Direct Support professional

About the Role

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for individuals with developmental, intellectual, or physical disabilities by providing compassionate and personalized support. This position focuses on assisting clients in achieving greater independence, community integration, and personal growth through tailored care and encouragement. The DSP will work closely with clients to support their daily living activities, promote skill development, and ensure their health and safety in a respectful and dignified manner. Collaboration with families, healthcare providers, and other team members is essential to create and implement individualized support plans that meet each clients unique needs. Ultimately, the DSP contributes to fostering an inclusive environment where clients feel valued, empowered, and supported in reaching their fullest potential.

Job Responsibilities

• Assist clients with daily living activities such as personal hygiene, meal preparation, medication management, and mobility support.
• Implement individualized care plans and support clients in developing life skills that promote independence.
• Monitor and document client progress, behaviors, and any changes in health or well-being, reporting concerns to supervisors as needed.
• Facilitate community involvement and social activities to encourage client engagement and socialization.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and supportive environment that respects client dignity and promotes their overall well-being.

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent. Ability to pass background checks and any required health screenings. Basic understanding of caregiving principles and client confidentiality. Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Willingness to complete any required training or certification related to direct support services.

Preferred Qualifications

Previous experience working with individuals with disabilities or in a caregiving role. Certification in CPR and First Aid. Knowledge of behavioral support techniques and person-centered planning. Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends if necessary. Familiarity with community resources and support services for individuals with disabilities.

Skills

The skills required for this role are applied daily to provide compassionate and effective support tailored to each clients needs. Strong communication skills enable the DSP to build trusting relationships with clients and collaborate effectively with families and team members. Problem-solving and observational skills are essential for identifying client needs and responding appropriately to changes in behavior or health. Organizational skills help in maintaining accurate documentation and managing multiple responsibilities efficiently. Preferred skills, such as CPR certification and knowledge of behavioral support, enhance the DSPs ability to ensure client safety and promote positive outcomes in challenging situations.

Benefits

Merakey offers generous benefits that promote well-being, financial security, and work-life balance, including:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus access to healthcare advocacy support.
• Retirement plan - both pre-tax and Roth after-tax options available for employee contributions.
• DailyPay - access to your pay when you need it.
• On the Goga well-being platform, featuring self-care tools and resources.
• Access Care.com for backup childcare, elder care, and household services.
• Confidential counseling, legal, and financial services through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Tuition reimbursement and educational partnerships.
• Employee discounts and savings programs on entertainment, travel, and lifestyle.
• Access to Pryor Online Learning for free online personal development classes.

About Merakey

Merakey is a non-profit provider of developmental, behavioral health, and education services. More than 8,000 employees provide support to nearly 40,000 individuals and families throughout 12 states across the country each year.

Click here to watch a video about Merakey.

Merakey strictly follows a zero-tolerance policy for abuse. Merakey is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, deeply valuing diversity and not discriminating on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ethnic background, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability status. Moreover, we are committed to creating teams that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Merakey welcomes all Veterans to apply.