Direct Support Staff - Training Provided for Adults with Disabilities

Direct Support Staff - Paid Training Provided

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) is the primary point of service direct care worker responsible to support adults with disabilities of all ages to lead self-directed lives and contribute to their communities. The DSP is responsible to assure that quality supports and consistent services are provided to people with disabilities in their homes and communities. General responsibilities include coaching and counseling; assisting with social, recreational, and educational activities; providing medical, nutritional, and behavioral support; including but not limited to lifting, walking with, transferring, and transporting individuals.

Benefits We Offer

• Meaningful, Life Changing Careers
• Enhanced Compensation for Weekends
• Competitive Pay (starting @ $18.45/hr., potential for $19.45/hr. after 90 days)
• Enhanced Compensation for Holidays
• Pleasant, Supportive Atmosphere in a Casual Work Environment
• Employee Paid Time Off
• Employee Medical Health Benefits 100% Employer Paid for Worker
• Dependent Medical Health Benefits 50% Employer Paid for Dependents
• Enhanced Compensation for FT Employees who waive Medical Benefits
• Salary Based Life Insurance
• Health Savings Account Plans HSA
• Supplemental Benefit Plans
• 401(k) Employee Retirement Plans
• Employee Referral Incentive Plan
• Opportunities for Overtime

About Our Mission

GIL "Grounded In Love" Foundation Inc. is a private nonprofit organization celebrating 35 years of compassionate care and services for community residents with Intellectual Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities, and Autism in Connecticut. Our Values & Beliefs describe the kind of organization GIL is and also helps identify the kind of people who will fit our culture. If you want to know more about what it's like to work here, check us out at

What We are Looking for in a Direct Support Professional

Experienced DSPs are encouraged to apply; however, we will also train the right people who fit this culture. We are seeking a friendly, helpful, and compassionate person, who is genuinely caring, will prioritize others over themselves, and can align with the following essential traits of outstanding Direct Support Professionals:

1. Someone who has a desire to join a mission based organization; and is friendly, compassionate, and genuinely cares for and appreciates people.
2. Someone who can work with positivity in teams as well as independently.
3. Someone who is super reliable and has no difficulty showing up for work every day on time, even in inclement weather (typical to New England) in order to relieve other trained direct care workers on duty.
4. Someone who values integrity, who is honest, faithful, and trustworthy; and demonstrates a dedicated work ethic.
5. Someone who is kind, patient, and flexible; and also good at observing for other's needs, while listening to others, and promoting personal choice and expression.
6. Someone who is motivated and self-directed to follow assignments and take initiative when individuals need assistance and things need to be done.
7. Someone who can be flexible with your schedule and availability to work due to the nature of 24-hour care for individuals requiring high levels of support.
8. Someone who is coach-able, interested in personal development, eager to learn and willing to ask questions.

What a Direct Support Professional will be doing

• Providing consistent care and assistance for individuals with disabilities living in their own homes - often shared with other residents.
• Providing personal care and support which typically includes bathing, dressing, and full assistance with personal hygiene.
• Providing support and assistance which typically includes general housekeeping, laundry, cleaning, and simple household maintenance within a group home type setting.
• Assisting individuals with every aspect of daily living skills and activities, such as banking, recreational outings, grocery shopping, and general to-do responsibilities.
• Providing monitoring and support for safety for individuals with disabilities which typically involves following care plans, administering medications, and attending doctor visits.
• Providing your full focus and attention for the safety, support, and welfare of the individuals served by putting your personal cell phone away while on duty.
• Assisting with program strategies and recreation activities in the home and the community.
• Providing crisis management & intervention at times for medical needs, behaviors, and other daily support challenges.
• Supporting meal planning, cooking, and other preparations in accordance with dietary and nutritional guidelines.
• Assisting with money management, shopping, and purchasing for individual's personal needs and supplies.
• Providing safe transportation into the community which may include driving an oversize multi-passenger van. Training is provided and this does not require any commercial driver's license.
• Reading and understanding English in order to follow care guidelines, program plans and procedures, and complete required daily documentation.
• Investing a lot of time learning about the people you serve in order to better meet their support needs.
• Regularly completing required monthly and annual training in order to be better equipped for your job - while also maintaining specific competencies and compliance to regulations for all direct support workers.
• Participating in monthly staff meetings and contributing to a successful team process.
• Paying close attention to detail and being comfortable working with a computer, which is necessary to support our clientele's needs (training is provided).
• Providing for the safeguard & protection of individual's personal property, rights, and privacy.
• Performing various assignments and demands of a physical nature, which may include the lifting and transferring of heavy weight at times in excess of 100 pounds, with, or without the use of adaptive or mechanical equipment, or staff assistance.

The following certifications will need to be obtained and approved within company policy guidelines :

• State Medication Administration Certification (Group Home Workers Only)
• First Aid for Accidents
• CPR Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
• PMT Physical Management Techniques (Group Home Workers Only)

Full Time Positions Available : (typically 32-hours to 36-hours over 5-days per week) includes weekday (overnight and early hours), and weekend hours in a residential based home for Adults with Disabilities. Overtime is available.

Other Locations Available :

• Prospect, CT 06712
• Cheshire, CT 06410
• North Haven, CT 06473
• New Haven, CT 06512