Direct Support Professional

Job Description

What You'll Do

As a Direct Support Professional you will deliver a range of hands-on supports to assist individuals with achieving the goals outlined in their ISP and maximizing opportunities for community infusion/natural supports. Must be willing to work flexible hours as needed and as determined by participant's schedules. You will attend to the daily needs of individuals on an individual basis as well as foster increased independence and self-determination through a person-centered approach. You will advocate for the rights and equality of participants and assist with self-advocacy, community integration, and identifying/establishing natural supports within their community.

Your Responsibilities Will Include:

• Implements and monitors participant ISP and employment plans, including, but not necessarily limited to, work readiness training, job preparation counseling, external education, vocational training referrals, and job placement.
• Provide support in community settings and connect participants to community resources and community members to facilitate community integration. Examples of these supports may include but are not limited to: teaching a participant how to use public transportation, transporting participant to work, assist a participant with navigating their new workplace, assisting a participant with opening a bank account, identifying recreational activities in the community which meet an individual's interests and encourages/fosters connecting with friends, developing new relationships, volunteering, and community memberships.
• Teach socialization skills and activities of daily living including but not limited to self-awareness and human development, menu planning, money management skills/budgeting; transportation and community orientation; individual skills; and utilization of community resources. Assist individuals with personal hygiene as needed to ensure that they present themselves in a culturally valued, image-enhancing way.
• Administer and document individual medications as prescribed by a physician in accordance with agency and program procedures.
• Record and appropriately utilize necessary data, daily progress notes, and complete all other ISP and program required documentation before the end of shift.
• Transport individuals to and from community activities, job development activities, job-related activities, and other activities as required.
• Provide opportunities for leisure time activities and foster independence in the choice and participation of those activities.
• Provide a supportive environment that includes opportunities for participants to determine personal preferences for daily schedules and routines.
• Ensure that all information regarding participants supported is maintained with the highest level of confidentiality, based on policies and procedures, within a manner based on dignity and respect to participants supported and regulations regarding participants' protected health information (HIPAA).
• Maintain knowledge of ongoing program issues and developments as well as informing the supervisor of program issues and concerns.
• Execute duties to reflect reasonable safety standards. Universal/standard precautions must be utilized, and training obtained in areas that constitute a risk.
• Participate in core training and maintain certification of required training as identified by ESRI including but not limited to CPR, First Aid, MAP, and Crisis Prevention Intervention.
• Provide crisis intervention and access emergency services as needed.
• Attends and actively participates in ISP meetings, supervision, and staff meetings and assure/maintains a person-centered approach.
• Ensure that participants we support are treated with dignity and respect in accordance with ESRI's Human Rights Policy.
• Implement all programs for participants, which may include physical activity such as lifting, running, swimming, etc.
• Maintain a high level of professionalism and function as an ambassador for Easterseals RI to act as an intermediary between employer, co-workers, and participants when necessary, and provide follow-up to the employer through phone calls and/or visits to the job site as needed.
• Ability to teach individuals on how to prepare for the workforce such as resume writing, cover letters and mock interviews

You're a great fit for this role if you have:

• High School diploma required; An Associates or Bachelor's degree in Social Work or related fields, such as psychology, vocational rehabilitation, or occupational rehabilitation from an accredited institution is preferred or one to two years related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of successfully working in a community setting with individuals with disabilities preferred.
• Must possess a safe, reliable, registered, insured, and inspected the vehicle to transport individuals as needed/required during assigned shift(s).
• Must be able to demonstrate competence in varied areas of training as identified by ESRI including but not limited to CPR, First Aid, behavior management, medication administration, and driving.

Compensation & Benefits

• Compensation
  • $21.12 Hourly
• Benefits
  • Health insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision)
  • Paid time off (Vacation, Sick Floating)
  • Retirement plan 403(b)
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • Commuter Benefits
  • Life/Accident insurance
  • Long-term Disability Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)

Who We Are

Easterseals Rhode Island provides services for individuals with IDD who are referred through the RI Bureau of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH) and the Office of Rehabilitative Services (ORS). Each participant has a comprehensive Individual Service Plan (ISP), which outlines their specific goals for participation in job preparation, employment, and community integration.


The Fedcap Group provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We are an EEO employer committed to diversity, M/F/D/V.