Direct Support Professional - Make a Difference!
About The Position
The Direct Support Professional works in a community-based group home serving adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The role supports each Consumer’s goal of learning independence, guided by their Behavior Support Plan, and involves working with adolescents and their families within the special needs community. The position includes building rapport with adolescents, accompanying them to academic events, shopping, community activities, socialization opportunities, family reunification activities, and medical visits. Direct Support Professionals provide direction and positive reinforcement, use crisis de-escalation skills when needed, teach life skills, support recreational activities, assist with daily living skills, and help administer medication. Full-time and part-time positions are available, and employees must work at least one weekend shift per week.
Requirements
- Either a bachelor’s degree or a high school diploma (or equivalent) plus three years of experience working with children or adolescents.
- Valid driver’s license in good standing.
- Ability to work at least one weekend shift per week.
Responsibilities
- Relate to adolescents, understand their experiences, and build rapport.
- Attend and accompany adolescents to academic events, shopping, community integration, socialization activities, family reunification, and medical visits.
- Provide direction to help adolescents work toward changing their lives and becoming more independent.
- Use positive reinforcement and other techniques to support adolescents, and use crisis de-escalation skills when necessary.
- Teach life skills such as cooking, laundry, chores, and cleaning.
- Encourage and participate in outdoor and recreational activities, such as basketball, tennis, hiking, and bean bag toss.
- Lead by example and maintain a positive mindset.
- Assist youth with bathing, feeding, grooming, and other daily living skills.
- Assist with medication administration.
Benefits
- 3.2 weeks of PTO in the first year for full-time employees.
- Medical, vision, dental, and life insurance benefits for full-time employees, effective the first of the month following 30 days of employment.
- Nine agency-paid holidays for full-time employees.
- 403(b) employee participation and employer match.
- Tuition reimbursement after one year of employment.
- $2.00 per hour shift differential for hours worked from 11 p.m. Friday through 11 p.m. Sunday for full-time and part-time employees.
- Training opportunities throughout the year for full-time and part-time employees.
- Advancement opportunities.
- Employee Assistance Program.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
