Direct Support Specialist to Temporary Registered Alcohol and Drug Peer Support Specialist

Overview

Job Description:

While working toward obtaining education credentials required to become a Temporary Registered Alcohol & Drug Peer Support Specialist (TRAD PSS) as defined by the state regulations and the Kentucky Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors, acts exclusively in the capacity of a Direct Support Specialist.

• Teaches, models, and coaches activities of daily living (ADL) such as personal hygiene, housekeeping, meal preparation, money management, educational and vocational goal setting, and nutrition needs; monitors performance of ADL skills and provides therapeutic feedback.
• Plans and facilitates community-based activities such as medical appointments, grocery shopping, and leisure/recreation/socialization; facilitates access to community resources (for example, AA/NA meetings, school, job placement).
• Contributes to a safe and therapeutic environment by practicing verbal de-escalation and, as authorized, other behavior management techniques.
• Serves as an ambassador of SCS and its clients by integrating clients into the community and educating community members about people with disabilities and SCS’s services and programming.
• Collaborates with community systems on behalf of individuals served (for example, school, landlord, family, transportation provider, employer).
• Provides transportation (for example, driving SCS van or personal vehicle), ensuring adherence to standard safety practices (for example, driver certification, seat belts, child safety seats); teaches and facilitates use of public transportation systems.
• Provides personal care as needed (for example, personal hygiene, toileting, laundry, meal preparation, safe eating techniques).
• Administers First Aid and CPR as needed.
• Supervises self-administered medication, depending on the specific clinical program's protocols.
• Identifies assigned clients’ food and/or medication allergies and exercises reasonable care to avoid exposure to allergens.
• Communicates information relevant to care, treatment, and services with other SCS staff members and, as authorized, with non-SCS providers to ensure appropriate level and quality of care.
• Documents services and care provided by timely completing various forms (for example, attendance records, daily logs, shift/progress notes, incident reports, time reports) in accordance with SCS and regulatory standards.
• Maintains confidentiality of protected health information, consistent with SCS procedures and state and federal law.
• Attends and participates in all required staff and service planning meetings and trainings.

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• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Maintains required education and required training documentation in record management systems to apply as Temporary RAD PSS within one month of hire.
• Attest to one year recovery as defined by AODE regulations.
• Preferred two (2) years in recovery.

(*) Failure to successfully complete all requirements within the specified timeframe will result in separation of employment.

• 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.

• Provides activities intended to assure successful community living through utilization of skills training.
• Uses a variety of psychiatric rehabilitation techniques to teach and assist clients with improving daily living skills, self-monitoring symptoms and side effects, emotional regulation skills, crisis coping and interpersonal skills.
• Documents service to align with clients’ individualized, comprehensive Treatment Plan with intervention specifically addressing client’s progress towards a chosen…