The Direct Support Professional is responsible for the overall supervision, care, and safety of individuals, including implementing behavior support plans and assisting with daily living activities. They must maintain accurate documentation, facilitate community engagement, and collaborate with a clinical team to provide high-quality, person-centered support.
Requirements summary
Candidates must possess a high school diploma or equivalent and be willing to obtain Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification within one year. The role requires the physical ability to assist with lifting and moving individuals, as well as a valid driver's license and basic computer literacy.
high schoolbachelor degreeTeamworkCommunicationDocumentationInterpersonal skillsProblem-solvingInfection controlMedication administrationData collectionPerson-centered planningSafety protocolsPersonal careCrisis managementTrauma-informed careDirect supportBehavior support plans
Job description
If you are a current YAI employee, please click this link to apply through your Workday account.
Key/Essential Functions & Responsibilities Responsible for the overall supervision, protection, and care of the individual at all times including maintenance of house rules for the protection of individuals, facilitating learning and training in fire safety and identifying and appropriately escalating signs of an individual’s potential harm to self or others.
Provides support in a variety of settings and in accordance with each person’s individualized service and behavior support plans, utilizing support skills for people with moderate to complex levels of need.
Ensures health, wellness and safety by providing appropriate supervision of the people we support and by managing crisis situations while adhering to policies, procedures and regulations.
Ensures implementation of plans of protective oversight, as well Individual Behavior Support Plans (IBSPs)/ Individualized Program Plans (IPPs) for all people we support.
Maintains a clean, safe, and organized work and therapy environment.
Ensures maintenance upkeep and safety based on facility/program structure.
Utilizes safe & appropriate handing procedures when working with individuals and implements COVID mitigation and infection control protocols.
Assists individuals in maximizing their strengths, interests, and abilities, upholding their personal rights, providing emotional support and building positive relationships.
Supports people to meet personal goals that characterize quality of life, engages in respectful communications/conversations through person-first language, encourages socializing and facilitates activities that provide social capital and connections to the community.
Ensures person-centered plans are implemented and assists with a variety of tasks for people we support, as appropriate/authorized, including: Providing personal care Assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) Ensuring that medication is administered as prescribed, according to guidelines Teaching/developing skills Supporting person-centered advocacy with the individual Assisting in communication, self-expression and resolving disputes amongst individuals Facilitating ethical decision making Providing supervision for and/or planning and preparing balanced meals and snacks for people we support in accordance with dietary restrictions and guidelines of specific individuals.
Transporting and escorting individuals on recreational activities, medical appointments, home visits etc.
Assisting people with making purchases, as well as safeguarding personal allowance funds and any additional funds provided Completes and maintains all necessary trainings based on program and position to ensure compliance with YAI policies and licensing regulations and applies skills.
Reviews communication logs daily and makes entries of events, progress notes, services and/or information; collects and enters data as part of daily operations using an electronic health record.
Reviews and completes all other required paperwork and documentation to ensure compliance and/or billing, as applicable, completely and accurately and within appropriate timeframes (e.g., notifications, logging, incident reports, update files, maintenance requests, phone calls, tracking of incidents and evening and weekend reports).
Maintains a therapeutic environment through a variety of methods: Personal Outcome Measures, Person Centered Thinking, Informed Decision Making and Trauma-Informed Approaches.
Serves as a member of a highly effective team (teamwork w/in the circle of support), providing feedback and communicating programmatic needs to members of team and maintaining a solution-oriented approach during conflicts.
Consults with program leadership, clinical and other direct support staff to ensure streamlined and top-quality care for individuals and attends and actively participates in team meetings.
Using foundational teaching skills (EMOE, task analysis, essential skills, supports and modifications, etc.) and progressive teaching.
Complies with all Federal, State, Local and other relevant regulatory agency requirements, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Completes and maintains Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) requirements for certification/license (RBT or LPT) and for all other required recertifications and trainings, as needed.
Demonstrates and models all skills of DSP/RBT with a person centered and trauma informed approach Under appropriate supervision: Participates in the development of treatment plans Develops and maintains understanding of specialized clinical knowledge for person specific needs (supporting adults, challenging behaviors, autism spectrum disorders, complex medical needs) Implements Behavior Support Plans (BSPs).
Collects, records, and summarizes data on observable individual’s behavior.
Observes and reports any change in behavior, or other signs and symptoms, to a supervisor Effectively communicates with authorized representative regarding individual progress as instructed by the Board-Certified Behavior Analyst.
Performs all other duties, as assigned Pay Rate: $28.00-$28.00 Minimum Qualification Requirements including education, experience, licensure/certification, etc. and essential physical capabilities (e.g. lifting, assisting lifting, standing, etc.) Minimum requirements may vary by state of employment and/or contract.
Please refer to applicable regulations for all DSP/RBT requirements for state of employment.
All DSP/RBTs must meet the following minimum requirements: HS diploma or its educational equivalent Valid Driver’s License may be required, based on position/location Must hold or obtain Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification within one year of appointment (or be a Licensed Psych Technician or Qualified Behavior Modification Professional, for California assignments) Basic written and verbal communication skills Basic computer skills – including email, utilizing Workday and related systems (DA, etc.) to complete tasks Interpersonal and problem-solving skills Willingness to take initiative Ability to meet essential physical demands of position including frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling and reaching with hands and arms; use hands to handle, finger or feel objects, tools or controls; assisting with lifting/moving individuals of any weight with assistance of mechanical lifts or other equipment and/or pushing individuals in wheelchairs; lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds or running on occasion; having the physical capacity to work with and implement emergency interventions as per the person’s Individual Behavior Support Plan and Individual Emergency Intervention Plan, if/as needed, including lifting/moving individuals of any weight with or without assistance of equipment and/or other staff.
State of California (Enhanced Behavioral Supports Homes and/or Community Crisis Homes): At least six (6) months prior experience providing direct care to individuals with developmental disabilities Successful completion of State of California Direct Support Professional Training (DSPT) Year 1 and Year 2 courses within one year of appointment Hold (or obtain through employer-provided training) CPR/First Aid, Ukeru and CPI certifications and recertify annually Completion of Health Screening Completion of annual continuing education units (CEUs) for professional development through competency-based training as required by Titles 17 & 22 Preferred Qualification Requirements (desired requirements beyond MQRs above) Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a Human Services field (e.g. social work, psychology, etc.) Knowledge of intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), clinical syndromes and/or IDD with cooccurring behavioral/mental health needs Valid Driver’s License strongly preferred for California assignments All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam or disabled veteran.
YAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
To ensure fairness, safeguard transparency, and promote an equitable workforce environment, YAI Network prohibits the practice of nepotism in the workforce and hiring process.
Our Roots YAI was launched in February of 1957 out of a small school in Brooklyn, New York.
Initially staffed by Co-Founders Bert MacLeech and Pearl Maze MacLeech alone, their pilot program served just seven people.
According to Bert, from its very beginning YAI has been dedicated to providing innovative services for the I/DD (intellectual and/or developmental disabilities) community.
MacLeech envisioned a, “total life adjustment approach, emphasizing personal growth, social responsibility, employment goals, and the development of independence for the individual.” At a time when institutional living was the norm for people with I/DD, this vision was nothing short of revolutionary.
YAI Today Today, YAI has a team of over 4,000 employees and supports over 20,000 people in the I/DD community.
This extraordinary growth shows the ongoing need for these important services, and YAI’s success in offering them.
YAI supports people with autism, Down syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy, among others.
Operating throughout Downstate New York and Northern New Jersey, YAI now offers more than 300 programs for people of all ages.
Better Together At YAI, we are driven by our mission of living, loving, working, and learning.
This applies not only to the people we support, but to our staff as well.
Commitment and passion for the work continue to unite employees and drive the organization forward.
Empowering the people we support to reach their goals remains at the heart of our organization.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam or disabled veteran.
YAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
To ensure fairness, safeguard transparency, and promote an equitable workforce environment, YAI Network prohibits the practice of nepotism in the workforce and hiring process. http://www.yai.org/
