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

Job Description

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Teaches, models, and coaches activities of daily living (ADL) (e. g., personal hygiene, housekeeping, meal preparation, money management, educational and vocational goal-setting, nutrition needs); monitors performance of ADL skills and provides therapeutic feedback.
• Teaches psychoeducation classes on recovery (e. g., medication side effects, ADL, communication skills, stress management strategies).
• Plans and facilitates community-based activities (e. g., medical appointments, grocery shopping, leisure/recreation / socialization); facilitates access to community resources (e. g., AA/NA meetings, school, job placement).
• Contributes to safe and therapeutic environment by practicing verbal de-escalation and, as authorized, other behavior management techniques.
• Serves as “ambassador” of SCS and its clients by integrating clients into the community and educating community members about people with disabilities and about SCS’s services and programming.
• Collaborates with community systems on behalf of individuals served (e. g., school, landlord, family, transportation provider, employer).
• Provides transportation (e. g., driving SCS van or personal vehicle), ensuring adherence to standard safety practices (e. g., driver certification, seat belts, child safety seats); teaches and facilitates use of public transportation systems.
• Provides personal care, as needed (e. g., personal hygiene, toileting, laundry, meal preparation, safe eating techniques).
• Administers First Aid and CPR, as needed.
• Supervises self-administered medication, depending on the specific clinical program’s protocols.
• Identifies assigned clients’ food and/or medication allergies and exercises reasonable care to avoid exposure to allergens.
• Communicates information relevant to care, treatment, and services, with other SCS staff members and, as authorized, with non-SCS providers, to ensure appropriate level and quality of care.
• May take responsibility for specific assignments within the program (e. g., food programs, admissions at Crisis Stabilization Unit).
• Documents services and care provided by timely completing various forms (e. g., attendance records, daily logs, shift/progress notes, incident reports, time reports in accordance with SCS and regulatory standards.
• Maintains confidentiality of protected health information, consistent with SCS procedures and state and federal law.
• Assist with discharge planning as needed.
• Provide support for additional training needs of direct support staff as needed.
• Attends and participates in all required staff and service planning meetings and trainings.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

EDUCATION

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

EXPERIENCE

• Zero to one year full-time experience working with individuals who receive 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.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/REQUIREMENTS

• Position involves considerable physical exertion, lifting a maximum of 100 pounds, with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• May include frequent lifting of patients.
• 18 years of age or older.

Within the bounds of their respective job descriptions, all staff are expected to exercise principle-centered leadership, focused on customer service responsiveness, with a continuous quality improvement orientation. Additionally, all staff are expected to develop a working knowledge of and follow all policies and procedures related to safety management and other Joint Commission standards.

Time Type

Full time