Life Coach/ Direct Support Professional

Job Description

Job Description:

DSP JOB DESCRIPTION POSITION TITLE: Life Coach/ Direct Support Professional REPORTS TO: Team Leader SHIFT: Fridays/Saturdays 10:00 AM-4:00 PMSTATUS: Non-exempt: UPDATED: 9/2025POSITION SUMMARYThe Life Coach/ Direct Support Professional, with the leadership of the Team Leader and Home and Community Manager, is responsible to the individuals supported for providing therapeutic relationships, care and other related support activities. The direct support will occur in both home and community settings as directed by the Team Leader, Home and Community Manager, Program Specialist or Program Director. The Life Coach/ Direct Support Professional will work when the individuals require support. Shifts may include early morning, afternoon, evening, overnight, and weekends. While generally assigned to one home or group of individuals, the Life Coach/ Direct Support Professional may be reassigned to other homes as indicated by the individuals' needs. The satisfaction of the individuals supported through Tailored Support Services LLC is essential. The Life Coach/ Direct Support Professional is expected to assist individuals, family members and others with concern and empathy; respect their confidentiality and privacy and at all times, communicate in a courteous and respectful manner. SATISFACTION OF INDIVIDUALS SUPPORTED 1. Understand and maintain rights of persons supported, including confidentiality and the right to privacy. Demonstrate respect for persons supported in all interactions by developing therapeutic rapport. 2. Read, learn and implement each annual plan. Participate and provide input into annual plan development.3. Participate and provide input into the development of Strengths/Needs List (CI). 4. Assist individuals with personal care activities. (ie. Bathing. dressing. restroom use, etc) Check regularly for needed personal care items. 5. Assist in providing goal ideas. Train with the supervisor on how to implement and document goals. Implement training received on documentation of goals/supports. Implement and document goals. 6. Comply with agency Behavior Intervention and Planning Policy. 7. Implement a Behavior Support Plan. 8. Attend interdisciplinary team meetings/ team meetings as assigned. 9. Comply with the agency's Incident Management policy and cooperate with the incident investigation process. 10. Assist individuals with food preparation. Follow menus (as identified). 11. Assist individuals with housekeeping activities (cleaning, laundry, pet care. etc.). 12. Participate in shopping and banking processes with individuals. 13. Provide a supervisor with data on clinical status of the individual and may attend psychiatric appointments. 14. Plan and participate with individuals for community and recreation activities and document per regulation requirements. 15. Follow the Medication Administration Policy and Procedures. Accurately administer medications and monitor those who self-administer. Follow the protocol to obtain medications and the protocol for notification of medical appointment outcomes.16. Transport and accompany individuals on appointments, as assigned. If assigned by Team leader, Home and Community Manager or Clinical Specialist, Home and Community Manager or Clinical Specialist, regarding a medical appointment, take responsibility to ensure that team members are made aware of the new or continuing prescription provided by the doctor and ensure the prescription(if applicable) is taken to the designated pharmacy to be filled. Once medication has been obtained, ensure medication is documented and stored according to the medication protocol.17. Perform all duties in accordance with agency policies and as required by appropriate licensing regulations. Perform all other related duties within the scope of position as needed. COMMUNICATION AND COURTESY 1. Act as a role model for individuals supported and others. 2. Understand and maintain professional communication and courtesy with all persons supported and their family members, associates, and others according to agency Communication and Courtesy Standard. Use appropriate agency procedures for reporting concerns and/or complaints.3. Answer and refer telephone calls or other inquiries to ensure accurate and timely communications are facilitated. Identify yourself in a pleasant and positive manner. Take responsibility for helping the caller.4. Contact family members for routine matters( As Designated by Supervisor) Refer non-routine matters to supervisor. 5. Assist in maintaining effective professional relationships with internal and external sources.6. Ensure and safeguard confidential treatment of person protected health information in written oral and electronic form, maintained and obtained during your work with Tailored Support Services LLC. Share information gained in your relationship with a person with only those appropriate persons specifically concerned with the person and for the purpose of carrying out treatment, payment, or health care operations. TEAMWORK 1. Consistently work in a positive and cooperative manner with others.2. Take responsibility for your actions. 3. Assist other team members in the performance of their assignments.4. Seek out opportunities to help rather than waiting to be asked. 5. Consider the impact of your actions on others throughout the agency. 6. Take direction and initiate actions (cross/additional training) that will allow the assumption of cross-functional duties to ensure seamless support to individuals. 7. Demonstrate flexibility to perform duties wherever necessary within the department, as requested by your supervisor. 8. Participate in meetings as requested by your supervisor. PROBLEM SOLVING 1. Demonstrate sound judgment by taking appropriate actions regarding questionable findings or concerns. Use appropriate agency procedures for reporting concerns and/or complaints. 2. Investigate and follow through on requests for service or information by first checking with your supervisor.3. Follow proper reporting procedures for actual or potential accidents and incidents so follow-up and/or prevention can occur. 4. Record and report maintenance concerns and the need for service maintenance or repair of equipment and remove any faulty equipment from service. Contribute to the achievement of team goals and objectives and participate in activities utilizing meeting management techniques for conducting meetings and reaching consensus decision- making. 5. Consistently evaluate work and determine if further steps are needed to meet expectations of individuals supported. 6. Take initiative to do or redo inadequate or incomplete work, even if it is not yours, 7. Ensure compliance with regulatory standards. 8. Adhere to Administrative leave protocols. 9. Follow On-Call policy. Utilize On-Call during non-business hours. 10. Use the agency's conflict resolution process. Whenever possible, bring conflicts or problems to the other party first, to try to reconcile. If conflict or problem persists, bring to the immediate supervisor. Use the chain of command to address unresolved conflicts or problems. If needed. follow by beginning the conflict resolution process. Feel free to consult with your Team Leader, Home and Community Manager, Program Director or the Human Resources Director at any time. PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY1. Consistently demonstrate ability to respond to changing situations in a flexible manner in order to meet current needs, such as reprioritizing work as necessary. 2. Minimize non-productive time and fill slow periods with activities that will enable you to prepare to meet the future needs of the department (education, organizing, housekeeping, assisting others). 3. Organize job functions and work area to be able to effectively complete varied assignments within established time frames. 4. Consistently demonstrate ability to take the initiative to make appropriate decisions and choices without direct supervision. 5. Assist your supervisor in maintaining home within budget.6. Operate household and office equipment properly to ensure peak performance.7. Accept assistance and direction from the Program Specialist. Clinical Specialist regarding matters and active treatment for individuals supported in an effort to meet and exceed compliance with regulations. 8. Demonstrate professional role modeling in the implementation of all regulations by attentively learning from the Program Director and other resources. DOCUMENTATION 1. Write ID Notes. Document medical appointments in ID notes. 2. Accurately document and report medication administration in accord with the Medication Administration policy and procedures 3. Handle individual's funds and receipts in accord with the Safeguarding Individual Funds policy.4. Prepare medication out of residence forms. 5. Conduct daily medication and med log checks and sign off. 6. Document menu changes (as identified). 7. Implement and document shift responsibility checklists. 8. Read. document and follow through on items in the communication log. 9. Assist in maintaining files at home. 10. Document data on behavior elan. 11. Write needed personal care items on the shopping list. 12. Document mileage timely as assigned (for those pre approved to utilize personal vehicles)13. Complete incident report for unusual incidents that occur. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT 1. Participate in the orientation, training and development conducted by the supervisor2. Attend and successfully complete required training classes. Follow department training policy.3. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of all policies and procedures and ability to reference them from appropriate books and manuals. SAFETY 1. Comply with the agency's infection control policies and procedures including the Exposure Control Plan, which reflects OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard to ensure a safe working environment for self and others.2. Immediately report all work-related and personal injuries and accidents to your Team Leader, Home and Community Manager, and Human Resources. 3. Accept and follow established safety regulations and procedures. Promote accident prevention activities. Report unsafe conditions to your supervisor. Follow emergency procedures. 4. Maintain keys issued in a secure place; do not copy. If lost, report immediately to your supervisor or On-Call Officer. 5. Comply with agency policy regarding prohibited use and restrictions related to alcohol and drugs, smoking and visitors. ATTENDANCE 1. Work all scheduled shifts, as well as complete your work assignments in a positive, acceptable manner. 2. Perform all aspects of work time accounting in a truthful and timely manner. Ensure that you clock in and out for all shifts, training and time worked for Tailored Support Services LLC at all Home and Community locations as determined by the time keeping protocol. 3. Follow proper procedures for reporting absences according to your supervisor’s instructions and the Associate Handbook guideline. Obtain your supervisor’s pre-approval to work overtime and for use of sick, vacation time. 4. Report all absences, late arrivals, or early departures to your supervisor at least three hours prior to your designated shift start time. You must speak directly with your supervisor to obtain approval.If your supervisor is not available, follow the chain of command by contacting the next person up to and including the Program Director until you are able to speak directly with a supervisor. Leave a message at each point and leave your telephone number, if unable to speak directly, and continue your attempts to reach a supervisor. If you are calling after business hours or on weekends, you must notify the On-Call Officer. (AT NO TIME is an individual to be left unattended) 5. Report to your supervisor and Human Resources for proper paperwork clearance from your treating physician for any absence resulting from physical limitations (usually a letter questionnaire and physical capabilities form).6. If you call out due to illness, you may be asked to bring a doctor’s note before returning to work. The doctor’s note must specify that you were unable to work due to illness and the exact date(s) excused from work. 7. Absences not related to illness must be pre-approved by the Team Leader or Home and Community Manager. Immediately report absences to your supervisor who will report any absence related to physical limitations and absence of three or more days to Human Resources.8. Tardiness and leaving early will be counted towards absenteeism.9. Ensure that the department is operated in an efficient and cost effective manner by adhering to agency and departmental attendance policies as documented in the Associate Handbook and department reference materials. QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this position successfully. a Life Coach/ Direct Support Professional must be able to perform each job duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are: Representative of Tailored Support Services LLCPosition Description for Home and Community Services the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable associates with disabilities to perform the essential function. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: High school diploma or equivalent. 1 or more year's previous experience with persons having autism, developmental disabilities and/or senior citizens preferred. CERTIFICATES, LICENSES: Valid driver's license in the state of residence and acceptable driving record required or state related work clearances. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Involves job tasks indoors where the environmental temperature is regulated at approximately 65-80 degrees throughout the entire year. Minimal noise levels are present but may vary from home to home and person to person. Involves job tasks outdoors, which may include items like snow removal from sidewalks, driving, taking public transportation to and from designated locations and participating in social outings. h