Direct Support Professional - Flex

Job Summary

The Direct Support Professional I partners with a team of skilled professionals and families to provide services that are family‑driven, youth‑guided, trauma‑informed, and culturally competent to help youth reach their full potential. This role creates a safe, nurturing, and peaceful environment that provides opportunities for the successful development of life skills and social skills for youth and families receiving services.

• Provide supervision and care to the individuals they serve, assisting with daily living skills according to established program standards and following all applicable safety and mandated reporting protocols.
• Develop, implement, monitor, and report on treatment objectives and modalities that support the individuals' goals. Assess the effectiveness of individual care plans (e.g., behavior, safety, treatment, and routine support plan).
• Build professional relationships with peers that support individual development and success.
• Provide purposeful activities, based on the individual’s current developmental level, to foster skill development and prepare them for transitions and interactions in the community.
• Monitor participating individual’s emotional and behavior status and document accordingly.
• Partner with the family‑driven treatment team to ensure all decisions are made in the best interest of the youth.
• Complete all required documentation according to established policies and regulations.
• Follow established procedures for passing/administering medications to individuals receiving services.
• Maintain daily communication with appropriate staff to ensure relevant behaviors and/or concerns are shared to support client needs, including timely documentation and notifications to families and funders.
• Recognize escalated youth behavior and apply the continuum of crisis prevention and intervention through verbal and non‑verbal de‑escalation skills, including the use of protective interventions and physical restraints when necessary.
• Promote participant learning through reflective practice in collaboration with the treatment team to ensure lasting outcomes.
• Execute a wide variety of support tasks, including transporting for medical appointments, housekeeping duties, medication administration, and managing petty cash.
• Execute staff training initiatives.
• Transport youth as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• High School Diploma or GED required.

• Successful completion of Approved Medication Administrative Personnel (AMAP) training within 1 year.
• CPR certification required or obtained within 60 days of hire.
• Unrestricted, valid NYS driver’s license for a minimum of 1 year with a clean driving record and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards preferred.

• Demonstrate emotional competence and good judgment to build productive, engaged relationships with children, youth, staff, and families while implementing required rules, expectations, and routines.
• Complete all required documentation timely in accordance with established policies and regulations.
• Recognize and address escalating and dysregulated youth behavior, utilizing training in behavior management and Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention (SCIP), including physical interventions.
• Demonstrate problem‑solving and conflict resolution skills with self and others.
• Understand the importance of effective communication at all levels and recognize issues that require notification.
• Maintain the highest standard for ethical and professional conduct towards all.

Must be able to work a variable schedule including evenings and weekends.

• Occasional sitting (up to 4 hours), standing (up to 1 hour), walking (up to 2.5 hours), driving (up to 8 hours), balancing (up to 8 hours).
• Occasional balancing, bending, stooping, climbing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching forward or down, reaching overhead, running, and twisting (up to 2.5 hours).
• Weekly lifting up to 50 lbs.; weekly carrying up to 55 lbs. approximately 10–100 ft.; daily handling of 10–15 lbs.
• Manual dexterity required, including frequent…