DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL A, RESIDENTIAL - CHARLOTTESVILLE (FULL TIME)

About the role

The incumbent serves as a Direct Support Professional I in a Region Ten residential program for adults with developmental disabilities, maintaining safe conditions for participants and providing specific training, supervision, and assistance services while documenting as directed. The role reports to the Residential Program Manager, On‑call Manager, and/or Residential Director. Work is performed independently under standard practices, with questionable situations referred to a supervisor; shift and site supervision is provided by a Senior DSP/Program Manager. The employee analyzes facts and determines actions using a wide range of procedures within the limits of standard practice. As an employee of the Center for Adult Developmental Services, the incumbent may be asked to work at any location as needed by various programs and is expected to adhere to applicable professional ethics, state quality assurance standards, Medicaid waiver regulations, and Region Ten policies. Position location: 500 Old Lynchburg Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903.

Responsibilities

• Maintain safe conditions for program participants/residents.
• Provide specific training, supervision, and assistance services.
• Document activities and observations as directed.
• Respond to behavioral and medical emergencies.
• Navigate stairs and ambulate quickly in home and community settings.
• Physically assist individuals with wheelchair transfers, requiring lifting.
• Assist with personal care and hygiene tasks.
• Perform all duties including physical assistance and support.
• Supervise and organize residents and household schedule during solo shifts.
• Communicate “PRN” information to other staff and shifts regarding resident needs.
• Accurately describe and record data and observations.
• Implement behavioral programs and instructional formats systematically.
• Counsel verbal and non‑verbal persons.
• Recognize and respond to medical emergencies.
• Facilitate community integration.
• Use personal computers and keyboarding skills.
• Access community resources.
• Apply non‑aversive techniques to manage behavior problems.
• De‑escalate and manage aggressive persons.
• Drive defensively and meet physical demands, including lifting consumers who need assistance and using assistive devices.
• Support consumers to attain mobility goals.
• Maintain energy, stamina, and mobility to meet community integration and domestic skills training needs.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma or GED equivalent required.
• Experience: Two years’ experience in a human service field preferred.
• Certification/License: Must hold a current valid Virginia Driver’s License (non‑expired, not suspended, not restricted); provide proof of insurance on personal vehicle (employee listed as covered driver); maintain an acceptable driving record (certain convictions disqualify).
• Knowledge of: characteristics of developmental disabilities (intellectual disability, autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy); first aid; CPR; medication management; emergency procedures; counseling techniques with verbal and non‑verbal persons; teaching techniques, prompting, breaking down information, chaining steps; documentation of different skills; procedures for preventing, diffusing, and managing aggression; services available in Charlottesville for resources and back‑up for emergencies; standard residential operating procedures.
• Skills in: systematic implementation of behavioral programs and instructional formats; counseling verbal and non‑verbal persons; recognizing and responding to medical emergencies; supervising and organizing residents and household schedule during solo shifts; written and oral communication of “PRN” information to other staff and shifts regarding resident needs; accurately describing and recording data and observations; using non‑aversive techniques to manage behavior problems; facilitating community integration; personal computers and keyboarding; accessing community resources.
• Abilities to: make sound and safe decisions regarding behavior management, health needs, and emergencies; perform work assignments under little or no direct supervision; analyze needs of non‑verbal residents and respond appropriately; conduct domestic (daily living and self‑help skills training), community, and recreational skills training using least prompts, chaining, and various reinforcement schedules; de‑escalate and manage aggressive persons; drive defensively; meet physical demands including lifting consumers who need assistance and using assistive devices; support consumers to attain mobility goals; possess the energy, stamina, and mobility to meet community integration and domestic skills training needs.

Pay

Hourly salary range: $17.37 – $26.06 per hour (Grade 7).