Direct Care Worker

General Summary:

Under the direction of the Supervisor, Crisis Residential Unit, the Direct Care Worker supports the individual goals of the person served and helps them become integrated into his/her community in the least restrictive manner. May assist in areas of activities of daily living, communication, cognitions, and health management. The Direct Care Worker works meets with consumers to appropriately engage, inspire, and facilitate meaningful conversations with to help them to identify interests, needs, strengths, goals, dreams, and aspirations while offering encouragement and empowerment through shared experience to enhance their recovery and resilience.

Essential functions:

• Provides a welcoming, calm, courteous presence.
• Responsible for the care and welfare of all consumers in residence.
• Coordinates and maintains residents' schedules and activities.
• Establishes collaborative relationships built on trust and empathy through consistent and meaningful communication.
• Responds to individuals in crisis with high level engagement and de-escalation skills which support a least restrictive environment for individuals experiencing an emergency related to a mental health challenge.
• Supports crisis prevention, intervention, and resolution.
• Monitors and ensures safety 24/7; this may be eyes on, one-on-one, 15- or 30-minute checks, etc.
• Passes medications and enters documentation per procedure into the Medication Administration section of the electronic medical record (EMR - LEO is LifeWays' EMR).
• Monitors consumers to ensure they take their medications and contact medical staff immediately if any side effects or negative reactions are noted.
• Helps person served with activities of daily living to include (but not limited to): get to and from places, dressed/undressed, bathe/shower, comb hair, trim nails, restroom assistance, and cooking.
• Assists person served to identify and/or participate in social activities (in-house), leisure interest and therapeutic activities.
• Demonstrates an ability to implement agency and consumer specific emergency procedures and interventions.
• Implements interventions as trained and outlined in the Individual Plan of Service (IPOS) and that are within scope of practice.
• Facilitates groups (didactic, psycho-educational, Whole Health Action Management (WHAM), etc.).
• Documents shift reports, incident reports, chart, and progress notes.
• Reviews social determinants of health (SDOH) and makes appropriate referrals to address needs and eliminate social barriers to recovery.
• Provides support to consumers and their affected family members to navigate the mental health system and help the consumer build natural and family support.
• Encourages consumers to develop coping skills and build and maintain community living skills as well as access community resources.
• Supports consumers to find and retain employment, education, volunteer work and meaningful activities that promote purpose and engagement in the community.
• Works as a part of a team that includes clinicians, RNs, psychiatrists, etc.
• Asks facilitative questions to help consumers gain insight into their own personal situations.
• Empowers consumers to find solutions for problems and concerns they are facing.
• Provides structure and support to promote personal progress and accountability.
• Actively participates in multidisciplinary team meetings and treatment planning meetings.
• Maintains regular and predictable attendance.
• Assists Mobile Crisis Team as needed.
• Must be able to safely perform all aspects of the Safety Care crisis intervention model, which includes therapeutic de-escalation skills, as well as therapeutic holds

Required Education:

• Has High school diploma or equivalent.
• Is at least 18 years of age.
• Must possess a valid U.S. motor vehicle operator's license, and successfully complete motor vehicle record check.
• Upon hire must:
  • Become certified in First Aid and CPR with AED
  • Become certified in agency approved de-escalation model (CPI, QBS, etc.)

Preferred Education:

• Certified Nurse Aide or Certified Medical Assistant
• Associate's degree