Awake Overnight RBT/Autism Support Staff

Job Description

Job Description

Awake Overnight RBT / Direct Support Staff

Specialized Relationship-Based Support for an Individual with Autism

Location: East County San Diego, California
Full-Time & Part-Time Positions Available
$33–$36/hour, depending on experience and qualifications
Awake Overnight | RBT | RDI-Informed

About the Position

We are seeking a calm, dependable, compassionate, and experienced RBT/Direct Support professional to provide awake overnight support to an individual with Level 3 autism and intellectual disability in a residential setting.

This is a specialized position supporting an individual with moderate to high support and behavioral needs , including significant anxiety, dysregulation, and PDA-type behaviors.

The ideal candidate will be comfortable working independently overnight, remain alert and attentive throughout the shift, recognize changes in behavior or emotional state, and respond calmly and appropriately when support is needed.

This is more than a traditional overnight caregiving position. We are looking for someone who is relational, observant, emotionally mature, and motivated to develop specialized skills in autism support, emotional regulation, trauma-informed care, and Relationship Development Intervention (RDI).

What You Will Do

Provide Awake Overnight Support

· Remain awake, alert, and available throughout the scheduled overnight shift.

· Provide individualized support based on the individual’s needs, routines, communication style, and established support plans.

· Monitor for changes in behavior, mood, anxiety, or regulation and respond appropriately.

· Maintain a calm, safe, and predictable environment.

· Provide hands-on assistance when needed.

· Follow individualized behavioral, communication, safety, and support guidelines.

· Complete required documentation and communicate important observations to the House Manager/support team.

Support During Challenging Moments

· Remain calm and regulated when the individual becomes anxious, distressed, or dysregulated.

· Recognize that behavior may communicate anxiety, overwhelm, sensory needs, or other unmet needs.

· Use non-confrontational, individualized strategies.

· Avoid unnecessary demands and power struggles.

· Follow established behavioral and safety plans.

· Prioritize safety, dignity, emotional connection, and understanding rather than simply seeking compliance.

Relationship-Based Support

· Develop a trusting and respectful relationship through consistency and genuine connection.

· Learn the individual’s unique communication style, preferences, interests, and needs.

· Recognize subtle cues indicating comfort, discomfort, anxiety, or a need for space.

· Use RDI-informed strategies as appropriate to support communication, connection, flexibility, and independence.

Learn & Collaborate

· Participate in individualized training and ongoing coaching.

· Participate in RDI training and develop competency in relationship-based support.

· Be open to feedback and willing to continually refine your approach.

· Communicate observations and concerns to House Managers, family, and other members of the support team.

· Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries.

The Right Person for This Role

We are looking for someone who is:

· RBT certified and experienced working with individuals with autism.

· Calm, patient, compassionate, and emotionally mature.

· Reliable and dependable , particularly regarding overnight coverage.

· Comfortable working independently and making thoughtful decisions.

· Able to remain calm when another person is anxious or dysregulated.

· Comfortable supporting moderate to high behavioral needs .

· Observant and able to recognize subtle changes in behavior and communication.

· Respectful of neurodiversity and individual differences.

· Comfortable with a relationship-based rather than compliance-based approach .

· Playful, flexible, creative, and curious when appropriate.

· Willing to receive training, feedback, and coaching.

· Interested in developing specialized knowledge in autism, RDI, PDA, trauma-informed care, and emotional regulation.

· Able to work collaboratively with a larger support team.

Required & Preferred Experience

Required:

· Current RBT certification .

· Experience working with individuals with autism and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities.

· Experience or comfort supporting individuals with significant behavioral or emotional regulation needs.

· Ability to remain awake, alert, and attentive throughout overnight shifts.

· Ability to follow individualized support and safety plans.

· Reliable transportation.

· Ability to successfully complete required background checks and employment screening.

Strongly Preferred:

· Experience with moderate to high behavioral support needs.

· Experience with PDA or PDA-type demand avoidance.

· Experience with positive behavior support and de-escalation.

· Experience with trauma-informed care.

· Experience with residential/direct support services.

· Familiarity with Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) .

· Experience with AAC or alternative communication approaches.

RDI experience is a plus, but not required. Willingness to learn RDI and incorporate relationship-based principles into daily support is essential.

What Makes This Position Different?

This is not simply an overnight monitoring or task-oriented caregiving position .

The goal is to provide thoughtful, individualized support that helps the individual experience safety, emotional regulation, dignity, connection, and growing independence .

We are looking for someone who understands that effective support begins with knowing the person , recognizing behavior as communication, and responding with patience rather than simply trying to achieve compliance.

You will receive individualized training regarding the person’s communication, support needs, behavioral patterns, and effective strategies, including training in Relationship Development Intervention (RDI).

Compensation & Schedule

$33–$36/hour , depending on experience and qualifications.

Full-time and part-time awake overnight positions are available.

Specific days and hours will be determined based on the individual’s needs and the staffing schedule. Reliability and consistency are especially important for overnight coverage.

Location: East County San Diego, California

To Apply

Please submit a resume and a brief description of your experience working with individuals with autism, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and/or moderate to high support needs.

Please include your RBT certification status and any experience working awake overnight shifts.