Direct Support Professional
About the job
- A Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
- With a Bachelor's degree, six to twelve months of full-time experience.
- Without a Bachelor's degree, six to eight years of full-time experience working with individuals receiving services for mental health, substance abuse, intellectual disability, or physical health conditions.
- Good interpersonal skills.
- Ability to communicate with verbal and nonverbal individuals.
- Teaching skills.
- Ability to provide nurturing attention and care to individuals with disabilities.
- Patience and empathy.
- Maturity and judgment.
- Ability to lift up to 100 pounds and frequently lift or carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
- At least 18 years of age.
- Valid driver's license.
- Proof of automobile liability insurance.
- Positive driving record.
- Ability to follow safety management policies and Joint Commission standards.
- Teach, model, and coach activities of daily living, including personal hygiene, housekeeping, meal preparation, money management, educational and vocational goal-setting, and nutrition needs.
- Monitor clients' performance of activities of daily living skills and provide therapeutic feedback.
- Teach psychoeducation classes on recovery, including medication side effects, activities of daily living, communication skills, and stress management strategies.
- Plan and facilitate community-based activities such as medical appointments, grocery shopping, leisure, recreation, and socialization.
- Facilitate access to community resources such as AA/NA meetings, school, and job placement.
- Practice verbal de-escalation and, when authorized, other behavior management techniques to contribute to a safe and therapeutic environment.
- Integrate clients into the community and educate community members about people with disabilities and the organization's services and programming.
- Collaborate with community systems on behalf of individuals served, including schools, landlords, families, transportation providers, and employers.
- Provide transportation using an organization van or personal vehicle while following driver certification, seat belt, and child safety seat requirements.
- Teach and facilitate use of public transportation systems.
- Provide personal care as needed, including personal hygiene, toileting, laundry, meal preparation, and safe eating techniques.
- Administer First Aid and CPR as needed.
- Supervise self-administered medication according to the applicable clinical program's protocols.
- Identify assigned clients' food and medication allergies and exercise reasonable care to avoid allergen exposure.
- Communicate care, treatment, and service information with staff members and, when authorized, non-organization providers.
- Take responsibility for specific program assignments, such as food programs or crisis stabilization unit admissions.
- Document services and care by completing attendance records, daily logs, shift or progress notes, incident reports, and time reports in accordance with organizational and regulatory standards.
- Maintain confidentiality of protected health information in accordance with organizational procedures and state and federal law.
- Assist with discharge planning as needed.
- Provide leadership to other direct support staff on the assigned shift.
- Assist with training other direct support staff as needed.
- Attend and participate in required staff and service planning meetings and trainings.
- Exercise principle-centered leadership focused on customer service responsiveness and continuous quality improvement.
About the company
Seven Counties Services provides mental and behavioral health care, substance use treatment, and services for intellectual and developmental disabilities across seven Kentucky counties. It operates a network of clinics and programs where trained professionals assess needs, provide therapy and psychiatric care, and coordinate supports for individuals and families in the community. The organization differentiates itself through its regional focus, large staff, broad service mix, and accreditation by The Joint Commission. Its goal is to help the community flourish, one life at a time.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
Grant
Total Funding
$250K
Headquarters
Jeffersontown, Kentucky
Founded
1978
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Metro Council funded $1.15 million for the Louisville crisis center buildout in 2025.
- David Pankotai became CEO in January 2024, giving the organization a fresh operator.
- Crisis-center momentum aligns with Louisville's 2026 'rally' response strategy and 988 demand.
What critics are saying
- The 2024 data breach settlement covers 132,609 people and costs up to $1 million.
- Seven Counties faces ongoing insurance litigation from Scottsdale and MHRRG over coverage for J.T.'s death.
- If Medicaid reimbursement slips, the crisis-center model loses funding and service expansion stalls.
What makes Seven Counties Services unique
- Seven Counties Services is Kentucky’s CCBHC across Jefferson, Oldham, Bullitt, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble, and Henry.
- Its 24/7 crisis line and 24-hour mobile crisis team create high-acuity community coverage.
- A Louisville crisis center opening September 2026 adds walk-in stabilization and referral capacity.
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Benefits
Flexible Work Hours
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
5%1 year growth
5%2 year growth
5%Netsmart honors clients driving innovation, AI adoption and measurable value at CONNECTIONS2026. Netsmart Media Contact: Natalie Caruso [email protected] 913.308.2080 Award recipients embody the new strategic chapter: Intelligent Platform. Your Community. Endless Possibilities. OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Sept. 16, 2026 - Netsmart, an industry-leading technology platform company with a suite of solutions and services for community-based care, today announced the recipients of the 2026 Healthcare IT (HIT) Value Model Awards at CONNECTIONS2026. The annual awards recognize organizations using augmented intelligence (AI), analytics, interoperability and optimized workflows to translate technology investments into measurable improvements in care delivery and enterprise operations. The Netsmart HIT Value Model provides a framework for healthcare organizations to benchmark digital maturity, strengthen technology utilization and identify opportunities to maximize value across their enterprise. Built around seven critical dimensions of technology, the model helps organizations evaluate current strengths and prioritize strategic investments. This year's recipients exemplify how healthcare leaders are moving beyond implementation to better support their workforces and achieve measurable transformation. "The organizations receiving the HIT Value Model Awards demonstrate how a strategic approach to technology can empower their teams and create meaningful value for the communities they serve," said Mike Valentine, CEO, Netsmart. "By leveraging the latest innovations like AI and automation, these organizations are turning data into more informed decisions and streamlining workflows to strengthen care delivery. Through the HIT Value Model, we can help clients measure the impact of those efforts and identify where their technology investments can deliver greater value." 2026 HIT Value Model Award recipients. Pinnacle Award. Seven Counties Services earned the HIT Value Model Pinnacle Award for demonstrating the highest standard of technology adoption and value realization through use of digital engagement tools, workforce enablement and enterprise-wide optimization. Enterprise excellence awards. LifeWorks NorthWest, MHMR of Tarrant County, Crosswinds and All Care were recognized for their strategic use of technology aimed to improve outcomes, enhance operational performance, strengthen engagement and drive measurable value across their organizations and the communities they serve. Collectively, these organizations demonstrate how intentional technology adoption, continuous improvement and innovation can help advance organizational excellence and create meaningful impact. The awards announcement coincides with the introduction of the new Netsmart strategic chapter: Intelligent Platform. Your Community. Endless Possibilities. The theme reflects the continued evolution of the CareFabric(R) platform, bringing embedded AI, data and workflows together to enable providers to make more informed decisions, better outcomes and stronger performance while keeping the unique needs of each community at the center. Through continued innovation and collaboration, Netsmart and its clients can transform service delivery, empower human potential and advance the broader healthcare landscape. CONNECTIONS2026 attendees are invited to learn more about leveraging advanced technology firsthand by visiting the Solutionarium or visit its website to learn how the HIT Value Model can help community-based providers meet changing demands, improve performance and support the delivery of high-quality care. About Netsmart Netsmart is an industry-leading healthcare technology organization empowering providers to deliver value-based care to the individuals and communities they serve. The Netsmart CareFabric(R) platform serves as a unified, connected framework of solutions and services for human services, post-acute, payer and public sector communities. Together with its clients and Marketplace vendors, nts T develop and deliver innovative technology, including electronic health records (EHRs), interoperability, analytics, augmented intelligence (AI), population health management and telehealth solutions and services that assist organizations in transforming the care they deliver. The result has helped make a positive impact on the lives of more than 165 million individuals. For more than 55 years, Netsmart has helped provider organizations in their efforts to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities nts T collectively serve. To learn more, visit ntst.com and connect with nts T on LinkedIn, Facebook or X. Communities.
Seven Counties Services is rolling out two mobile health units designed to bridge gaps in care across Jefferson and six surrounding counties, bringing life-saving services directly to those in need.
Seven Counties Services is recognized as a Certified Community Behavior Health Clinic whose main theme is to be an integrated health system treating the whole person by offering a full range of mental and behavioral health services, substance abuse treatment, intellectual and developmental disabilities services.
Seven Counties is proud to announce Eric Post, its Chief Finance Officer, has been honored with a "2023 Best in Finance" award by Louisville Business First!
Seven Counties Services on Monday announced that David Pankotai has been named the organization's next president and chief executive officer after an extensive nationwide search.