Direct Support Professional

Merakey; Altoona (PA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

DailyPay

Flexible schedules

Health benefits

Referral bonuses

Care.com membership

Phone discounts

Paid training

Job summary

Merakey is seeking a Direct Support Professional in Altoona/Juniata, PA to provide direct care and support for individuals with developmental and behavioral health needs. Join a mission-driven team with paid training and a supportive work environment.

You will assist with daily living activities, promote independence, and work with a caring team to help individuals achieve personal goals in the community.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must have a Valid Driver's License.
• No experience required; paid training provided.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care and support with activities of daily living (ADLs).
• Assist with personal care, hygiene, mobility, and meal preparation.
• Support life skills development and social skills.
• Provide community support and transportation.
• Promote health and safety, including medication support as trained.
• Complete required documentation and service logs.

Skills

Direct care

ADLs

Documentation

Driver's license

Empathy

Job description

Position: Direct Support Professional

Location: Altoona/Juniata, PA

Pay Rate: Earn up to $18.75/hour with election of Enhanced Pay option.

Shift: 8 am - 4 pm with rotating weekends

Merakey, a leading non‑profit provider of developmental and behavioral health services, is seeking mission‑driven, compassionate, and reliable individuals to join our team in Altoona/Juniata, PA.

Whether you're an experienced Caregiver, Direct Care Worker, Home Health Aide, or someone looking to start a meaningful career in human services - this is your opportunity. No experience required - we provide paid training!

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct care and support with activities of daily living (ADLs)
• Assist with personal care, hygiene, mobility, and meal preparation
• Support life skills development, including household tasks and social skills
• Provide community support, transportation
• Promote health, safety, and well‑being, including medication support (as trained)
• Complete required documentation, progress notes, and service logs

Why Being a DSP at Merakey is a Great Opportunity:

As a Direct Support Professional (DSP), you'll work alongside a passionate team to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. You'll help them build independence, develop social and communication skills, and navigate daily living activities like personal care, housekeeping, and community engagement.

Spend your days making memories - from trips to the park and sensory gardens to helping individuals achieve their personal goals. You'll be a mentor, coach, and advocate.

What Merakey Offers YOU:

We believe in giving back to our team. Merakey provides:

• DailyPay - access your earnings when you need them
• Flexible Schedules & Work-Life Balance
• Health, Dental, Eye, and Ear Benefits
• Employee Referral Bonuses
• Care.com Membership
• Cell Phone Discounts
• Paid Training & Career Development Opportunities

About Merakey:

Merakey is a non‑profit provider of developmental, behavioral health, and education services. More than 8,000 employees provide support to nearly 40,000 individuals and families throughout 12 states across the country each year. Click here to watch a video about Merakey.

Merakey strictly follows a zero‑tolerance policy for abuse.

Our Commitment to Diversity:

Merakey is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer! We deeply value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ethnic background, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, or disability status. Moreover, we are committed to creating teams that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage applicants from underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Merakey welcomes all Veterans to apply!

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• Must be 18 years of age.
• Must have a Valid Driver's License.