The Direct Support Specialist provides behavioral and residential support to individuals with developmental disabilities, assisting with daily living tasks and community outings. They are also responsible for medication administration, documenting program data, and maintaining professional communication with clinical staff.
Requirements summary
Candidates must possess a high school diploma or equivalent and at least three years of driving experience with a valid license. Formal training or experience in behavioral management is required, along with the ability to obtain necessary certifications like CPR and medication administration.
high schoolTeamworkCommunicationDocumentationCPRDe-escalationTransportationFirst aidHIPAA complianceMedication administrationDaily living supportBehavioral managementOSHA safety
Job description
Job DetailsJob Location
105
Soundview -
Pawcatuck,
CT 06379Salary
Range: $19.67
HourlySCHEDULE: Mon 2p-8p, Fri 4p-8p, Sat 3p-8p, Sun 12p-8p For internal applications written interest & resume must be submitted by application deadline: 4/24/2026 Are you interested in helping others? Compassionate, empathetic, and caring? Then this might be a great opportunity for you! We are currently looking for a Direct Support Specialist to help the people we are supporting in our group homes. The mission of Journey Found Inc. is to provide behavioral, residential, and other support services to individuals of Connecticut with Pervasive Developmental Disorders and Intellectual Disabilities to enable them to become all they are capable of being.
Fundamental functions of the position:
Supporting individuals with activities of daily living (getting dressed, cooking, cleaning, bathing, toileting etc.)
Transporting people
Organizing activities and community outings
Medication administration
Doctors’ appointments
Documenting Program Data
Teaching and engaging
Implementing good routines
Helping in decision making process
Grocery shopping and running errands
Deescalating situations and managing behaviors
Workings as part of a collective team
Communicating professionally with Nurses, Clinical Staff, Directors and Supervisors We offer a rich benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, flexible spending accounts, dependent care accounts, and 403-(b) plan, tuition reimbursement and more for full time employees. We provide state-of-the-art training in areas such as person centered planning/thinking, CPR/first aid, human rights, compliance/HIPAA, work-place safety/OSHA and medication administration. Experience preferred but not necessary--we train exceptional people to provide exceptional care.
Requirements
Must have at least a High School Diploma or its equivalent
Must have at least 3 years driving experience with a valid driver’s license
Behavioral Management Experience and/or formal training
Ability to communicate, both orally and in writing
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
Tuition reimbursement
Life insurance
AD&D
Flexible spending accounts
403(b) plan
Dependent care accounts
Will be required to be PMT, CPR, FA and complete DDS Medication Administration Program (MAP)
Must be free from communicable disease Journey Found, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Journey Found, Inc. complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The ability to move independently throughout a wide range of environments, some of which may not be wheelchair or otherwise handicapped accessible, is required. Independent transportation to locations that may not be served by public transportation may be necessary. Journey Found will make reasonable accommodations, whenever possible, when needed and/or requested by employees. Requests for accommodations will be honored, unless the accommodation would cause undue hardship on the operation of the program and/or on the organization. Qualifications
