Hourly Services Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Established in 1980, Assets, Inc. is the 64th largest private employer is the State of Alaska, with a workforce of over 270 employees, 41.97% of whom are individuals with disabilities. Each member contributes to the local economy and plays a valued role in the community.

Four years after Assets opened its doors, a contract was signed providing janitorial services at the Anchorage Airport. This was a pivotal moment in the history of the organization as it was the first of many service contracts established between Assets and various entities. Today, these contracts provide a variety of employment options for over 200 employees, both disabled and non-disabled, in such environments as the Anchorage Area Commissary, Providence Hospital, and the Alaska State Court House System. Employees of Assets wash every dish at Providence Hospital, stock every shelf at the commissary and clean every square inch of the Courthouse and Federal Buildings!

Our Supported Living Services began in 1984, followed by Employment Services in 1986. Supported Living Services refers to any combination of skill building, coaching and resource coordination to assist individuals to live in their own homes. Supported Employment assists individuals to obtain and retain employment within local businesses. Assets currently partners with over forty local employers in hiring the right person to ensure job satisfaction for both the employee and employer.

Assets has embraced change and incorporated cutting edge thinking into its service delivery system. New understandings about how individuals with disabilities are best supported have been the foundation of our services.

Our overall purpose, for individuals with disabilities to thrive in and contribute to their community, inspires and challenges us each and every day. We invite you to join us in recognizing the accomplishments over the last 43 years, and in continuing our commitment to make an even greater difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities in the 21stcentury.

Pay starts at $19.22 per/hour + great benefits! In accordance with Assets, Inc. core values and mission, this position provides case management services, direct and indirect support, guidance, companionship and training to individuals experiencing developmental disabilities and/or mental illnesses in a variety of community and home settings. Adheres to and demonstrates Assets, Inc. core values, mission, policies, procedures and compliance plan in the performance of all aspects of this position.

As part of a team, the Life Coach II provides case management and service coordination for persons supported by the team. Effectively supporting individuals in achieving their treatment plan objectives.

In collaboration with a Mental Health Clinician, develops individual protocols and oversees implementation.

Scheduling and coordinating access to other professional and community services (doctors, therapists, dentists, etc.).

Facilitating and nurturing the development of natural supports.

Conducting home visits with clients and care providers to offer support in the client’s home and ensure delivery of daily services to client (daily self care, nutrition, hygiene and basic health and welfare needs).

This includes, but is not limited to: offering training on daily living, coping, social and socio-sexual skills; providing basic safety, supervision and monitoring of individuals served, as prescribed in the plan and individual and/or site protocols.

Provides timely documentation of all treatment, programmatic and billing procedures, including but not limited to:
Documenting activity money and coordinating prudent fiscal tracking with supervisor, other staff, care providers, guardians, and/or payees.

Uses crisis prevention, intervention and de-escalation techniques according to identified procedures and individual client/site protocols, including but not limited to the following:
Adhering to the on-call policy and participating in the on call rotation.

Documenting crisis intervention in a timely and appropriate manner.

Developing and reviewing on-call protocol for specific clients/sites.

Uses effective communication skills to establish a collaborative relationship with the served individual and his/her team, co-workers and supervisors:
Participates in team activities on an on-going basis, attends planning, treatment and staff meetings as required.

Accepts guidance/coaching and performs consistently in accordance with team directives.

Promotes therapeutic communications when working with served individual and his/her team.

Serves as an effective advocate for served individual(s).

Available to work a varied/flexible schedule as required by client and/or team needs.

Performs additional duties as assigned by supervisory personnel and based on specific site or individual requirements.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

High School Diploma or GED required.

Two (2) years experience working with individuals experiencing a developmental disability or mental illness required. Related education and/or training may be substituted for experience.

Language Skills: Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Must have an insured vehicle and current Alaska driver’s license (with no or low points). Competent use of e-mail, MS Word, MS Excel, and e-file management.

Ability to work professionally and collaboratively with a team to provide quality service to individuals experiencing developmental or mental illnesses.

General knowledge of mental illnesses and/or developmental disabilities.

Must have a compassionate, patient and non-controlling orientation toward individuals served.

Ability to effectively advocate for individuals served by Assets.

Ability to resolve conflicts and be open to supervision and feedback from others with resultant behavioral changes.

Able to identify areas for self-improvement and pursue educational and training resources for professional development.

Must have good communication and listening skills to establish a collaborative relationship with the served individual and his/her team, co-workers and supervisory personnel.

Must demonstrate an understanding of boundaries and is able to establish and maintain therapeutic relationship boundaries with the served individual.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, and outside weather conditions. May be exposed to physical and verbal altercations with individuals served.

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