Starting Rate: $18.50/hour

The Direct Support Staff position is an important role where you can support individuals with developmental disabilities and start your career in human services! In the Direct Support Staff role, you will provide ongoing support, guidance, and role modeling directly to individuals living in a residential setting. You will be responsible for assisting individuals with activities of daily living such as cooking, personal hygiene, and dressing. You will also be responsible for administering and managing medication, following Individual Support Plans (ISPs), transporting individuals to appointments when needed, and completing shift notes. Direct Support staff ensure the home is welcoming, comfortable, and safe. You will get to work closely with parents and/or guardians to collaborate on how to best support each individual. You will also support individuals to access the community by doing things such as group activities, taking trips to events, and volunteering.

• Demonstrate knowledge of, and commitment to, agency mission and values. 
• Demonstrate respect for, and provide information to, individuals regarding human rights, privacy, and confidentiality. 
• Follow agency policies and procedures, including work schedule, use of time off and transportation schedule. 

• Interact verbally in a professional manner with the individuals supported, families, coworkers, supervisors and community members. 
• Demonstrate the ability to set a side personal prejudices and fears to support individual(s) in taking risks and making informed decisions. 
• Maintain agency standards of confidentiality. 
• Complete required documentation in a timely and professional manner. 
• Identify local community resources and ensure individual(s) access to needed local resources on a consistent basis. 

• Maintain a respectful manner and tone of voice with others. 
• Promote teamwork and open communication among staff members and individuals supported by the program. 
• Appropriately implement teaching strategies for ISP goals and behavior plan. 

Competencies:

• Problem Solving- identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner and gathers and analyzes information skillfully. 
• Respect –shows respect for self, coworkers and the individuals supported.  
• Interpersonal Skills- maintains confidentiality, remains open to others’ ideas and exhibits willingness to try new things. 
• Oral communication- speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations demonstrates group presentation skills. 
• Written Communication- is able to read and write information to communicate. 

• Planning/organizing- prioritizes and plans work activities, uses time efficiently and develops realistic action plans. 
• Quality control- demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness and monitors own work to ensure quality. 
• Adaptability- adapts to changes in the work environment and deals with frequent change, delays or unexpected events. 
• Dependability- is consistently at work and on time, follows instructions, responds to management direction and solicits feedback to improve performance. 
• Safety and security- actively promotes and personally observes safety and security procedures, and uses equipment and materials properly. 

• High School Diploma or equivalent. 

• One year experience in developmental disabilties/behavioral health area preferred. 
• Valid driver’s license along with an acceptable driving status. 
• Use of a reliable vehicle, which seats two passengers. 
• Additional specific experience may be required. 

Advocates is committed to cultivating a diverse and welcoming community where everyone feels respected and valued. Advocates fosters a culture of inclusion that celebrates and promotes diversity along multiple dimensions, including race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, partnered status, age, national origin, socioeconomic status, religion, ability, culture, and experience. 

 Why Should I Consider a Career in Human Services?

Our Team members are dedicated to engaging and empowering individuals by forming lasting relationships, collaboratively achieving personal goals, offering creative solutions to everyday and complex situations, and actively listening.  We exercise independent judgement and contribute to the overall success and benefit of the Team.

Is Human Services a Fit for Me?

Successful Team members are open-minded, eager and compassionate, and will exercise solid, independent judgement while fostering trustworthy relationships with the individuals that we serve.  We put the individual first.