DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL

Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Woodland Park, New Jersey Residential Service Line: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Part-Time | Saturday and Sunday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. $17.15 per hour | $18.15 per hour on weekends DailyPay Available

Looking for More Than Just a Job?

At Advancing Opportunities, we believe every person deserves the opportunity to live a meaningful, fulfilling, and independent life.

We are seeking a compassionate and dependable Direct Support Professional who wants to do more than earn a paycheck. In this role, you will provide hands-on assistance to individuals with intellectual, developmental, and behavioral health needs, helping them build skills, participate in their communities, and achieve greater independence.

Whether you are beginning your career, changing professions, or bringing previous human services experience, this position offers an opportunity to perform meaningful work as part of a supportive, mission-driven team.

About Advancing Opportunities

Advancing Opportunities provides residential and community-based support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Our employees help individuals strengthen daily living skills, pursue personal goals, build meaningful relationships, and participate more fully in their communities.

Every day, our team members promote dignity, respect, inclusion, personal choice, safety, and independence while helping individuals live their best lives.

Competitive Pay and Benefits

• $18.15 per hour for all regularly scheduled weekend hours
• DailyPay access to earned wages before payday
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness programs
• Employee referral bonuses
• Company-paid training
• Benefits eligibility based on position status and applicable plan requirements

Career Growth and Development

• Paid training programs
• Professional development opportunities
• Certification opportunities
• Career advancement opportunities
• Experience in residential and community-based services
• Opportunities across multiple service lines

Meaningful Work That Matters

• Make a difference every day
• Help individuals achieve greater independence
• Support individuals and their families
• Build meaningful relationships
• Strengthen communities
• Join a mission-driven organization

Position Summary

The Direct Support Professional, or DSP, is a member of the clinical team who provides compassionate care and hands-on assistance to individuals with intellectual, developmental, and behavioral health needs.

Working collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team, the DSP helps meet each individual's environmental, physical, psychosocial, and personal needs. The DSP provides the support necessary to help individuals live as independently as possible while protecting their health, wellness, dignity, privacy, and safety.

This position supports the mission of the organization by promoting a culture of compassion, hope, service, respect, and collaboration.

Reports to: Residential Manager FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

What You'll Do

• Assist individuals with activities of daily living, including personal hygiene, grooming, meal preparation, housekeeping, laundry, shopping, and household maintenance.
• Provide person-centered support that promotes independence, personal choice, dignity, privacy, and quality of life.
• Help individuals develop daily living, social, communication, safety, and community participation skills.
• Encourage individuals to identify and pursue personal goals and reach their fullest potential.
• Support individuals in developing relationships and becoming involved in their communities.
• Create and maintain a safe, respectful, trauma-informed, and supportive residential environment.
• Provide supervision and guidance based on each individual's Individualized Service Plan, behavior support plan, and identified needs.
• Transport and accompany individuals to medical appointments, day programs, community activities, recreational outings, religious services, family visits, and other approved destinations.
• Follow all motor vehicle laws and organizational transportation procedures.
• Administer or assist with medications after completing required training and according to established policies and procedures.
• Implement prescribed healthcare, behavioral, and habilitation programs.
• Teach skills using the methods and materials identified in individual service or habilitation plans.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to emergencies, behavioral concerns, crises, or potential crisis situations.
• Remain calm and use approved techniques when responding to stressful or emergency situations.
• Report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment according to organizational policies and applicable requirements.
• Maintain the confidentiality of individual information and records.
• Complete required documentation accurately and on time.
• Record services and information in medication logs, daily logs, goal logs, incident reports, sleep and awake charts, weight charts, bowel movement charts, fire drill logs, seizure logs, behavior-plan documentation, vehicle logs, gas receipts, and consumer-fund records as applicable.
• Assist with maintaining individual and program files, tracking service-plan goals, monitoring progress, and preparing reports.
• Document hours worked accurately through the designated timekeeping system.
• Work with the Lead DSP and Residential Manager to ensure that individuals' needs are addressed according to their service plans.
• Assist the Residential Manager with assessments, licensing activities, special projects, inspections, investigations, and emergency or on-call needs when requested.
• Participate in scheduled home and office staff meetings.
• Complete required pre-service, in-service, competency-based, and annual training.
• Follow organizational policies, Division of Developmental Disabilities requirements, licensing standards, fire and safety procedures, OSHA requirements, and HIPAA requirements.
• Cooperate with authorized agency and Department of Human Services representatives during inspections, inquiries, or investigations.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Residential Manager, Lead DSP, or supervisor.

Who We're Looking For

You may be a great fit if you are:

Compassionate and respectful Dependable and accountable Patient and service-focused Comfortable providing hands-on assistance Committed to dignity, privacy, and personal choice Able to remain calm during challenging situations Organized and attentive to detail A clear and professional communicator Able to work independently with minimal supervision A collaborative and supportive team member Committed to helping others achieve their goals

Qualifications

Required

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent certificate.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Valid driver's license and a driving record that meets organizational requirements.
• Current vehicle registration and insurance when use of a personal vehicle is required.
• Ability to read, write, communicate, and complete required documentation in English.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office, email, electronic timekeeping, and related applications.
• Strong judgment, problem-solving, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to supervise or assist individuals receiving residential services.
• Ability to respond calmly and appropriately to crises, emergencies, criticism, and high-stress situations.
• Ability to recognize, respond to, and report health, safety, and security concerns.
• Ability to complete and maintain all required training, including CPR and First Aid.
• Ability to satisfy all applicable pre-employment and ongoing screening requirements, including criminal background, CARI, Central Registry, and drug screening requirements.
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position.

Preferred

• Associate or bachelor's degree.
• Six months to one year of direct experience working with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
• Previous experience in a human services, residential, behavioral health, or community-based setting.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and trauma-informed environments.
• Experience implementing individual service plans or behavioral support plans.
• Experience completing medication, service, behavioral, safety, or incident documentation.

Schedule

• Part-Time
• Saturday and Sunday
• 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m