Direct Support Professional - Behavioral Health

Company: Mainstream Living
Location: Des Moines
Posted on: April 23, 2025

Job Description:

SUMMARY OF POSITION

Mainstream Living provides services designed to enhance opportunities, create success and fulfill dreams. The purpose of this position is to provide services and supports in community settings to persons with mental and behavioral health needs. All personnel are expected to promote a safe and welcoming environment that inspires hope and supports members with their individual goals, aspirations and recovery.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Education: High School Diploma or Equivalency/HiSet/GED

Experience: Human Service Experience is preferred but not required.

Driving: This position requires possession of valid Driver's License, legal driving privileges and ability in the State of Iowa and qualification with Mainstream Living's underwriter as an insurable driver. Exceptions to this may be made for select shifts, e.g., overnight shifts.

Other Certification: n/a

Computer: Basic data entry skills required.

Post hire: Must demonstrate competencies to complete internal training, including training to pass medication.

General: All employees must work diligently to incorporate the spirit and intent of the Mainstream Living's mission, vision and values. This includes respectful communication to all others at all times. Employees must be able to establish a rapport and develop positive relationships with others while conducting themselves in line with the Mainstream Living's Code of Ethics. Employees must also: demonstrate consistent professional conduct and establish and maintain appropriate boundaries with others; take accountability for own work while demonstrating a willingness to accept responsibility and offer constructive recommendations; demonstrate dependability and flexibility when shift times or duties of the day change; apply common sense to carry out instructions furnished in written or oral form; and ensure that the best interest of the members are a top priority at all times.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This position is considered an essential health care worker position and in the event of an emergency may be required to work one-on-one with members to ensure their safety.

* Assure that action steps contained in the individual plan are carried out; Incorporate members' service plan into daily routine by providing support, supervision and encouragement according to their established rehabilitation and recovery goals.


* Assist in identifying, developing and facilitating opportunities that reflect the members' skills, needs, and interests.


* Work with member's interdisciplinary teams and attend staffings as needed. (In SCL program: schedule and attend interdisciplinary team meetings. Develop, write, implement and update individual service plans, assessments, behavior support plans, individual goals and social histories)


* Schedule, attend and complete documentation for member appointments as assigned.


* Identify, monitor, and educate on physical or environmental barriers and hazards in members' environment. Correct hazards as outlined by program protocols.


* In site settings, maintain a clean environment by facilitating and completing tasks required to maintain a clean and safe living environment, including deep cleaning, home upkeep, and light maintenance tasks.


* Meet member nutritional needs as outlined in member supervision plan, including facilitating or completion of following menu, food portion and meal preparation.


* Respectfully communicate, maintaining professional boundaries, with members in a manner appropriate to each individual member.


* Honor members' rights, including but not limited to choice about their day to day activities, privacy and confidentiality.


* Complete member service documentation in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner required to meet billing and productivity requirements.


* Greet visitors, member families and other individuals from the community and communicate professionally as a positive representation of the organization.


* Provide instruction to the individual as needed to improve understanding of medications, therapeutic intent and adverse reactions.


* Notify supervisory and/or nursing personnel when a member is injured, experiences an adverse reaction to medications, or a health change or decline is observed.


* Link individuals to other support services as needed.


* Contribute to a non judgemental, value neutral culture where each individual, member or coworker, are treated with respect and active inclusion.



Adherence to Policies and Procedures:

All employees will adhere to Mainstream Living's policies and procedures including but not limited to:

* Personnel Policies and Policy manuals.


* Attendance is an essential duty. Attend and work shifts as scheduled. Adhere to Mainstream Living's Attendance Policies for time off, on-call and attendance to training/staff meetings.


* Follow documentation procedures to include accurate, honest and timely completion.


* Follow health and safety practices per Mainstream Living's policies including, medication administration, participation in emergency procedures, drills, proper infection control, accident/injury prevention, etc.


* Follow vehicle policies for safe operation of Mainstream Living's vehicles and safe transport of members/others if in driving position.


* Keep supervisor informed of critical and non-routine events. Communication is constructive, effective, and timely.



WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to enable employees with a disability to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands: While performing this job, employees must be able to meet the physical demands required to complete essential functions of this position and meet member needs in their home environment. Employees will be required to lift 15-25 pounds on a frequent basis. Depending on member needs and in some work locations, employees may be required to assist with ambulation, lifting and transferring of members, generally with the use of adaptive equipment such as gait belts, walkers, wheelchairs, mechanical lifts, etc. Thus, there may be times the employee must lift up to 50lbs and rarely up to 100lbs if working in sites with members requiring ambulation assistance.

OSHA CLASSIFICATION

This position is considered a Classification I in regard to jobs in which required tasks routinely involve a potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood, body fluids, tissues or potential spills or splashes. Additionally, there is possible exposure to cleaning chemicals. Use of appropriate measures is required for every health care provider.

Keywords: Mainstream Living, West Des Moines , Direct Support Professional - Behavioral Health, Healthcare , Des Moines, Iowa