One on One Direct Support Staff (Mon-Fri Flex Shifts)

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 are retired, looking for part time enjoyment, 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. Help us bring independence closer to home.

More about our company visit:

Intellectual Disability Services for Montgomery and Stewart County

Please apply via Indeed or visit our company career website link to apply

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.

One on One Direct Support Staff/Personal Assistant Job Summary: PT Weekend Shifts Available

The Personal Assistant (PA) ensures the safety, well-being and basic needs of the person served and are met on a one-on-one basis, during the time services are provided. The PA will provide the needed support to foster independence and enhance the person served skills and abilities. They will advocate for a meaningful day; meaningful life for the individual.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Include but are not limited to the following:

1. Ensures a safe and supportive environment specific to the person served personality, strengths, and limitations.

2. Assists the participant in taking doctor-prescribed medications according to the agency medication administration policy.

3. Assists/trains the participant in all areas of personal and self-care skills, as indicated by the Individual Support Plan (ISP).

4. Reviews Individual Support Plan (ISP) for outcomes and implementation plans. Personal Assistant (PA) must ensure the participant’s outcomes are being met.

5. Assists the participant in obtaining money to shop for needed items, personal or otherwise. Submits all money requests to Personal Assistant (PA) Coordinator in a timely manner.

6. Reports all medical, behavioral, and other concerns to Personal Assistant (PA) Coordinator and other house staff.

7. Transferring and/or assisting with mobility as needed.

Community Involvement:

  • Reviews the Individual Service Plan (ISP) outcomes and implementation plans, co-ordinates related activities.
  • Ensures necessary supports are instituted for the participant while on community outings. The participant should be in immediate visual range** during service hours.

** Specific to the needs of the participant served.

  • Ensures each participant’s daily needs are met while away from home by preparing the needed items to take with the participant.
  • Assists the participant in making choices regarding how to spend his/her day in a meaningful way. Coordinate activities based on the participant’s desires and interests.
  • Be adequately prepared for all outings by requesting the necessary funds, clothing and/or other essential items in advance.
  • Ensures the participant served is thoroughly informed and has ample opportunity to attend community events.
  • Coordinates trips and visits with relatives or other important people in the participant’s life, upon request.

Documentation:

  • Enter Communication between staff in the communication log daily.
  • Daily notes should be entered in the participant’s file daily and file is to remain in the home.
  • Document on Behavior Data Sheets (as needed, as behaviors occur)
  • Medication Administration Record (MAR)
  • All activities and outings reflecting Individual Service Plan (ISP) outcomes in Meaningful Day Time Log.

Professional Responsibilities:

  • Assume responsibility of participant’s safety while providing services.
  • Deal effectively with stress and stressful situations.
  • Work effectively and cooperatively with the participant served, parents, co-workers, and the public.
  • Maintain a familiarity with agency policies and procedures.
  • Attend all staff meetings as required by Personal Assistant (PA) Services Director.
  • Maintain a clear line of communication with the program management staff on the needs and desires of the participant.
  • Attend and participates in all Circle of Support (COS) meetings for the participant.
  • Assist Personal Assistant (PA) Services Director and/or Individual Support Coordinator (ISC) in designing an Individual Support Plan that will best serve participant.

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 courses offered and required Department of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) and PDI training.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, persons supported, customers, and public. Ability to read and write in English.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to define problems, collects data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

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.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those which an employee would encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Universal precautions and all OSHA standards must be followed while working with individual served.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $13.75 per hour

Benefits:

  • Dental insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Vision insurance

Schedule:

  • 8 hour shift
  • Day shift
  • Evening shift
  • Monday to Friday
  • Weekend availability
  • Weekends only

Application Question(s):

  • How many years of experience do you have working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities?
  • The position is a Full time position of 40 hours requiring flex shifts between the hours of 7:30 am and 9 pm Monday-Friday with some weekends. Please list the specific shifts you are available to work Sunday-Saturday. Our organization has different shifts available based on the needs of the individuals that we support.

Education:

  • High school or equivalent (Preferred)

License/Certification:

  • TN, KY, or Alabama Driver’s license (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

If you require alternative methods of application or screening, you must approach the employer directly to request this as Indeed is not responsible for the employer’s application process.