Direct Support Professional (Day Support)

About AJ Residence

AJ Residence provides person-centered supports for children, teens, and adults with developmental disabilities across day support, community-based services, and residential programs. Staff are expected to promote dignity, safety, independence, inclusion, and meaningful participation in daily life.

Position Summary

The DSP provides direct support to individuals receiving adult day support, children day support, Community Engagement, or Community Coaching as assigned. The DSP assists individuals with skill-building, communication, personal care, community access, safety, and participation in structured activities consistent with each person’s Individual Support Plan (ISP), behavior support plan, risk protocols, and program expectations. This position requires flexibility, professionalism, reliable attendance, and the ability to work with both adults and children based on program needs.

Essential Duties

1. Provide respectful, person-centered support to adults and children with developmental disabilities in center-based and community settings.

2. Support daily living, social, communication, safety, self-advocacy, and community participation skills according to each individual’s plan.

3. Assist with structured activities such as recreation, arts and crafts, sensory activities, group engagement, wellness activities, learning activities, and community integration.

4. Provide personal care support as needed, including toileting, hygiene, feeding or mealtime support, mobility assistance, and other ADL supports while maintaining dignity and privacy.

5. Use positive behavior supports, prompting, redirection, de-escalation, and reinforcement strategies consistent with individual plans and staff training.

6. Support Community Engagement and Community Coaching services by helping individuals participate safely in community activities, volunteer opportunities, errands, recreation, public transportation practice, and skill-building activities.

7. Provide safe transportation using a company vehicle when assigned, including boarding, seatbelt use, supervision, pick-up/drop-off procedures, emergency readiness, and community safety.

8. Follow health, medication, allergy, seizure, behavioral, dietary, mobility, and other risk protocols as trained and assigned.

9. Complete accurate and timely documentation, including attendance, daily notes, progress notes, transportation records, incident reports, and other required records.

10. Communicate professionally with supervisors, coworkers, families, guardians, support coordinators, and other team members while maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries.

11. Report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, rights violations, injuries, medication concerns, safety concerns, or serious incidents to management the same day.

Qualifications

1. High school diploma or equivalent required.

2. Experience supporting individuals with developmental disabilities, children, adults, behavioral needs, personal care needs, or community-based services preferred.

3. Ability to remain calm, patient, respectful, and professional during challenging situations.

4. Ability to read and follow ISPs, protocols, schedules, and written instructions.

5. Ability to write clear, accurate, and timely documentation.

6. Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record required for staff assigned to transportation or community duties.

7. Reliable attendance and flexibility to work across adult day support, children day support, Community Engagement, Community Coaching, and transportation assignments.

Required Trainings, Screenings, and Certifications

1. Required trainings and certifications must be current or completed within the required onboarding period, including CPR/AED and First Aid, medication administration if assigned, Human Rights, abuse and neglect prevention, person-centered practices, behavior support, emergency procedures, infection control, transportation safety, and documentation standards.

2. Must pass required criminal background check, DBHDS registry checks, CPS Central Registry search, TB screening, and DMV review if assigned to driving duties.

3. Annual DBHDS and company-required trainings must be maintained.

Pay: $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Application Question(s):

• Do you have at least one year of experience working as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) in an adult day support/day program serving individuals with developmental disabilities?
• Do you have a valid driver’s license and an acceptable driving record?
• Briefly describe your DSP experience and the types of documentation you have completed, such as daily notes, progress notes, incident reports, or ISP-related documentation.

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20