Direct Support Professional

About the Organization

Community Living Alternatives (CLA) Corp is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit charitable organization. CLA was founded in 1987 and 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, we operate 12 homes for 42 individuals in the Northern Virginia region.

CLA promotes the individual development and enhancement of daily living skills, participation in community and involvement with family and friends. We provide residential supports that meet the unique needs of each individual and work in close collaboration with county support coordinators, families and experts to develop the appropriate person‑centered plan of services. Relationships are the basis for all of the work we do.

Whether a staff member has worked with an individual for 30 years or 30 days, there is an emphasis on dignity, respect, choice and collaboration.

Direct Support Professional

Rate of pay: $19.00 + $1 weekend differential rate from Sat 8 am to Sun 11 pm.

Schedule:

3:00 pm‑11:00 pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday.

CLA provides supports, services and joy to 45 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in group homes, individual apartments, and out in the community. Together we work with individuals to build relationships that transcend any work relationship you have ever had. Yes, we keep them safe and help them acquire skills but our real job is helping them find their joy and, 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 (both physical and emotional) that may get in the way of successfully engaging in joyful experiences and ensuring necessary support is provided.
• The ability to communicate verbally and in writing about the joyful (and safe) 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
• Familiarity working with adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities
• Team player
• Patience
• Flexibility

• Health Insurance (CLA pays 95 % for Single coverage of lowest option plan)
• Dental (CLA pays 95 % for Single coverage of lowest option plan)
• Vision
• 100 % CLA‑paid Life Insurance (1 × salary up to max of $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, including STD/LTD and other options, offered at discounted group rates and some are pre‑tax for employees and paid through payroll deductions.
• 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 by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 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 talk or hear. 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 by this job 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. We assure you that your opportunity for employment with CLA depends solely on your qualifications.