DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL

Direct Support Professional (DSP)

At Advancing Opportunities (AO), we believe every person deserves the opportunity to live a meaningful, fulfilling, and independent life. We are seeking compassionate, dedicated professionals who are looking for more than a paycheck. We are looking for individuals who want to make a difference, build rewarding careers, and become part of a team committed to helping others succeed.

Whether you are beginning your career, changing professions, or bringing previous experience, we provide the training, support, and opportunities needed to help you thrive.

Advancing Opportunities (AO) provides residential services and support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout New Jersey. Our employees play an important role in helping individuals achieve greater independence, confidence, and success while promoting dignity, respect, inclusion, safety, and personal choice. Every day, our team members make a meaningful impact by helping the people we support work toward their goals and live fulfilling lives.

Why Join Our Team?

Competitive Pay & Benefits

• Competitive compensation
• DailyPay, allowing access to earned wages before payday
• Employee referral bonuses
• Company-paid training

Career Growth & Development

• Paid training programs
• Professional development opportunities
• Certification opportunities
• Leadership development programs
• Career advancement opportunities
• Opportunities across multiple service lines

Meaningful Work That Matters

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

What You'll Do

As a Direct Support Professional, you will provide compassionate, person-centered care and assistance to individuals with intellectual, developmental, and behavioral health needs. Working with the residential and clinical teams, you will help individuals maintain their health and safety, increase their independence, and achieve the goals established in their individualized plans.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide overnight supervision and ensure the health, safety, and well-being of individuals residing in the home.
• Conduct required overnight monitoring and complete sleep and awake documentation accurately.
• Assist individuals with activities of daily living, including personal hygiene, meal preparation, housekeeping, cleaning, shopping, and home maintenance.
• Provide respectful, age-appropriate support that protects each individual's privacy, dignity, rights, and personal choices.
• Encourage independence and help individuals develop skills that enhance their quality of life.
• Support individuals in building relationships and participating in recreational, social, educational, religious, and community activities.
• Transport individuals to appointments, programs, community activities, family visits, and other approved destinations as assigned.
• Operate agency vehicles safely and follow all applicable motor vehicle laws and organizational transportation requirements.
• Provide supervision and assistance according to each individual's Individual Service Plan and Behavior Support Plan.
• Assist with the implementation and monitoring of individual goals and outcomes.
• Teach skills using the methods and materials outlined in each individual's service or habilitation plan.
• Implement behavioral programs and provide trauma-informed support in accordance with individualized plans.
• Build safe, supportive relationships and model hope, encouragement, and optimism.
• Recognize potential crisis situations and respond calmly and appropriately according to training, policies, and procedures.
• Carry out prescribed healthcare programs and administer medications in accordance with training and organizational requirements.
• Report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or mistreatment according to organizational policies and applicable reporting requirements.
• Complete all documentation accurately and on time, including daily logs, medication records, goal logs, incident reports, behavior documentation, seizure records, sleep and awake charts, weight charts, fire drill logs, vehicle logs, receipts, and consumer fund records.
• Maintain individual and program files and assist with progress monitoring and required reports.
• Protect confidential information and comply with HIPAA and organizational privacy requirements.
• Assist with residential licensing activities, inspections, inquiries, and investigations.
• Accurately record all hours worked through the designated HRIS timekeeping system.
• Attend required staff meetings, training programs, and competency-based training.
• Collaborate with the Lead DSP, Residential Manager, families, team members, and other service professionals to ensure each individual's needs are met.
• Assist with emergency situations, special projects, and other program needs as requested.
• Follow applicable organizational, Division of Developmental Disabilities, OSHA, fire and safety, personnel, and residential program requirements.
• 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 Dependable Patient Team-oriented Service-focused Professional Positive Respectful Safety-conscious Comfortable working overnight Committed to helping others

Qualifications

Required

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent certificate.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Valid driver's license and clean motor vehicle record.
• Current vehicle registration and insurance, as applicable.
• Ability to meet agency driving and vehicle-use requirements.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in reading, writing, and completing documentation in English.
• Basic computer literacy, including experience with Microsoft Office, email, electronic timekeeping, and related applications.
• Strong documentation, interpersonal, organizational, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
• Ability to complete records, reports, financial documentation, and basic mathematical calculations accurately.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to supervise and assist individuals receiving residential services.
• Ability to remain alert and attentive throughout an overnight shift.
• Ability to recognize crisis situations and respond in a calm, mature, and appropriate manner.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA requirements.
• Ability to complete all required training, including CPR and First Aid.
• Ability to satisfy required background checks, screenings, and clearances, which may include criminal history, drug screening, CARI, and Central Registry checks.
• Ability to perform the essential duties and physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Schedule flexibility based on program and operational needs.

Preferred

• Associate or bachelor's degree in human services or a related field.
• Six months to one year of direct experience working with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities or in a human services setting.
• Knowledge of intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and the creation of trauma-informed environments.
• Experience implementing behavior support plans.
• Medication administration experience.
• Previous residential or overnight direct-support experience.
• Familiarity with New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities requirements.

Schedule

• Part-Time
• Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-3:00 PM
• Working schedules are subject to change based on program and business needs.
• Flexibility with hours, evenings, weekends, emergencies, and work locations may be required.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to remain awake and attentive throughout the scheduled overnight shift.
• Ability to stand or work for six to eight hours, or for the duration of the scheduled shift.
• Ability to sit for approximately two to three hours during a shift.
• Ability to drive an agency vehicle for approximately one to four hours during a shift.
• Ability to bend, reach, stand, stoop, twist, climb stairs, and perform other physical movements throughout the work period.
• Ability to assist individuals with personal care, mobility, and activities of daily living.
• Ability to perform lifting duties involving more than 50 pounds when required for essential job responsibilities.
• Ability to operate or assist