Direct Support Professional

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Direct Support Professional (DSP) – Private Home Setting

Monday–Thursday | 3:00 PM–8:00/9:00 PM | Opportunity for Additional Hours

We are looking for a compassionate, dependable Direct Support Professional (DSP) to join a small, supportive team working with two adults with autism in a private home setting.

This is a unique, relationship-based position. It is not a large group-home or facility environment. We are looking for someone who values kindness, patience, flexibility, consistency, and treating others with dignity and respect.

The ideal person is nurturing, emotionally steady, dependable, and comfortable taking a supportive leadership role. Maturity, sound judgment, common sense, and real-world life experience are especially valuable in this position.

About the Role

The individuals we support are largely independent with their personal care but have autism and complex support needs that can significantly affect executive functioning, impulse control, emotional regulation, judgment, and decision-making. Because of these vulnerabilities, this position involves much more than companionship or supervision.

A large part of the role is teaching, coaching, mentoring, prompting, and providing appropriate direction. Staff help individuals slow down and work through decisions, understand consequences, develop problem-solving and everyday life skills, follow healthy routines, and build independence wherever possible.

The right person understands how to recognize when someone can successfully make a choice independently and when additional guidance, structure, redirection, or assistance is needed to maintain health, safety, and well-being.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who can be warm and nurturing while also confident enough to provide structure and direction. This position may be an excellent fit for someone who:

• Is naturally nurturing, patient, encouraging, and emotionally grounded.
• Has strong common sense and sound judgment.
• Enjoys teaching and helping others develop everyday life skills.
• Can provide clear direction without being controlling or condescending.
• Can remain calm when someone is anxious, frustrated, impulsive, or overwhelmed.
• Recognizes potential safety concerns and knows when additional guidance or intervention is needed.
• Understands the importance of consistency and healthy professional boundaries.
• Can create a warm, positive, structured environment while respecting that this is the individuals' home.
• Is flexible and able to adjust when plans or needs change.
• Enjoys being active in the community and helping others experience a full and meaningful life.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 support throughout daily routines.
• Provide guidance and structure around everyday decisions and responsibilities.
• Teach and reinforce independent living, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Help individuals slow down and think through impulsive decisions.
• Provide appropriate redirection when choices could compromise health, safety, or well-being.
• Encourage independence in areas where an individual has the ability to be successful.
• Support healthy coping and emotional regulation.
• Participate in community outings, recreational activities, volunteer opportunities, and appointments.
• Monitor for changes in health or seizure activity and follow established support and safety plans.
• Assist with simple meal preparation and light household tasks.
• Complete required daily documentation.
• Communicate important observations and changes with the team.
• Work collaboratively with family members and other support staff.

Personal Care: Personal care needs are minimal. Most support involves teaching, prompting, coaching, supervision, encouragement, structure, and helping maintain healthy daily routines. Occasional assistance with personal care may be needed.

Schedule & Additional Hours

The current regular schedule is Monday through Thursday, approximately 3:00 PM–8:00/9:00 PM.

There is an opportunity to flex up and pick up additional hours when other team members are on vacation, ill, or otherwise unavailable. Occasional overnight coverage may also become available when regular overnight staff is away. Overnight shifts are not routinely required for this position.

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Requirements:

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Dependable, flexible, patient, and professional.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries in a close, relationship-based environment.
• Ability to follow established support and safety plans.
• Must pass a DHS NetStudy 2.0 background study.

Experience

Previous experience as a DSP, PCA, IHS, ICLS, HCBS caregiver, educator, mentor, or behavioral support professional is welcomed. However, formal caregiving experience isn't the only experience we value. Candidates with strong life experience, maturity, and a natural ability to guide and nurture others are encouraged to apply. Training will be provided to the right person.