Group Home Direct Support Professional

About the role

We are seeking compassionate and dedicated full-time Direct Support Professionals to join our Group Home (CLA/6400) team in Bethlehem, PA Tuesday-Saturday. In this role, you will support and empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in both their homes and the community. Through hands-on care, meaningful daily engagement, and individualized support planning, you will play a critical role in enhancing residents' quality of life while fostering independence, dignity, and community connection.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality personal care to residents including grooming, health care, dietary needs, emotional and spiritual needs.
• Communicate clearly in writing any medical concerns and daily progress regarding residents.
• Promote outside activities and community contact for residents.
• Perform household and housekeeping duties as required, including shopping, meal planning, meal preparation, cleaning, laundry, snow removal, and other necessary tasks as assigned.
• Work with clients on Individual Service Plan (ISP) outcomes.
• Ensure familiarity with residents' backgrounds and, where possible, interactions with residents' families.

Requirements

The selected candidate must meet all qualifying and ongoing job criteria including background checks, physical examination, and a driving history record.

Driving requirements

• A valid US driver's license for at least two years, not including time with permit.
• No serious traffic convictions within the past three years (serious convictions include, but are not limited to, DUI, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, or three or more traffic violations and/or at-fault accidents within that period).
• Access to a reliable vehicle during work hours.
• Vehicle must have valid registration and inspection stickers.
• Valid auto insurance. You will be asked to provide proof that you are a covered driver on the policy.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Experience: One (1) year of direct care experience in the field of intellectual/developmental disabilities desired.

Skills and abilities

• Ability to demonstrate effective use of principles and methods of habilitation.
• Demonstrated effective use of behavior management and program planning principles.
• Ability to express ideas succinctly through observation and proper documentation.
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively interact with others with special needs.
• Ability to be compassionate and firm and use different communication styles as needed for verbal and nonverbal individuals.
• Proficiency in, or ability to learn and use, workplace applications, platforms and technologies.

Essential working conditions and physical demands

• Stand, sit or run by self, or provide proper care and supervision with an individual.
• Able to move and stay with an individual to keep them safe, both in home environment and community, both at near and far distances, even when an individual may struggle to meet identified expectations.
• Able to assist an individual who has fallen, regardless of weight or size.
• Walk, climb stairs by self, or to provide direct care ensuring individual's safety, or to complete household and community tasks.
• Perform household tasks or tasks within the community such as laundry, cleaning, completing meal routines, shopping or dining out and, at the same time, ensuring individual's safety and proper direct care and compliance with ISP.

Schedule and pay

• Full-time, 40 hours/week, Tuesday-Saturday.
• 2nd shift (3PM-11PM) and 3rd shift (11PM-7AM) positions available.
• Base rate starts at $17.50/hour with differential rates for certain shifts.
• Current differential: $1 extra per hour for the 3PM-11PM and 11PM-7AM shifts on Saturdays. Differential rates are available based on fluctuating needs.

Benefits

• Health & security: Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage, plus company-paid life insurance, disability protection and catastrophic sick leave. Access Services covers up to 88% of health premium with many employees paying less than $150/month.
• Time to recharge: Full-time employees start their first year earning up to nearly 6 weeks of paid time off (20+ PTO days plus 9 paid holidays), with even more time added as you grow your career with us.
• Invest in your future: 401(k) with company match, tuition reimbursement program, and access to college tuition discounts.
• Built into the job: Mileage & toll reimbursement.
• Support beyond work: Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with free, confidential resources for you and your family, including counseling and emotional support through in-person, telehealth and text therapy, and financial and legal guidance.
• Grow with us: Paid training, ongoing professional development, and opportunities to learn and advance across diverse roles and programs.