Direct Support Professional I

Part-time and full-time positions available! $17.80 per/hr DOE. In accordance with Assets, Inc. core values and mission, this position plays a vital role in assisting individuals with disabilities and / or mental illness to lead safe, meaningful, and independent lives. This position provides direct and indirect support with daily living activities, community integration, and skill development, while promoting dignity, choice, and self-advocacy. DSP’s build positive, respectful relationships and implement individualized care plans to meet each person’s unique needs and goals. The role requires compassion, reliability, and strong communication skills, as well as a commitment to fostering inclusion and enhancing quality of life.  

Valid Alaska driver's license and insured vehicle required for this position. Must also be able to obtain State of Alaska background clearance.

Our competitive benefit package includes:

• Generous leave policy
• Generous amount of paid holidays per year
• Medical, Dental, & Vision insurance
• Employer paid Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• 401(k) Plan with employer percentage match
• Education Reimbursement and Employee Assistance Program

In accordance with Assets, Inc. core values and mission, this position provides direct and indirect support, guidance, companionship and trainings to individuals experiencing developmental disabilities and/or mental illnesses in a variety of community and home settings.  This position may require de-escalating verbally or physically aggressive individuals according to identified procedures and individual client/site protocols.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Adheres to and demonstrates Assets, Inc. core values, mission, policies, procedures and compliance plan in the performance of all aspects of this position.
2. Effectively supports individuals in achieving social and community inclusion consistent with their personal/cultural preferences and treatment plan objectives. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Providing training as requested on daily living, coping, social and socio-sexual skills and supports served individual progress toward independence.
• Providing basic safety, supervision and monitoring of individual(s) served, as prescribed in the individual treatment plan(s) and/or site protocols.
• Promoting and supporting individuals in achieving a holistically healthy lifestyle.
• Assisting in the development and maintaining of natural supports.
• Effectively advocates for individual served.

1. Provides timely documentation of all treatment, programmatic and billing procedures, including

• Completing tracking and service notes by established timeline.
• Maintaining working file content and updating as required.
• Documenting activity money and coordinating prudent fiscal tracking with supervisor, other staff and care providers.

1. Uses crisis prevention, intervention and de-escalation techniques according to identified procedures and individual client/site protocols.
2. Participates in treatment team and staff meetings as requested. Interfaces well with all team members.
3. Provides input and contributes to the formulation and development of individual treatment plans and their review.
4. Satisfactorily completes all required trainings according to established timelines.
5. Maintains company standards of confidentiality and ethical practice in all aspects of this position.
6. Available to work a varied and flexible schedule, based on client and team needs.
7. Other duties as assigned by supervisor and/or based on specific sites or individual requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representatives of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Education and/or Experience:

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required.
• Previous experience working with individuals experiencing developmental disabilities or mental illnesses or related training is strongly preferred.  

Language Skills:    Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.  Ability to write simple correspondence.  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. 

Reasoning Ability:    Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.  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).  Must be able to pass a criminal background check under state regulations. Must provide copy of driving record, proof of insurance and proof of educational credentials (if applicable) at time of hire.

Other Skills and Abilities

1. Ability to work professionally and collaboratively with a team to provide quality service to individuals experiencing developmental or mental illnesses.
2. General knowledge of mental illnesses and/or developmental disabilities.
3. Compassionate, patient and non-controlling orientation toward individuals served.
4. Committed to learning, mastering and becoming competent in the Direct Service Professional core competencies. Able to identify areas for self-improvement and pursue educational and training resources for professional development.
5. Good communication and listening skills to establish a collaborative relationship with the served individual and his/her team, co-workers and supervisory personnel.
6. Able to demonstrate an understanding of boundaries and is able to establish and maintain therapeutic relationship boundaries with the served individual.
7. Basic computer literacy.

Physical Demands

 The physical demands described here are representative of those that 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; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear; and taste or smell.   The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and climb or balance.  The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently up to 25 pounds and rarely lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.  The Life Coach I must be able to de-escalate verbally or physically aggressive individuals according to identified procedures and individual client protocol.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing 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 frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, and outside weather conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  May be exposed to physical and verbal altercations with individuals served.

Assets, Inc. is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer and administers all personnel practices without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, protected veteran status, genetics, or any other category protected under applicable law.

Salary : $18