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

Seven Counties Services•Louisville, KY

About The Position

The Direct Support Specialist supports adults in a crisis center by teaching and coaching daily living and recovery skills, facilitating community participation and access to resources, and helping maintain a safe, therapeutic environment. The role provides personal care and transportation as needed, communicates and documents relevant care information, supports discharge planning and staff training, and participates in required meetings and training. Staff are expected to demonstrate principle-centered leadership focused on responsive customer service and continuous quality improvement, and to follow safety-management policies and applicable Joint Commission standards.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Zero to one year of full-time experience working with individuals receiving 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.
Must be 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; may frequently lift patients.

Responsibilities

Teach, model, and coach activities of daily living, monitor clients’ performance, and provide therapeutic feedback.
Teach psychoeducation classes on recovery topics such as medication side effects, daily living, communication, and stress management.
Plan and facilitate community activities and access to 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 and educate community members about people with disabilities and SCS services and programming.
Collaborate with community systems on behalf of individuals served, including 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 clinical program’s protocols.
Identify assigned clients’ food and medication allergies and take reasonable care to prevent allergen exposure.
Communicate care, treatment, and service information with SCS staff and, as authorized, non-SCS providers.
Take responsibility for specific program assignments as needed.
Complete required service and care documentation accurately and on time, 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.
Support additional training needs of direct support staff as needed.
Attend and participate in required staff and service-planning meetings and trainings.
Follow safety-management policies and procedures and applicable Joint Commission standards.