Direct Support Professional

Merakey; Escondido (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental & vision

DailyPay

EAP program

Tuition reimbursement

Employee discounts

Job summary

Merakey seeks Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) in Escondido, CA to support individuals with developmental disabilities in homes and community settings. You will implement behavior support plans, assist with daily living activities, and promote independence while ensuring safety and dignity.

Starting pay is $26–$28 per hour, with a $2 raise after obtaining RBT certification. Benefits include comprehensive coverage and flexible options; candidates must meet minimum qualifications and complete

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• High School Diploma/G.E.D. required.
• Dual Diagnose experience preferred.
• A valid driver's license is required.
• At least six months of direct care experience with individuals with developmental disabilities.
• DSP 1 and DSP 2 certification within 1 year of hire.
• RBT certification within 1 year of hire.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct care to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Assist with personal care and daily living activities.
• Promote community engagement and independence.
• Implement behavior support plans and manage challenging situations.
• Ensure health, safety, dignity and well‑being of individuals.

Skills

Compassionate

Resilient

Calm under pressure

Driver's license

Education

High School Diploma/G.E.D.

Job description

Are you looking for an opportunity to advance your career while working with an extraordinary team? At Merakey, we put heart and soul into everything we do. We are seekingDirect Support Professionals(DSPs) to join our team at our program inEscondido, CA.

If you are a Caregiver, Direct Care Worker, Home Health aide or always wanted to be one, this is the opportunity for you as we are hiring immediately!

Earn $26- $28 per hour (rate increases to $2 per hour once you have received your RBT – Registered Behavioral Technician certification).

Our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) provide direct support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in homes, community settings, and Adult Training Facilities. This role serves individuals with complex behavioral needs, including severe aggression, property destruction, self-injurious behaviors, and crisis situations. DSPs implement behavior support plans, assist with personal care and daily living activities, promote community engagement, and help individuals build independence while ensuring their health, safety, dignity, and well-being. Successful candidates are compassionate, resilient, and able to remain calm and professional in challenging situations.

Merakey offers generous benefits that promote well-being, financial security, and work-life balance, including:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus access to healthcare advocacy support.
• Retirement plan -- both pre-tax and Roth (after-tax) options available for employee contributions.
• DailyPay -- access your pay when you need it!
• On the Goga well-being platform, featuring self-care tools and resources.
• Access Care.com for backup childcare, elder care, and household services.
• Confidential counseling, legal, and financial services through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Tuition reimbursement and educational partnerships.
• Employee discounts and savings programs on entertainment, travel, and lifestyle.
• Access to Pryor Online Learning for free online personal development classes.

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.

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!

Requirements

The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must have a verifiable/High School Diploma/G.E.D.
• Dual Diagnose experience preferred.
• A valid driver's license is required.
• Must have at least six months of experienceproviding direct care to individuals with developmental disabilities, with a focus on behavioral services; and
• Required to complete a DSP 1 and DSP 2 certification, within 1 year of hired date.
• Required to complete an RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) certification within 1 year of hired date.

This Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or on any other basis prohibited by law. Information on race, gender and national origin will only be used for statistical and recordkeeping purposes, and will not be used in making any employment decisions. All information provided will be kept separate from your expression of interest. Providing this information is strictly voluntary, and you will not be subjected to any adverse action or treatment if you choose not to provide this information. If you do not choose to answer these questions, we ask that you select "Decline to Identify" for each question. Thank you for your voluntary cooperation.