Direct Support Professional

Merakey; Escondido (CA); On-site; USD 35,817 - 38,572; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive medical, dental, and 
v

Retirement plan – pre-tax and Roth

DailyPay – access your pay

Goga well‑being platform

Care.com backup childcare

EAP (counseling, legal, financial)

Tuition reimbursement and educational

Employee discounts and savings

Pryor Online Learning

Job summary

Merakey is hiring Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) in Escondido, CA to support individuals with developmental disabilities across multiple settings. The role involves direct care, implementing behavior plans, and helping with personal care, communication, and social skills development.

Earn $26-$28 per hour, with a rate increase of $2 per hour after obtaining RBT certification. This is a full-time position with strong benefits and opportunities for growth within a nonprofit organization

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 direct care experience with individuals with developmental disabilities (behavioral services).
• Must complete a DSP 1 and DSP 2 certification within 1 year of hire date.
• Must complete an RBT certification within 1 year of hire date.

Responsibilities

• Interact with and support individuals with developmental disabilities in various settings (community, family or individual homes, and adult training facilities).
• Assist with direct care and implement behavior plans.
• Support communication and social skills development.
• Contribute to health, safety, dignity, and contentment of consumers through training and care.

Skills

Caregiving

Direct Care

Communication

Behavioral services

Dual Diagnose experience preferred

Education

High School Diploma/G.E.D.

DSP 1 certification within 1 year

DSP 2 certification within 1 year

RBT certification within 1 year

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 seeking Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) to join our team at our program in Escondido, CA.

If you are a Caregiver, Direct Care Worker, Home Health aide or have 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 Behavior Technician certification).

Our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) interact and support individuals with developmental disabilities in a variety of settings, including community, family or individual homes and generic community settings, as well as Adult Training Facilities. The DSP will assist with direct care as well as implementation of behavior plans. We provide a level of care that enhances the health, safety, dignity and contentment of every consumer served by assisting and training individuals in the areas of personal care, communication, and social skill development.

Benefits

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.

Learn more about our full benefits package: https://www.merakey.org/careers/benefits

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.

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 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 experience providing 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 hire date.
• Required to complete an RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) certification within 1 year of hire date.