Direct Support Staff

About the Role

Under the direction of the ADS Program Manager and individual support plans, the Direct Support Staff provides hands-on support to individuals with severe disabilities, including developmental and behavioral issues. This position focuses on self-help skills, social skills, employment skills training, and behavior modification within a rehabilitative program.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision, vocational, prevocational, and employment training, including production skills, work ethic, social skills, life skills, and personal grooming for the workplace and community.
• Train and reinforce specific tasks such as production work, life skills, and individual program goals.
• Accurately record and submit incident reports and case notes per established procedures.
• Maintain age-appropriate and active treatment for assigned client-trainees.
• Demonstrate respect for client-trainee dignity, human rights, and confidentiality policies.
• Observe, record, and collect data on client-trainee progress, contract work counts, and submit data in a timely manner.
• Maintain daily cleanliness, orderliness, and upkeep of work areas and training materials.
• Report any inappropriate staff behavior toward client-trainees immediately.
• Assist client-trainees in improving or eliminating inappropriate behaviors.
• Complete daily tracking sheets for assigned client-trainees, including code, unit, rate, productivity, wages, and hours.
• Participate in job-related training to enhance skills.
• Present a professional and positive image to client-trainees, co-workers, parents, and industry professionals.
• Show initiative and seek clarification when needed.
• Perform other program-related duties as assigned by the ADS Program Manager or President/CEO.

Requirements

• Minimum of six months of experience in a related field or equivalent life experience.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work with individuals who have severe, profound, and/or multiple disabilities.
• Willingness to learn and actively engage in progressive services for people with disabilities.
• Ability to write accurate client-trainee information, incident reports, case notes, and production data.
• Initiative and creativity in working with clients.
• Ability to read and understand client information, instructions, case notes, and manuals.
• Ability to perform physical and verbal interventions, including blocking or redirecting client-trainees during behavioral incidents.
• Ability to assist client-trainees with toileting activities, including physical assistance on/off the toilet.
• Ability to obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid Certification (within 30 days of employment).
• Ability to perform CPR and First Aid.
• Ability to visually observe and hear client-trainees.
• Ability to physically assist client-trainees in/out of vehicles, chairs, wheelchairs, or other assistive devices.
• For staff who drive ESN vehicles:
  • Ability to drive passenger vans, including 15-passenger and handicap-accessible vans.
  • Current Nevada driver’s license and a good driving record.

Work Environment

Ability to work outdoors in Las Vegas area weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, wind, poor air quality, and wet or humid conditions.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to stand, use hands to handle objects/tools, talk, hear, and reach with hands.
• Frequently required to lift arms above and below shoulder level.
• Occasionally required to sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Must be able to lift and/or move up to 5 pounds regularly, up to 25 pounds occasionally, and up to 50 pounds on a regular basis (assistance may be requested if needed).
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision.