Direct Support Professional

About the role

It takes a truly special person to be a great Direct Support Professional—you must be passionate about helping others, dedicated to protecting a person’s rights, and, most of all, willing to offer true, genuine friendship through good times, bad times, laughter, and shared experiences. Far too many developmentally disabled individuals are held back by the lack of a solid support system, and as a DSP, you can change that. DSPs should be strong, compassionate individuals dedicated to creating a better world for others, through both full-time and part-time positions available in our programs.

The Center for Family Support (CFS) mission is to provide support and assistance to individuals with developmental and related disabilities. We are the first agency in New Jersey and New York to achieve the Council on Quality and Leadership Certification (CQL), demonstrating our commitment and dedication to creating services that enhance and improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

Responsibilities

• Help the people we support to have meaningful lives by listening to their dreams and assisting them in learning skills to live the lives they choose.
• Help each individual communicate what is important to them and what is important for them.
• Involve individuals in activities that match their interests, gifts, and plans.
• Help individuals learn how to form and continue positive relationships within their community.
• Respect the rights of the people we support and teach them to advocate for themselves.
• Use the person-centered philosophy throughout the day, treating each moment as a teachable moment.
• Show a positive attitude toward work and others.
• Protect the health of the people you support, which may include administering medication, following doctor’s orders, attending medical appointments, and seeking emergency medical care when necessary.
• Collaborate with other team members in developing the service plan and carry out all assigned responsibilities.
• Protect the safety of the people you support by providing the level of supervision described in the person’s service plan and reporting any potentially dangerous situations to your supervisor.
• Follow all agency procedures regarding incident reporting and reporting possible abuse, and cooperate with agency and division staff during investigations and inspections.
• Maintain a polite and professional demeanor when interacting with others.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED equivalent required.
• Valid driver’s license preferred, depending on program needs.
• Some experience in healthcare or human services is a plus.

Pay

USD $18.43 per hour.