Direct Support Professional

The Community-Based Direct Support Professional provides person‑centered instruction, support, and supervision to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in both program and community settings. This role promotes independence by teaching essential life skills, supporting community participation, implementing Individuals Service Plan (ISP) goals, and maintaining a safe, respectful, inclusive environment. Responsibilities include activities of daily living (ADL) and independent living services (ILS) support, community engagement, vocational exploration, behavioral support consistent with Positive Behavior Supports (PBS), accurate documentation, dispense medications as needed, and collaboration with families, clinicians, and interdisciplinary teams. The CBDS Professional serves as a positive role model while fostering personal growth, meaningful relationships, and full community membership

Essential Job Duties

1). Person-centered Support

• Demonstrates respect for individual preferences, choices, and autonomy
• Supports participation in activities based on individual interests and goals

2). Life Skills & Daily Living Support

• Provides assistance with ADLs and IADLS as needed
• Encourages independence through gentle prompting, coaching, and modeling

3). Community Participation

• Assists individuals in participating in community activities, recreation, and social opportunities
• Will assist in transport of individuals to activities as assigned; will be asked to drive company vehicles.

4). Safety & Environment Management

• Ensures a safe, clean, and organized environment
• Maintains awareness of individual needs during meals, breaks, and transitions
• Dispense medication as needed
• Follows established systems to ensure quality health care of the individuals

5). Professional Communication & Documentation

• Completes shift notes, attendance, and other documentation accurately
• Communicates effectively with coworkers, supervisors, and families

6). Teamwork & Collaboration

• Works cooperatively with team members to provide consistent support
• Participates in meetings and shares relevant observations
• Perform any and all duties deemed essential to support the agency, office, team, or people we support.

7). Dependability & Professional Conduct

• Arrives prepared, follows schedules, and maintains a positive, respectful demeanor
• Acts as a role model for professionalism and reliability
  
  

8). Physical Readiness

• Able to assist with mobility, transfers, and basic physical support as needed

9). Perform all other duties as may be required.

Competencies

• Professional, friendly and understanding
• Attention to details
• Able to work efficiently as a team player as well as individually with minimal direction
• Self-motivated
• Ability to consistently maintain and build positive working relationships
• Willing to learn new information daily
• Great organizational skills
• Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines
• Punctual and dependable
• Familiarity with office machines, equipment and software
• Ability to maintain confidentiality

Requirements

• At least 1 year experience working with individuals with all types of disabilities.

• High School Diploma or equivalent required. 
• Experience in Human Services preferred. 
• Obtains and maintains the necessary MAP Certification within 6 months of employment.
• Obtains and maintains required CPR/First Aid certification within 30 days of employment
• Successful completion of all state and agency-mandated training courses.

 Travel

Travel to community sites required.

Work Environment

This job operates in both a professional office setting as well as in the community.  This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and/or hear.  The employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.

Physically assist members as necessary, including but not limited to using the restroom, vehicle transfers and wheelchair transfers. 

Other Duties

Note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.  Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.