Direct Support Professional

Make a Difference Every Day. Build a Career That Matters.

Serving clients throughout the Tacoma–Olympia area

Are you looking for work that has purpose—where you can see the difference you make every day?

Join our team as a Life Skills Instructor (Direct Support Professional/DSP) and help individuals with developmental disabilities build greater independence, reach personal goals, and live meaningful lives in their own homes and communities.

This is more than providing care. You are helping someone develop skills, gain confidence, make choices, participate in their community, and experience greater independence.

If you are compassionate, dependable, patient, and motivated to grow professionally, this can be the beginning of a rewarding career in human services.

Why This Work Matters

Every day brings an opportunity to make a meaningful difference.

As a Life Skills Instructor, you may help a client learn to prepare a meal independently, navigate a community outing, manage a household task, attend an appointment, develop social skills, or work toward a personal goal.

The progress may happen one small step at a time—but those steps can represent major milestones in a person's life.

You will become an important and trusted part of your clients' support team while helping them have more choice, independence, and control over their daily lives.

About the Role

Our Life Skills Instructors work in our Supported Living program, providing person-centered services to individuals with developmental disabilities in their homes and communities.

You will work directly with clients to support their individual goals and needs while promoting dignity, independence, and meaningful community participation.

Interviews and training are held in person at our Lakewood office. Client job sites are located throughout the Tacoma & Olympia area.

What You'll Do

• Provide direct, person-centered support based on each client's Individual Instruction and Support Plan (IISP)
• Assist clients in developing and maintaining daily living skills
• Support activities of daily living (ADLs), including personal hygiene, meal preparation, household tasks, and other areas of independence
• Help clients participate in community activities, outings, appointments, social events, and other meaningful experiences
• Encourage clients to make choices and work toward their personal goals
• Implement Positive Behavior Support Plans (PBSPs) and other behavior-support strategies as appropriate
• Administer medications in accordance with state regulations and company policies
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation in accordance with WAC and DDA requirements
• Communicate effectively with clients, families, coworkers, supervisors, and other members of the interdisciplinary team
• Advocate for client dignity, choice, rights, and independence
• Celebrate progress and help clients build skills that can increase their independence over time

Your Growth Matters, Too

We believe the people who support others should have opportunities to grow themselves.

This position can be an excellent starting point for building a long-term career in human services. As you gain experience, develop your leadership skills, and demonstrate your ability to support both clients and coworkers, you can pursue opportunities for increased responsibility and advancement into leadership and management roles.

You won't just be learning how to do a job—you'll be developing skills in:

• Leadership and team communication
• Client advocacy and person-centered planning
• Documentation and regulatory compliance
• Behavior support
• Staff mentoring and coaching
• Problem-solving and conflict resolution
• Coordinating services and supporting teams
• Human-services operations and management

We want to help motivated employees grow. If your long-term goal is to become a lead supervisor, coordinator, or manager, your experience as a Life Skills Instructor can provide a strong foundation.

What We're Looking For

You don't need years of experience to make a difference.

We are willing to train the right person who brings the right attitude, compassion, reliability, and willingness to learn.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required
• Experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities is preferred, but not required.
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Patient, compassionate, dependable, and professional
• Ability to work independently while also being an effective member of a team
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation
• Ability to pass a background check and meet applicable DDA employment requirements

What We Offer

• Competitive pay
• Paid training and ongoing professional development
• In-person training and support at our Lakewood office
• Career advancement opportunities
• Opportunities to develop leadership and management skills
• Supportive team environment
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Paid training
• Vision insurance

A Career With Purpose

If you want to go home at the end of the day knowing that your work mattered, this could be the opportunity you've been looking for.

You will have the chance to build relationships, develop valuable professional skills, and help the people we serve become more independent and connected to their communities.

Start as a Life Skills Instructor. Make an impact today. Build the skills to lead tomorrow.

Apply Today

If you're dependable, compassionate, ready to learn, and looking for a career where your work has a purpose, we'd love to hear from you.

Job Type: Full-time

Service Area: Tacoma to Olympia
Interviews & Training: Lakewood, WA
Client Job Sites: Tacoma, Lakewood, Lacey & Olympia

Pay: $21.00 - $22.00 per hour

Expected hours: 32.0 – 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Paid training
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $21 - $22