Behavioral Health Direct Support Specialist

The Behavioral Health Direct Support Specialist is responsible for creating a therapeutic environment within day-to-day activities and ensuring the health and safety of individuals living in a 24-hour intensive residential services home in a community-based setting. In addition, the position will work cooperatively with the persons receiving services, all stake holders, and their interdisciplinary team to support the person's person-centered plan to achieve quality outcomes.

Essential Duties

This position includes, but is not limited to, the following essential functions:

• Treat people we serve with dignity and respect.
• Work cooperatively with the persons receiving services and all stake holders (as desired) and their community options team to support the person's Person-Centered Plan.
• Work cooperatively with other staff and with the person receiving services to provide supports needed and desired to achieve quality outcomes.
• Assist in the development of community-based experiences based upon persons served interests and staff's skill (such as nutrition, money management, social security benefits, etc.).
• In collaboration with the person served and the treatment team, regularly plan and participate in individual and group activities that are part of the therapeutic milieu.
• Advocate for persons served to be included within their communities, as they desire.
• Facilitate integration and community inclusion
• Work as a team member with other staff to implement the therapeutic milieu and provide quality service to the people we serve. Actively participate in treatment team meetings.
• Record direct persons served contact hours as instructed on all appropriate forms for efficient and cost-effective use of time.
• Document persons served interactions and support interventions in the form of contact notes/ ISP data, incident reports, T-log timely and as instructed. Documentation is completed in the designated client record including the electronic health record.
• Provide physical assistance to persons receiving services when needed (example 1-2 persons lift to transfer from wheelchair).
• Provide safe transportation and supports for persons to access their communities with alternate (safe)transportation methods.
• Be responsive to and provide emergency intervention for all persons receiving residential supports.
• Be responsible to the Residential Team Coordinator and other designated staff and keep them aware of person served and/or staff support needs.
• Must have authorized release before confidential and sensitive information is given pertaining to TRIVIUM LIFESERVICES, persons receiving services, and staff.
• Will be aware of and comply with all HIPAA regulations in coordination with the HIPAA Compliance Officer.
• Will abide by all Trivium Life Services Corporate Compliance policies and Code of Ethics.
• Attend and complete all required staff orientation, initial and first year trainings, and maintain ongoing training requirements.

Attendance & Scheduling

• Communicate staff schedule needs/changes to the IRSH Supervisor and other designated staff responsible for scheduling, in a timely manner and arrange for replacements with independence (getting approval if it will cause overtime) except for emergency situations.
• Attend staff meetings and training opportunities as scheduled, providing input and feedback to the Residential team concerning persons served support needs and service development.
• Work a shift per an established schedule and be flexible to work outside the shift parameters based upon the needs of the business.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisory personnel.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Builds and develops internal and external relationships, creates partnerships, builds trust, share ideas, and accomplishes work.
• Embraces change and sets goals that align with the company's vision.
• Encourages and inspires others through positivity, vision, confidence, challenges, and recognition.
• Able to gather and evaluate information that leads to smart decisions.
• Provides clear communication and shares information regularly and concisely.
• Holds themselves accountable for their performance.
• The ability to follow and lead by example the Company's mission to empower individuals and to actively seek out opportunities for an enhanced quality of life.
• Be flexible as to schedule hours.
• Ability to work an overnight shift.
• The ability to act as a positive adult role model.
• Possess basic living skills, good verbal, and written communication skills.
• Possess good problem solving, decision making and organizational skills.
• Ability to secure Certification in CPR and First Aid.
• Ability to push, pull, lift and/or transfer up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to accurately dispense medications as instructed by Medication Manager.
• Must secure and maintain a private phone.
• Committed to self-improvement.

Physical Demands

These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the BH-DSP job. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of this position.

While performing the responsibilities of the BH-DSP job, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to sit and use their hands and fingers, to handle or feel and to manipulate keys on a keyboard. The employee is often required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Vision abilities required by this job include close and distant vision. The employee must be able to travel between locations, and occasionally attend seminars which may require an overnight stay.

Working Conditions

Working conditions are normal for a home environment. Based on the person served needs, the environment will change according to seasons while accessing the community. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate. Work may require occasional weekend and/or evening work.

Requirements/Qualifications

The BH-DSP will have the following experience and attributes:

Trivium Life Services is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.