Direct Support Staff (8am-4pm Community Participation)

Are you a caring, compassionate, dependable, and understanding individual? Do you love to help and support people who want to live independently to be healthy, safe, valued, and participating members of their communities? If you are retired, looking for part time or full-time enjoyment, or seeking a career change in a more rewarding position, we want YOU to join our team at Progressive Directions to have a rewarding career in supporting individuals with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities! Help us bring independence closer to home to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities!

Progressive Directions, Inc. is a nonprofit charitable organization established over forty years ago in Clarksville, TN. Since then, PDI has been guided by its mission to support persons with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities by providing innovative programs and delivering transformative services to the community. PDI continues reinforcing core beliefs by helping individuals attain personal success through gaining pride, dignity, and independence.

More about our company visit:

https://progressivedirections.org/

Please apply via Indeed or visit our company career website link to apply

https://progressivedirections.org/employment-opportunities/

NOTICE: This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Direct Support Staff Job Summary:

The Direct Support Staff/ Residential specialist ensures the basic needs of individual(s) residing at the home are met. The residential specialist will provide a minimum: personal hygiene, self-care skills, money management, housekeeping, recreation, and promoting community involvement. This staff person is on duty to ensure the safety and well-being of the individual(s) served is always met waking or sleeping hours included.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: include but are not limited to the following: (other duties may be assigned based on the needs of the individual(s) served.)

A. Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Proved necessary assistance in bathing, dressing, toileting, and hygiene.

2. Assist in meal preparation and grocery shopping. Providing ample opportunity for choice. (According to the needs of the individual.)

3. Assist in household chores. (I.e., vacuuming, dishes, sweep/mop floors, laundry, general housekeeping, etc.)

4. Assist individual(s) in taking medications prescribed by doctor, according to the agency medication administration policy.

5. Assist/train individual(s) in all areas of personal and self-care skills, as indicated by the Individual Support Plan (ISP).

6. Review Individual Support Plan (ISP) for outcomes and implementation plans.

7. Assist the individual in obtaining money to shop and shopping for needed items (personal and otherwise) with that individual.

8. Will report all medical, behavioral, or other concerns to the Residential Manager (RM) and other house staff.

B. Community Involvement:

1. Review the Individual Support Plan (ISP) outcomes and implementation plans and follow them.

2. Ensure each individual’s daily needs are met while away from home by preparing the needed items to take with the individual as measured by availability.

3. Assist the individual(s) in making choices regarding how to spends his/her day in a meaningful way.

4. Present choices of places the individual would like to visit.

5. Be prepared ahead of time for any outings by requesting the necessary funds or other needed items in advance (as much as possible).

6. Be alert to up-coming events in the community.

7. Ensure the individual(s) served have ample opportunity to attend community events.

8. Coordinate trips/visits with relatives or other important people in the individual’s life.

9. Assist in coordinating activities based on the individual’s interests.

C. Documentation, the residential specialist will document the following:

1. Communication between staff in the communication log.

2. Daily notes in the individual’s file.

3. Behavior Date sheets (as needed as behaviors occur).

4. Medication Administration Record (MAR).

5. All activities and outings (in daily notes unless otherwise specified).

6. Will attend doctor appointments as necessary and document the results.

7. Will communicate all medical, behavioral, or other concerns to the Residential Manager (RM) and other home staff.

D. Professional Responsibilities:

1. Assumes responsibility of individual’s safety while in the community.

2. Deals effectively with stress and stressful situations.

3. Deals effectively and cooperatively with parents, co-workers, individuals

served and the general public.

4. Maintains a familiarity with agency policies and procedures.

5. Attends all staff meetings as required by the RM.

6. Maintains a clear line of communication between residential and management staff.

7. Attends and participates in all Circle of Support meetings for the individual served.

E. Qualifications:

1. High School Diploma or GED preferred but not required

2. Valid Tennessee, Kentucky, or Alabama driver’s license

3. Ability to read and follow directions.

4. Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

5. TB test within the last 12 months.

6. Satisfactory criminal background check and clear driving record

7. Ability/availability to attend and pass all training course offered and required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those which must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 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 regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up 50 pounds.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: From $13.75 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 10 hour shift
• 12 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Night shift
• Weekend availability

COVID-19 considerations:
To keep our staff as safe as possible during COVID 19, our staff are given masks and hand sanitizer is located in the homes along with cleaning supplies. Currently our persons supported remain at home to protect themselves.

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• TN, KY, or Alabama Drivers license (Preferred)

Work Location: One location