed