Direct Support Specialist

At New Narrative, we believe mental health care is community care. As a nonprofit organization, we partner with individuals to promote healing, housing stability, and long-term wellness through compassionate, equitable support.

If you're passionate about community impact, we invite you to join our team.

SHIFT: Sunday-Thursday 3:00pm - 11:00pm

Purpose:


The Direct Support Specialist is a member of the Rosebud Supportive Living Program and provides support to foster youth ages 16-18 years old. The goal of the Rosebud program is to create a safe environment for youth to develop skills for independent living and overall wellness. The Direct Support Specialist will provide environmental and milieu management support to ensure a safe, trauma informed, equitable and inclusive environment. This position requires on-site work at all times.


Accountabilities:


Milieu Management and Participant Support

• Provide direct support in one-on-one or group setting.

• Conduct guest check-in and redirect/remove individuals who are not program participants if there is disturbance/disregard for program rules.

• Provide crisis response and de-escalation as needed. Ability to utilize emergency services (ie. Police, Project Respond, etc) as needed.

• Maintain the cleanliness of common areas and employee office.

• Engage with youth throughout shift and during times of crisis, difficulty sleeping, mental health concerns, etc.

• Ensure that the living and office spaces are clean, orderly, and safe at all times.

• Distribute medications in accordance with physician orders and document all medication distribution in line with policies.

• Provide coverage to ensure program ratio requirements are met.

Skill-building Support

• Willing to meet and engage with people "where they are," including their environment, time of night, and readiness for change.

• Use trauma-informed, person centered approach and language and participate in ongoing training and education.

• Assists participants with daily living skills such as completing household and hygiene tasks, medication prompts, and connection to treatment and support team for additional support.

• Support youth through coping with mental health concerns, sleep hygiene, schedule management, etc.

• Assists participants with self-identified goals and in support of existing treatment plans from providers.

• Assists participants with completion of cleaning and laundry as necessary.

• Support participants in accessing healthy meals and kitchen clean up as necessary.

• Support youth with transportation, food preparation, grocery shopping, etc. as needed and ensure that materials are readily available for skills training groups

Crisis Prevention/De-escalation/Harm Reduction

• Provide crisis response and de-escalation in a community based setting.

• Use crisis prevention approach to decrease use of crisis services, Project Respond, EMS, police, hospitalization, etc.

• Ability to work in collaboration with emergency services (ie. police, Project Respond, Multnomah County Crisis, Behavioral Health Unit) as necessary.

• Ability to work in collaboration with acute care settings if necessary.

• Must be able to assist in de-escalation and crisis as needed.

• Support harm reduction approach, linkage to resources such as, but not limited to: clean needle exchange, NARCAN, MAT, SUD services, education around harm reduction, etc.

Documentation/Expectations

• Complete documentation and data entry in Electronic Health Record as required by contract within 24-72 hours.

• Maintain a regular work schedule.

• Complete all other assignments in a timely manner as requested by supervisor.

Supervision Received:

• Receive regular supervision at least once per month, seeking additional supervision whenever necessary.

• Direct Support Specialists working on the swing shift will report to the Rosebud Program Manager for regular supervision.

• Direct Support Specialists working on the overnight shift will report to the Rosebud Weekend Supervisor for regular supervision.

Other General Expectations:

• Ability to engage with youth through shared interests, hobbies, language, and experiences.

• Uphold New Narrative Mission and Values in all interactions.

• Ability to work as a team member, remain flexible and establish priorities as a group.

• Ability to work independently.

• Demonstrate initiative and openness to learning/implementing new skills.

• Ability to display a non-judgmental attitude and maintain unconditional positive regard.

• Creative, innovative and progressive problem-solver.

• Ability to multi-task and remain calm in a busy and stressful environment.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)

• Pursue ongoing development of skills and competencies in line with contract requirements for training.

• Follow all New Narrative policies, procedures, and protocols.

• Follow through on all directives and instructions.

• Maintain CPR and First Aid Certificate.

• Must be able to pass a criminal history check through the Department of Human Services.

Core Competencies:

• Communication: Clear, direct and concise. Keeps people informed. Listens effectively to others.

• Teamwork: Effective at working in team situations.

• Utilizing available resources for personal wellness: Communicates with Supervisor or other designated New Narrative personnel to meet personal wellness and safety needs.

• Adaptability: Ability to modify or change service delivery as needed to best fit the needs of program participants and New Narrative values

• Analytical thinking: Attention to detail over sustained periods of time.

• Dependability: Counted on to follow through on commitments: at work each day and on time; work completed in a timely fashion.

• Aptitude: Ability to comprehend and apply new ideas, processes and procedures, or training.

• Demeanor: Remaining calm in crisis situation, empathetic, unbiased, non-judgmental and excellent peer model skills.

Qualifications:

• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred

• Persons of color and all genders encouraged to apply

• Must maintain current Oregon driver's license and insurance. Must have own reliable vehicle to support participants in the community.

• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.

All of our job openings are located in Portland, Oregon, and the surrounding metro areas.