Direct Support Professional Resume Sample

As a direct support professional, you’re committed to helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities function in their communities. But how well can you write a functional resume that conveys your key qualities, skills, and accomplishments? If you’re not sure, don’t get discouraged. Monster can show you how to put the same level of care into your direct support professional resume that you do into your patients’ lives and well-being.

For starters, it’s important to understand what employers look for in direct support professionals. Briefly describe what you’ve accomplished in your career as a direct support professional in your career summary. Then, follow up with a list of skills, such as client advocacy, caregiving, and care plan implementation.

The work history section of your direct support professional resume gives you space to provide details about how you applied your skills in each job. For each job you mention, provide a bullet-point list of duties and accomplishments. For example, you can describe how you assisted patients with everyday tasks. Lastly, list any certificates, licenses, or educational credential that are relevant to the job.

Now that you know what goes into creating a direct support professional resume, use Monster’s sample below as your guide to writing and formatting your resume.

Direct Support Professional Resume

Charlene Leandro

(555) 555-5555 | charlene.leandro@email.com | New York City, NY | LinkedIn.com/in/charlene.leandro

Direct Support Professional

Experienced caregiver and patient advocate who provides the guidance, support, and resources needed for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to build independence and realize their full potential. Liaise between clients and community members, helping individuals integrate and engage fully in their communities for improved quality of life.

Areas of Expertise

Caregiving Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Care Plan Implementation

HIPAA Regulations Community Engagement Documentation & Reporting

Client Advocacy Health & Wellness Initiatives Relationship Building

Professional Experience

Direct Support Professional II | COMPANY ONE | 20XX – Present

• Partner with case manager to establish, implement, and maintain goals, reports, records, behavioral support plans, and schedules.
• Develop curriculum and activities aligned with the person-centered service model, adjusting and customizing to meet the unique support needs of each individual.
• Research, identify, and connect participants with community resources and opportunities, including volunteer sites, worksites, and community engagement activities.
• Mentor new hires, providing training, resources, and strategies to better support program participants and improve overall quality of care.
• Formulate and implement creative approaches to activities and curriculum in the participant’s Individual Support Plan (ISP) and Positive Behavioral Intervention (PBI) plan while ensuring participant health and safety.

Direct Support Professional I | COMPANY TWO | 20XX – 20XX

• Provided direct support and supervision to participants in home, community, and work settings, modeling appropriate behavioral and functional life skills to encourage greater independence.
• Built positive relationships with participants, caregivers, employers, community partners, and case managers, facilitating communication, providing information, and advocating for participant needs.
• Implemented best practices when assisting and supervising self-help needs, including eating, personal hygiene, grooming, and dressing.
• Observed, documented, and reported daily progress toward goals and objectives, including ISP goals, semi-annual reports, Personal Future Plans, and PBI plans.
• Planned and conducted monthly safety drills with participants to improve participant emergency readiness.

Caregiver | COMPANY THREE | 20XX – 20XX

• Provided 1:1 in-home support to individual with spinal cord injury, administering medications and therapies in accordance with patient care plan. Documented and reported actions and observations for clinical providers.
• Assisted with ADL, including bathing, dressing, grooming, and personal hygiene.
• Conducted weekly grocery shopping; prepared and served nutritionist-approved meals.
• Maintained a clean, safe environment, completing housework, laundry, and minor repairs.
• Provided companionship and transportation to appointments, community events, and activities.

License & Certifications

REGISTERED BEHAVIOR TECHNICIAN, Certifying Body One, 20XX

BASIC LIFE SUPPORT (BLS) FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, Certifying Body Two, 20XX

Ready to start your job search? Download this direct support professional resume in Word.

When you choose a career as a direct support professional, you can enjoy job security. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects caregiver and home health aide jobs to increase by 33% over the next 10 years.

The amount of money you make as a direct support professional depends on your job type, prior experience, and location. For example, caregivers and personal care aides typically earn $13.71 per hour, while residential assistant advisors make about $15.42. Find out for yourself by searching your job title and location on Monster’s Salary Calculator.

Want to know where most of the caregiver jobs are? Caregivers are in high demand in these five U.S. cities:

• Los Angeles
• Phoenix
• Portland
• Houston
• Tucson

Monster also lists tons of caregiver jobs across the U.S.

Monster’s Experts Can Give Your Resume the Care It Needs

Think of the first draft of your direct support professional resume as a comprehensive care plan. It may look good in theory but getting results from it will require expert help. That’s where the resume writing team at Monster comes in. We’ll save you the time and hassle of creating a resume and maximize your chance of getting an interview with attention-grabbing keywords and action verbs.