If you have a compassionate heart, we want YOU!  We will train you in everything you need for openings in direct care (hourly) in Lafayette, Cookeville, Livingston, McMinnville, or Sparta areas for full time, part time and weekend positions.  See the current job openings below.
 

Pacesetters, Inc

Support Specialist

Apply to: Human Resources
Support Specialists empower and support individuals with disabilities to be valued members of society through actively using the team approach. While supporting, they provide guidance, coaching, and positive role modeling in residential and communit
Posted On: Thursday, 20 October 2011
Job Description:

Qualifications

  • Minimum 19 years of age
  • High school diploma or equivalent or actively enrolled in GED or AHS program
  • Have and maintain a Class D drivers license (licensed for minimum of 3 years)
  • Transportation to attend work including required orientation and training
  • Pass mandated training
  • Self directed and capable of providing direct support to individuals with disabilities
  • Reliable, team player, cooperative, positive attitude, compassionate, flexible in work assignments, punctual, handle conflict in a positive manner

Primary Responsibilities

Support Specialists empower and support individuals with disabilities to be valued members of society through actively using the team approach.  While supporting, they provide guidance, coaching, and positive role modeling in residential and community settings to ensure our individuals reach their preferred future (e.g. being what they want to be and do in their lives).  Daily support includes transportation services, vocational, residential, social and community integration activities as assigned and support in employment opportunities.

Support Staff Team Member Responsibilities & Job Description


  • The team performs specific tasks (* List indicated below – not limited to but including these tasks)
  • Speak to all people politely as you would like to be spoken to
  • Include people in conversations (speak with them, not about them)
  • Use positive verbal and non-verbal communication; avoid being negative
  • Explain things in ways people can understand and observe how they receive the information
  • Encourage people to think by asking questions rather than giving commands
  • Teach individuals to do as much as possible for themselves rather than doing for them
  • Include people in making decisions by providing choices; do not  be bossy
  • Respect differences and an individual’s desires, needs, and values
  • Consider seriously feelings and concerns of others even if they don’t seem important to you
  • Listen to each other’s point of view even if upset or involved in a disagreement and not allow it to affect your behavior
  • Complete daily attendance sheet(s)
  • Attend and actively participate in team meetings
  • Team members are multi-skilled, supportive of each other, interdependent
  • Team members control their daily, monthly, and yearly goals, budgets, scheduling, and coverage
  • The team focuses on team results not individual results
  • Team members rotate tasks because extensive cross-training enables them to perform many different tasks thus more valuable members to the team
  • The team monitors and controls both its work quantity and quality
  • Each team understands the need for effective, positive teaming behaviors

*Tasks include responsibility for such things as:

  • empower and support individuals to be valued members of society
  • provide meaningful activities for individuals in support of above task
  • serve as an advocate for individuals supported
  • maintain a clean, healthy, positive environment for the individuals we supportprovide a positive environment of support, guidance and physical assistance (when appropriate) to individuals while learning vocational skills, when completing work or training activities, as well as during meal or break periodsconstantly keep supported individual’s needs above personal needs treating them with dignity and respect
  • ensure up-to-date required training is in place with every staff member
  • maintain food & supply budgets within budget, shopping, meal preparation and cleanup
  • ensure timely and accurate completion of paperwork for each individual as directed
  • develop and write implementation strategies as needed
  • maintain neat and clean living and working area (residential and in the centers)
  • count medications and petty cash
  • maintain vehicle logs and abide by vehicle safety regulations (speed limits, safety belts, etc.)
  • rotate on-call beeper and daily chores as needed
  • participate in interview process of applicants and mentor new hires
  • develop and train Training Specifics as needed
  • conduct unannounced visits
  • complete monthly reviews
  • ensure fire and safety guidelines are met
  • conduct environmental and safety reviews and correct deficiencies
  • complete site assessments and take corrective action immediately
  • provide effective communication with appropriate staff regarding individuals supports (e.g., med changes, appointments, behavioral issues, health concerns, etc.)
  • adhere to policies, procedures, guidelines and laws and immediately report any unsafe, unhealthy or inappropriate acts as well as suspicion of abuse, neglect or mistreatment
  • ensure harmful chemicals are maintained in a secured location
  • seek additional information concerning training techniques to identify productive ways of providing needed support
  • provide behavioral support to individuals as needed documenting and reporting incidents
  • respect the right of privacy to individuals
  • provide supports necessary for individuals supported to attend community events, recreational activities, and religious functions
  • encourage and assist individuals to maintain and enhance their personal appearance
  • other duties as assigned


Job Requirements:

Job Risk (Environmental) Factors:

  1. Stand or walk more than 70% of shift
  2. Kneel or squat frequently
  3. Bend or stoop frequently
  4. Work with areas above shoulder level
  5. Lift more than 50 pounds
  6. Have full use of both hands and/or arms or the equivalent with prosthesis
  7. See 20/40 or equivalent with corrective lenses
  8. Distinguish colors
  9. Hear 40 decibels or the equivalent with aids
  10. Drive motor vehicles
  11. Use ladders, step stools
  12. Work shifts
  13. Tolerate high job stress (e.g., deadlines, unstructured demands, high work volume)
  14. Make accurate judgments and assessments of patients and/or others
  15. Push/pull heavy loads such as positioning patients/objects onto carts; pushing wheelchairs or large beds, x-ray machines, carts, etc.
  16. TB test, drug screen, background checks required
  17. Other: aggressive behaviors of supported individuals
  1. Exposure to chemical vapors (cleaning agents)
  2. Exposure to carcinogens i.e. cleaning agents
  3. Infection hazard (e.g., TB, hepatitis, HIV)
  4. Skin contact with solvents or other chemicals -- household cleaners
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