Direct Support Specialist PRN - Addictions

Seven Counties Services; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 17,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

Seven Counties Services in Louisville, KY, is seeking a part-time caregiver focusing on teaching daily living skills and psychoeducation within a supportive environment. You will coordinate transportation, assist clients with personal care, and liaise with community systems to access services.

Qualifications include a high school diploma and 0–1 year experience with individuals receiving behavioral health services.

Qualifications

• Requires a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Zero to one year of full-time experience serving individuals with mental health, substance abuse, intellectual disability, or physical health conditions.
• Ability to communicate with verbal and nonverbal individuals; good interpersonal skills; teaching abilities; patience and empathy.

Responsibilities

• Teach, model, and coach ADL activities (hygiene, housekeeping, meals, money management, goal-setting, nutrition).
• Teach psychoeducation classes on recovery and skills.
• Plan community-based activities and facilitate access to resources and transportation.
• Contribute to a safe, therapeutic environment through de‑escalation and behavior management when authorized.
• Act as an ambassador of SCS and educate the community about services.
• Collaborate with schools, families, landlords, and transportation providers.

Skills

Verbal & nonverbal communication

Interpersonal skills

Teaching skills

Patience & empathy

Maturity & judgment

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Job Description:

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

1. 1. 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.
2. 2. Teaches psychoeducation classes on recovery (e. g., medication side effects, ADL, communication skills, stress management strategies).
3. 3. 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).
4. 4. Contributes to safe and therapeutic environment by practicing verbal de-escalation and, as authorized, other behavior management techniques.
5. 5. 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.
6. 6. Collaborates with community systems on behalf of individuals served (e. g., school, landlord, family, transportation provider, employer).
7. 7. 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.
8. 8. Provides personal care, as needed (e. g., personal hygiene, toileting, laundry, meal preparation, safe eating techniques).
9. 9. Administers First Aid and CPR, as needed.
10. 10. Supervises self-administered medication, depending on the specific clinical program's protocols.

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.
• Valid driver's license.
• Proof of automobile liability insurance.
• Positive driving record.

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: Part time

Seven Counties is the provider of choice for mental and behavior health services in and around the Louisville Metro. Over 1,400 employees work in 25+ locations throughout Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties; making sure that the 31,000 people we serve annually have the best chance of living their best lives. At Seven Counties, we give our staff the opportunity to do what they do best with continued training, effective mentoring and competitive salaries and benefits. In an effort to protect our employees, clients and community, we require the COVID and Influenza vaccinations for all employees.