Job Description

Position: Direct Support Professional

Reports to: Direct Support Professional Team Leader or Area Director

FTE Status: Non-Exempt, Full-Time and Part-Time Available

Position Summary:

Direct Support Professionals are employees hired to oversee the day-to-day activities of the program and promote the maximum growth of its participants intellectually, spiritually, physically, socially, emotionally, and vocationally. Staff guide and train participants in personal hygiene and grooming, caring for their dwelling, individual and group behavior, meal preparation, and other similar life skills. Health/mental/dental care responsibilities, the management of medications, transportation, and supporting participants in their volunteer jobs and various activities are also key components required of the Direct Support Professional.

Care of Residents and Facility:

• Manage medication administration following regulatory guidelines.
• Manage health/mental/dental care responsibilities for participants as necessary.
• Provide training in life skills.
• Support participant volunteering, employment, and activities.
• Assist residents with their assigned tasks for maintaining space.

Essential Functions:

• Provide direct care to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Train, supervise as needed, assist participants with good personal hygiene, proper personal presentation, and encourage healthy and safe quarters maintenance, and organization.
• Ensure participants follow daily hygiene and grooming routines and aid and train as needed. Redirect and assist participants if not properly clean or dressed.
• Foster positive relationship between support staff and participants.
• Follow guidelines and procedures concerning supervised medication management (training required).
• Food Service responsibilities, including food preparation and educating on healthy and nutritional choices.
• Assure proper training for participants, which may include how to get along with others, selected life skill goals, fire drills, and health and safety training.
• Conduct and document training of participants in Daily Service Log.
• Transport participants to various appointments, volunteer opportunities, and other services as required.
• Ensure Daily Service Log, for each participant, is updated within 24 hours of providing services. As needed, supervise participants during special activities, group gatherings, and off-campus outings.
• Listen to participants who may need to express an opinion or concern and make referral to management when appropriate.
• Effectively communicate with all staff regarding participant needs.
• Maintain confidentiality and follow all HIPAA guidelines.
• Complete and pass all required courses, certifications, and recertifications as applicable by company policy and/or regulatory policy. Retraining will be required for some courses and certifications on specific time-intervals.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be in good physical, mental, and emotional health and able to assist residents as needed.
• Able to bend, reach, lift, drive, use cleaning supplies, and assist with facility maintenance.

General Qualifications:

• Meet all the employment qualifications and pass all background screenings. This includes a local and Level II background check, drug screen, and TB screen.
• Strong personal integrity, character, and reputation paired with a willingness to model these behaviors and lifestyles to residents.
• A willingness to support participants who wish to be spiritually-involved and assist them with practicing spiritual activities, and encourage them to grow in their faith.

Education, Experience, and Skills Required:

• High School diploma equivalent or higher degree.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must hold and maintain a current valid driver license and maintain a good driving record.
• Minimum of one year of experience working in medical, nursing, or experience working with recipients with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities or have 30 seminar hours, 45 quarter-hours, or 720 classroom hours of college or vocational school.
• Professional communication skills relating to staff, participants, vendors, and families.
• Ability to document daily activities.
• Ability to manage time, set priorities, and to organize and follow structured routines.
• Must demonstrate exceptional problem-solving and customer service skills.
• Ability to work in partnership with others in a team-approach.

This job description should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. The Direct Support Professional may be required to follow any other instructions, and to perform any other related duties as may be assigned by the Direct Support Professional Team Leader, Area Director, Chief Operating Officer and/or President/CEO.

Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.

Loveland Center Inc and Protected Harbor Inc are AHCA-regulated facilities. Florida law requires Level 2 background screening for all individuals working at such facilities. As such, a Level 2 background check must be performed for all positions prior to the first day of employment. For more information, visit

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