Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Position: Direct Support Professional (DSP) Compensation: $20.00+ based on experience

Dept: Residential Type: Non-exempt

Reports To: Residential Managers/ Residential Director Location: On Site

Company Overview:

Shrub Oak International School (SOIS) is a therapeutic day and residential school for autistic children, adolescents, and young adults with complex co-occurring conditions. Located in northern Westchester County, Shrub Oak offers unparalleled educational opportunities for autistic students in a family-centric, supportive environment. We offer a variety of programs to meet the needs of students across the spectrum, and our curriculum is based on the most advanced and successful evidence-based clinical and academic approaches in ASD education.

As a school, SOIS maintains a smoke-free environment to ensure the health and safety of our students, employees, and community. We are a residential school located on a scenic 127-acre campus which includes multiple buildings and a working farm for student programming. The work environment will include both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Who We Are:

SOIS is a community of dedicated professionals that work together to find meaning with and for our students. We strive to make every day memorable in positive ways, and to manage students’ difficulties as a team. We are accountable, timely, and show up whenever needed to support our students and each other.

We are guided day-to-day by our four core principles.

• We Care

• We are Innovative

• We are Collaborative

• We are Resourceful

Benefits: (check for FT, PT or All)

• Reduced Cost Meals every shift on site (All)

• Employee assistance program (EAP) (All)

• Insurance coverage: Health, vision, dental, life, supplemental and pet insurance (FT)

• Flexible spending account (FSA) (FT)

• Generous Paid time off (PTO) (FT)

• 401k w/company match (FT)

• Tuition/Professional development assistance (FT)

Who You Are:

• You have a passion for working with the autism population and ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff.

• You have strong written communication skills for documentation, progress notes, incident reports, and administrative tasks including proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, etc.).

• You have strong verbal communication skills to engage effectively with students, staff, and external contacts in a positive and professional manner to build relationships.

• You manage challenging behaviors and apply effective de ‑ escalation techniques in high ‑ stress situations.

• You have strong critical thinking and analytical skills along with resilience and composure, processing information efficiently, especially in crisis situations.

Job Responsibilities:

All Shifts:

• Facilitate daily care needs, department procedures, and programmatic outcomes for students.   

• Collaborate with departmental staff to ensure all students maintain a regular and appropriate schedule of events and daily living activities. 

• Support the individualized ITEP and other developmental goals for each student, collaborating with the ITEP team and documenting efforts and progress. 

• Build trusting relationships with students, understanding their unique needs, promoting a positive, inclusive environment by empowering self-advocacy, collaboration and independence.   

• Complete administrative tasks, including shift logs, maintenance requests, incident reports, and progress tracking.   

• Mentor and support students in developing life skills, advising them on a range of issues, collaborating with other departments as needed and consistently tracking concerns.   

• Serve as a resource for students and staff, guiding programs, activities, and academic support.   

• Transport students from day-to-day activities in a company vehicle may be required.

• Attend required meetings, training, and seminars as scheduled.   

Education Shifts:

• Facilitate students’ transition to and from classes.

• While in class, encourage student engagement with peers, teachers and academic work.

• Support any student in the room as directed by Head Teacher.

• Facilitate student breaks as needed.

Please note: This job description is not a comprehensive list of tasks or responsibilities. Specific assignments can change within the relevant field and training of your position, with or without notice.

Position Requirements:

• High school diploma/GED or equivalent required 

• 1 year of work experience in a high-volume/demanding customer service or human service position required 

• At least 3 years of work experience in a high-volume/demanding customer service or human service position preferred; special consideration given to those with EMT/EMS, CNA/HHA/PCA, or similar experience 

• Valid driver's license with the ability to pass a DMV driving abstract preferred; the ability to transport students in a company vehicle, may be required.

• Crisis management and de-escalation experience required 

• Experience handling aggressive clients/customers, assisting with hygiene and personal care activities preferred 

• Due to the nature of work in supporting our students, all job description list the physical requirements for that position

• Our campus consists of some paved areas but primarily consists of grass, gravel paths and parking lots. Additionally, many areas of our building are fully accessible, however, as a historic building some areas are only accessible by stairs.

• You must be able to ambulate around the campus, including hills, stairs, grass and gravel.

• Student Facing Positions:

• Must be able to react and move quickly during student crisis, both for the safety of the student and for the staff.

• Must be able to run across the campus and throughout the school to catch/monitor an eloping student, and/or to remove yourself from an unsafe situation.

• You must be able to pass TCIS (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Training for Schools).

• You must be able to bend, stretch, sit, stand, crouch or kneel for sustained periods of time if implementing a hold.

• Special Accommodations can be requested but will only be approved if the accommodation does not impact the ability to perform your position and it does not put yourself, a student, or any other staff member at risk of harm or injury.

Competencies:

• CPR/AED for children and adults

• First Aid for children and adults

• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Training for Schools (TCIS)

• Mandated Reporter Training

EEO Statement:

Shrub Oak is an equal employment opportunity employer. Shrub Oak International School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodation can be requested to enable individuals with disabilities to apply for a job or to perform the essentials functions of their job. Requests may be approved if the position/department/school/students will not be adversely affected. Please advise us if you require a reasonable accommodation.

Pay Range Based on Experience

Rate Tier Qualification

$20 1 0-2 years (receive a 50 cent boost for completing NADSP Micro-credential for Tier 1)

$21 2 3-5 years OR Complete NADSP Micro-credential for DSP 2

$22 3 6+ years OR Complete NADSP Micro-credential for DSP 3

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