Direct Support Professional

About the Organization

Community Living Alternatives (CLA) Corp is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. Established in 1987, CLA provides residential support services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Northern Virginia.

Founded on the belief that everyone deserves a safe, supportive, and integrated place to call home, CLA operates 12 homes for 42 individuals in the Northern Virginia region. CLA promotes individual development and enhancement of daily living skills, community participation, and involvement with family and friends. We provide residential supports that meet each individual’s unique needs and collaborate with county support coordinators, families, and experts to develop the appropriate person‑centered plan of services.

Relationships are the basis for all of our work; whether a staff member has worked with an individual for 30 years or 30 days, the emphasis is on dignity, respect, choice, and collaboration.

Rate of Pay: $18.00 – $19.00 plus a $1 weekend differential rate from Saturday 8 am to Sunday 11 pm.

Schedule:

Part‑time and full‑time, various afternoon/evening hours, Monday through Sunday in the Northern VA area.

CLA provides support, services, and joy to 45 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in group homes, individual apartments, and out in the community. We work with individuals to build relationships that transcend any work relationship you have ever had. We keep them safe, help them acquire skills, and our real job is helping them find their joy; in that task, we find our own joy as well.

• The ability to bring joy into the lives of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• The ability to assess activities and physical space for risks (physical and emotional) that may impede engaging in enjoyable experiences and to ensure necessary support is provided.
• The ability to communicate verbally and in writing about the activities that were had.
• The ability to support adults in finding, engaging, and advocating for joy as much on their own as possible.

• Accountability
• Honesty
• Ability to lift 50 pounds
• Experience working with adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities
• Team player
• Patience
• Flexibility

• Health insurance (CLA pays 95 % of the lowest‑option single coverage)
• Dental (CLA pays 95 % of the lowest‑option single coverage)
• Vision coverage
• 100 % CLA‑paid life insurance (1 × salary up to $50,000)
• 401(k) match
• Qualified employer for student loan forgiveness
• Flexible benefits plan (unreimbursed medical & dependent care)
• Weekend, weather‑emergency, COVID‑related differential pay
• EAP
• Employee‑paid supplemental insurances, e.g., STD/LTD, offered at discounted group rates and some pre‑tax for employees
• 4 weeks paid parental leave
• Mileage reimbursement
• Generous vacation and sick leave
• Holiday pay (10 paid holidays a year for full‑time employees)
• Bereavement leave
• Paid jury duty leave

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; taste or smell; and speak or listen. The employee may occasionally be required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and frequently must provide physical support to individuals weighing 200 pounds or more.

Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Community Living Alternatives is an equal employment opportunity employer. We adhere to a policy of making employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, gender (except where sex is a bona fide occupational qualification), sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, military status, citizenship, age, or disability. Your opportunity for employment with CLA depends solely on your qualifications.