Direct Support Professional

Direct Support Professional

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) provides personalized support to individuals with disabilities, helping them engage meaningfully in their communities and achieve their personal goals. This role involves assisting individuals in identifying and expressing their needs, implementing services aligned with their person-centered plans, and fostering independence and self-advocacy. A successful DSP seeks to understand each individual's history, social and family networks, and aspirations, providing support with compassion and respect. This position operates under supervision and follows established guidelines to ensure high-quality care and advocacy.

Duties and responsibilities include advocating for individuals' human, legal, and civil rights, promoting health and safety by supporting wellness initiatives and accident prevention, encouraging self-advocacy and empowering individuals in making their own choices, facilitating community engagement by accompanying individuals to work, recreational activities, and social events, teaching and supporting independent living skills, providing transportation for appointments, errands, and community activities, fostering social connections, supporting informed decision-making regarding living arrangements, employment, and social activities, assisting with personal care tasks, maintaining accurate documentation of provided services and support, understanding and addressing challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, connecting individuals with community resources, encouraging effective communication, assisting with medication administration, and ensuring confidentiality and upholding ethical standards in all aspects of care.

Supervisory responsibilities are not included in this position.

Minimum qualifications include a high school diploma or equivalent, being at least 18 years of age, meeting all pre-employment screening, possessing compassionate, patient, and dedicated person-centered support, strong communication and interpersonal skills, ability to foster independence while providing necessary support, knowledge of disability rights, self-advocacy, and community integration principles, and ability to maintain accurate records and follow regulatory guidelines.

Physical demands and work environment include regularly lifting 30 lbs, being able to lift a minimum of 40 lbs, being able to pull minimum of 25 lbs, ability to squat, kneel, crawl, crouch, climb, and stoop, regularly using hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, regularly standing and walking, demonstrating proficiency in CPR from the floor level, vision requirements including close vision, distance vision, and peripheral vision, and ability to talk and hear.

RHA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, prohibiting discrimination based on race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex/gender, marital status, civil status, domestic partnership status, familial status, religion, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States, or disability. Pre-employment screening includes criminal background, name check in the registries, drug testing, education verification, proof of employment history or references, and positions that require driving need proof of driver's license, driver's insurance, and vehicle.

We offer the following benefits to employees: Payactiv, employee perks and discount program, paid time off, health/insurance, 401(k) retirement savings program, wellbeing programs, chronic disease management programs for hypertension and diabetes, and training including free CPR, first aid, and job-specific training opportunities.

EEO Statement RHA is an equal opportunity employer. We provide reasonable accommodation to qualified employees who have protected disabilities to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact our solutions center.

About RHA: At RHA Health Services, we help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health and/or substance use needs live their best lives. Our mission is to provide a safe and healthy environment while creating opportunities for personal outcomes. For over 30 years, the people we serve and support have remained at the very center of everything we do. RHA currently provides services in North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and New Jersey. If you are ready to make a difference in the lives of people we serve and support apply to join the team today.