Sr. Direct Support Professional

For nearly 150 years, The Jewish Board has been delivering innovative, best‑in‑class mental and behavioral health services. We are unique in serving everyone from infants and their families, to children, teens, and adults. That adds up to countless opportunities to use your skills, training, and compassion to make a difference in the lives of over 45,000 New Yorkers each year.

The Jewish Board’s Community Behavioral Health treatment programs provide compassionate, high quality, evidence‑based services to individuals and families in the communities we serve. Our staff uses a culturally competent, person‑centered approach to help individuals and their families develop skills and resources to improve overall functioning, instill hope, and strengthen resiliency. Our programs work closely with community partners to address health disparities in our neighborhoods while also celebrating the strengths and resilience of our communities.

Our children’s community residences are single‑site residences that provide group living for eight children and/or adolescents. The program provides a supervised, trauma‑informed therapeutic environment that seeks to develop residents’ skills and capacity to live in the community and attend school or work as appropriate.

The senior direct support professional (SDSP) works with children and adolescents in the community residence and is responsible for the supervision, care and skill building related to the youth’s individual service and treatment plans. The SDSP serves as a positive role model while providing therapeutic support, trauma‑informed care, and supervision. All responsibilities are to be carried out in accordance with the standards of regulatory bodies and of the Jewish Board.

• Function as a senior member of the DSP department.
• Responsible for the day‑to‑day care of the youth in the program, including but not limited to assisting youth with maintenance of their personal hygiene, social skill guidance, development of life skills, use of leisure/recreation time, meal planning and preparation, and service plan objectives.
• Develop, supervise, and implement therapeutic recreational activities.
• Accompany and supervise youth on recreational trips and activities.
• May be called upon to work one‑on‑one with a youth displaying significant stress or assist with management of crisis related to the safety and care of the clients. This may include managing environmental issues.
• Drive, escort, and supervise youth to medical, behavioral health providers, school, socialization or other required appointments.
• Provide feedback and insights to the supervisor and treatment team, such as observations of the youth and response to interventions. Feedback must be provided verbally and through documentation to the supervisor and members of the treatment team. Unusual and crisis‑oriented behaviors must be reported live/immediately to a supervisor immediately.
• SDSPs are required to prepare and cook meals for residents and fellow CR staff within their residence.
• Assist in maintaining a safe and clean environment.
• Work collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary therapeutic team by implementing culturally affirming and trauma‑informed interventions and skill building as outlined in treatment and service planning.
• Liaise with families, schools, healthcare providers, hospitals, criminal justice, and other community agencies in order to provide appropriate care and supervision of youth.
• Perform these services in the community residence, family/resource’s home, community and via telehealth (when applicable).
• Participate in clinical treatment team meetings, staff meetings, trainings, and supervision.
• Maintain all documentation according to the standards and time frames established by the Jewish Board, regulatory agencies and/or funding sources.
• Maintain professional behaviors and ethical standards as established by licensing board, relevant professional association and the Jewish Board policies and procedures.
• The ability to travel and navigate the community in order to provide services where the youth and family will benefit most from the services…