DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL

Job Description

Job Description

❤️ Make a Difference Every DayDirect Support Professional (DSP)

???? Woodland Park, New Jersey
????  Department: 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.

Why Join Our Team????? 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

As a Direct Support Professional , you will:

• 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

 

QualificationsRequired

• 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.
• Standard rate: $17.15 per hour
• Weekend rate: $18.15 per hour
• Because the regularly scheduled shift is entirely on Saturday and Sunday, scheduled hours are paid at the $18.15 weekend rate .
• Work schedules may change based on program and business needs.
• Flexibility may be required for alternate hours, locations, training, meetings, emergencies, or additional coverage.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Ability to stand or work for six to eight hours during a shift.
• Ability to sit for approximately two to three hours during a shift.
• Ability to drive a company vehicle for approximately one to four hours during a shift when required.
• Ability to bend, reach, stand, stoop, twist, sit, and climb stairs.
• Ability to lift more than 50 pounds when required to perform essential duties.
• Ability to provide hands-on assistance to individuals as needed.
• Ability to safely operate vehicles, wheelchair lifts, adaptive equipment, telephones, computers, household appliances, and other assigned equipment after appropriate training.
• Ability to work in residential and community settings throughout New Jersey.
• Possible exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other workplace hazards associated with residential direct care.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

Employment Requirements

Employment is contingent upon successfully satisfying all requirements applicable to the position, which may include:

• Criminal background screening
• Child Abuse Record Information screening
• Central Registry screening
• Drug screening
• Driver’s license and motor vehicle record verification
• Completion of required orientation and training
• CPR and First Aid certification
• Medication-administration training
• Annual competency requirements
• Compliance with confidentiality and HIPAA requirements
• Compliance with safety, licensing, and regulatory requirements

???? Apply Today

Some jobs pay the bills.
Some jobs build careers.
This job changes lives.

If you are looking for meaningful weekend work where your compassion, dependability, and dedication can make a difference, we encourage you to apply today.

Join our team and become the reason someone has a better day.  

About Our Organization

Advancing Opportunities is part of the Inperium family of companies .

Employment for this position is administered through Apis Services, Inc.  

Equal Opportunity Employer

Apis Services, Inc., Inperium Inc., and their affiliates provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. This commitment extends to every phase and aspect of hiring and employment. 

Saturday & Sunday 7:00 AM-3:00 PM