Direct Support Specialist Wilsonville Area

Grow Development Disability Solutions•Wilsonville, OR

About The Position

The Direct Support Specialist (DSS) provides individualized, person-centered support to individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities who have complex or high-support needs. The role performs core Direct Support Professional (DSP) responsibilities for clients whose needs require additional client-specific training, demonstrated competency, preparation, and consistent adherence to specialized support protocols. The position receives an enhanced rate of pay for these additional requirements. DSS employees provide support in accordance with each client’s approved plans, protocols, and care instructions. They assist with daily living activities, promote community participation and individual goals, and provide supervision and assistance based on each client’s identified needs. They must follow client-specific health, safety, behavioral, and emergency protocols, report concerns promptly, preserve client rights and confidentiality, and maintain accurate, timely documentation. The role requires completion of standard DSP training and any additional training and competency requirements for the assigned client. Depending on the assignment, specialized training may cover behavioral support, safety, risk mitigation, communication and de-escalation, emergency response, health and safety, or specialized equipment and procedures. Employees must demonstrate competency before independently providing specialized support when required and remain current on all required training and certifications. Direct Support Specialists are expected to be reliable, consistent, situationally aware, professional under stress, and precise in following established protocols. They must accurately clock in and out for 2:1 staffing shifts and complete a unique, accurate shift note for every shift worked. The designation and enhanced compensation apply to qualifying specialized client assignments and may be reviewed if the assignment or the client’s support needs 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 result in hourly rates of $27.00, $28.00, and $30.00, respectively.

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 all standard DSP training and additional training required for the specialized assignment.
Demonstrate reliability, situational awareness, consistency, and the ability to remain calm and professional in challenging or high-stress situations.
Accurately meet timekeeping, documentation, protocol-adherence, and performance expectations.

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 required training.

Responsibilities

Provide direct support in accordance with the client’s Individual Support Plan, Implementation Plan, Risk Mitigation Plan, behavior support documents, protocols, and other applicable care instructions.
Assist clients with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, as authorized by their service plans.
Support community participation, independence, communication, skill development, and achievement of individual goals.
Provide supervision, monitoring, prompting, redirection, and assistance appropriate to the client’s identified needs.
Follow client-specific health, safety, behavioral, and emergency protocols.
Recognize changes in a client’s condition, behavior, or support needs and promptly report concerns 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 reflecting the support provided and events of that shift.
Complete incident reports and other required documentation within established timelines.
Communicate professionally with clients, guardians, families, agency leadership, case management teams, and other authorized members of the client’s support team.
Follow agency policies, state requirements, mandatory reporting requirements, and confidentiality standards.
Complete and maintain standard DSP training, assignment-specific training, required certifications, and demonstrated competency.
Participate in additional training, coaching, meetings, and competency reviews related to the assigned client.
Follow detailed client-specific instructions without independently modifying established protocols, and contact agency leadership when clarification, training, or support is needed.
Clock in and out in real time for all 2:1 staffing shifts, including at actual shift-change times.
Complete a unique shift note for every shift worked; do not copy, duplicate, or reuse notes from another shift or date.
Ensure timekeeping and documentation correspond accurately to the dates, times, services, and support provided.
Promote client choice, independence, dignity, safety, and community participation while providing only supports the employee is trained and authorized to perform.