Make an Impact at WellLife Network At WellLife, we believe every person deserves the dignity, respect, and support to live as independently as possible. Our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) play a vital role in helping New Yorkers with developmental disabilities and other support needs thrive in their homes and communities. If you have a caring heart, a commitment to inclusion, and the drive to make a real difference every day, this could be the role for you.
What You’ll Be Doing As a Direct Support Professional, you’ll provide hands-on care, encouragement, and advocacy for the individuals you support. From assisting with daily living to building community connections, you’ll be a trusted partner in helping people achieve their goals and live fulfilling lives.
Your Core Responsibilities
Personal Care & Daily Living Support
· Assist with activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting.
· Help with meal preparation, household chores, and creating a safe, comfortable home environment.
Health & Wellness
· Administer medications as directed.
· Support individuals in attending medical appointments and following treatment plans.
Mobility & Accessibility
· Assist with walking, transfers, and the use of mobility aids.
· Ensure individuals can navigate their environments safely.
Behavioral & Emotional Support
· Implement strategies to support behaviors in a respectful manner.
· Provide encouragement and reassurance to promote confidence and independence.
Community & Social Engagement
· Plan and participate in recreational, educational, and social activities.
· Encourage involvement in community programs and events to foster belonging.
Communication & Advocacy
· Assist with communication tools or techniques to help individuals express themselves.
· Advocate for their needs, rights, and access to services.
Collaboration & Documentation
· Partner with healthcare providers, therapists, and other team members for holistic care.
· Maintain accurate and timely records including daily notes, progress reports, incident reports, and other required documentation in electronic systems.
We’d Love to Hear from You If You Have:
· A High School Diploma or equivalency diploma (required).
· Fluent in English for client communication.
· A valid New York State Driver’s License with at least 2 years of driving experience (required for driving positions).
· Comfort operating a large vehicle (for driving positions)
· Experience supporting adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities or behavioral health needs (preferred but not required).
· Patience, compassion, and dedication to empowering others.
What You’ll Gain
· Compensation: Competitive hourly rate based on experience.
· Robust Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, and 401k retirement plan (with matching).
· Work-Life Balance: Paid time off, holidays, and personal days.
· Wellness Program: Free and low cost gym and wellness access and support
· Training & Growth: Ongoing professional development and career advancement opportunities.
· Meaningful work that makes a real difference in people’s lives
· A supportive team environment where you’re valued
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About WellLife Network WellLife Network is one of the region’s most impactful nonprofit human services organizations, serving more than 25,000 individuals each year. Our work spans behavioral health, developmental disabilities, addiction recovery, housing, employment, and family support. We believe every person deserves dignity, respect, and the opportunity to thrive—and we reflect that in everything we do.
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POSITION SUMMARY: Provide all aspects of care to people served to enable them to become independent and productive. This position may have supervised / unsupervised contact and or conversational interaction with people served while working in the residences.
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ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Responsible for asserting in the planning, developing and implementation of goals and training to further develop skills of people served by including, but not limited to:
a. budgeting
b. grooming
c. nutritional planning
d. use of public transportation
e. use of community resources
f. shopping
g. housekeeping
h. physical health
i. adaptive behavior/independent living
j. nutrition
k. vocational development
l. social development
Monitor progress of people served. Tasks essential to this duty include, but are not limited to: seeing, hearing and observing, performing manual tasks, reading and writing (documentation), lifting, climbing and descending stairs, traveling, boarding and de-boarding agency vehicles and public transportation vehicles (i.e. bus, subway). Provide training in daily living skills and other areas.
2. Responsible to coordinate evacuation and ensure resident safety in actual emergencies (i.e. fire drills). Essential functions of this duty include the ability to climb and descend stairs and fire escapes and assist others to do the same. This may include both verbal and physical prompting.
3. Supervise and monitor persons served self-administration of medication.
Abilities required include: reading, writing, communication, observation for side effects, monitoring medical conditions such as: blood sugar levels.
4. Responsible for crisis intervention and incident reporting procedures.
5. Responsible for monitoring and recording progress on case notes, collateral notes, progress notes and house log.
6. Meet routinely with persons served and management team to review goal progress.
7. Assist in planning and follow through on or escort the people served to evening and weekend recreational activities. Participating in moderate physical activities as part of recreation program.
8. Monitor and assist planning of daily activities and events.
9. Attend all scheduled staff meetings, mandatory in-service training sessions, quarterlies, and annual meetings within residence and external entities. In order to attend staff meetings and trainings, staff must be available to participate in these programs at various sites and at varying times. Staff must be able to transport self to trainings. Staff must have the ability to complete the following training courses and perform the techniques taught in each are a required function of the position: Medication Supervision Training, CPR and First Aid, Cultural Competency, Mandated Reporting, Corporate Compliance.
10. Communicate relevant information to other staff and supervisor(s), verbally and in writing, i.e.; daily communication log, incident reports, medication incidents.
11. Act as a role model for persons served.
12. Maintain records and confidentiality of such records.
13. Assist/supervise lunch preparation and clean up chores.
Prepare lunches and participate in family style dining with person served
14. Assist individuals in clothing care (laundry, ironing,).
15. Participate actively as a member of inter-disciplinary program planning team.
16. Must be able to read typed/written correspondence, clinical notes, communication logs, staff meeting minutes, doctor’s orders, and fire drill logs. Able to write and able to use the telephone.
17. Able to lift/carry packages and boxes of supplies.
18 Follow-up on any aftercare/recommendations for treatment. Escort/accompany individuals as needed on appointments (medical, psychiatric).
19. Assist individuals in researching and obtaining community resources appropriate and applicable to their needs and goals.
20. Work schedules and locations are subject to change.
21. Maintain confidentiality at all times.
22. This does not limit the assignment of duties or exclude the performance of other duties, not mentioned, as assigned by supervisor.