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 looking for part time or full-time enjoyment, semi-retired, 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 Professional ensures the basic needs of persons residing at the home are met. The DSP will provide at a minimum: personal hygiene, self-care skills, money management, housekeeping, recreation, and promoting community involvement. The Direct Support Staff is on duty to ensure the safety and well-being of the person served is met during waking or sleeping hours included. They will advocate for a meaningful day; meaningful life for the person.

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. Provide necessary assistance in bathing, dressing, toileting, and hygiene of person supported, ensure individual supported is always neat and clean in appearance, especially prior to scheduled activities.

2. Assist in meal preparation and grocery shopping; providing ample opportunity for choice. (According to the needs of the person served.)

3. Assist in household chores. (I.e. vacuuming, dishes, sweep/mop floors, laundry, general housekeeping, etc.); responsible for a neat and clean appearance of the person served home.

4. Assist person served in taking medications prescribed by doctor, according to the agency medication administration policy.

5. Support person served in all areas of personal and self-care skills, as indicated by the Individual Support Plan.

6. Review Individual Support Plan for outcomes and implementation plans.

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

8. Report all medical, behavioral or other concerns to Residential Manager/Home Manager and other house staff.

9. Assist person served in performance of therapies in accordance with written Plan of Care.

10. Conduct and complete Comprehensive Home Audit Tool weekly.

B. Community Involvement: Coordination with Home Manager/Residential Manager

1. Review the ISP outcomes and implementation plans and follow them.

2. Ensure person served daily needs are met while away from home by preparing the needed items to take with them as measured by availability.

3. Assist the person served in making choices regarding how to spend his/her day in a meaningful way.

4. Present to person served several choices of places they 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 person (s) served have ample opportunity to attend community events.

8. Coordinate trips/visits with relatives or other important people in the person served life.

9. Ensure DSP identifies and develops teachable times.

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

C. Documentation: Direct Support Professional will document the following:

1. Communication between staff in the communication log.

2. Daily notes in the individual’s file.

3. Behavior Data sheets (as needed if 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 Home Manager/Residential Manager and other home staff.

D. Professional Responsibilities:

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

2. Handle stress and stressful situations, effectively.

3. Interacts effectively and cooperatively with parents, co-workers, individual served and the public.

4. Maintain a familiarity with agency policies and procedures.

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

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

7. Make recommendations/suggestions to Supervisor for improvement of services to individual.

8. Attend and contribute to Circle of Support meetings for the individual served, as requested.

9. Make recommendations to supervisor for improvement in services for individual supported.

10. Adhere to policies and procedures and maintain confidentiality.

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 Type: Full-time

Pay: $15.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid orientation
• Paid sick time
• Paid time off
• Paid training
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Preferred)

Experience:

• Direct Support Staff in a Residential Setting: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• TN, KY, or Alabama Driver's license (Required)

Work Location: In person