Direct Support Professional: Full-Time

Bucks County Intermediate Unit; Doylestown (Bucks County); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Bucks IU is seeking a Direct Support Professional to provide direct support to adults with disabilities in employment and community settings. The role focuses on helping individuals develop skills for successful employment and community integration.

Under the supervision of the Adult Programs and Services team, you will support on-site and community work, maintain records, and assist with job placement and interview readiness.

Qualifications

• Must have high school diploma; associate degree preferred.
• Minimum 2 years direct work with persons with disabilities.
• Must complete ODP Orientation within 30 days of hire.
• Complete ACRE training within the first 6 months.
• Valid Pennsylvania Driver’s License required.
• Able to pass Motor Vehicle background check.

Responsibilities

• Provide on-site employment support to assist individuals with job duties.
• Accommodate and adapt work sites to support client independence.
• Maintain accurate data on progress and hours worked.
• Assist with job search and interview process.
• Communicate effectively with staff, families, and community partners.

Skills

Excellent communication

Disabilities knowledge

Initiative

Relationship building

Record keeping

Education

High school diploma

Associate degree preferred

Two+ years relevant experience

Driver's license

Background check clearance

Job description

Summary

Under the direction of the Supervisor of Adult Programs and Services, the Direct Support Professional provides direct support to adults with disabilities in employment and community settings. The Direct Support Professional assists individuals in developing, refining, and generalizing the skills needed for successful employment and community integration.

Job Description

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Supervisor of Adult Programs and Services, the Direct Support Professional provides direct support to adults with disabilities in employment and community settings. The Direct Support Professional assists individuals in developing, refining, and generalizing the skills needed for successful employment and community integration.

Support Staff Core Essential Functions

• Regular attendance and reliable on-site presence.
• Provide on-site employment support to assist the individual in performing their work duties.
• Provide accommodations and adaptations to work site in order to facilitate client independence.
• Apply effective, sensitive communication skills to build rapport and channels of communication by recognizing and adapting to the range of participant communication styles.
• Maintain accurate data regarding individual progress toward goals (hours worked, performance on job).
• Utilize and assess client preferences, skills, aptitudes, and strengths to identify potential employment opportunities.
• Provide practice for employment preparation and job retention skills on the work site.
• Accompany clients on the job search/ interview process.

Supervisory Responsibility

Thisposition does not include direct supervisory responsibilities but may provide guidance, support, and collaboration with colleagues and team members as needed to support departmental and organizational goals.

Physical Demands

This position requires regular onsite presence and includes primarily sedentary work with occasional active physical duties in an office or educational support environment. Employeesare regularly required tosit, communicate effectively, use hands for computer, telephone, and office equipment operation, and perform repetitive hand and wrist movements associated with typing, filing, and data entry. Frequent activities may include walking, standing, reaching, bending, and moving throughout office, school, or program locations.

Employees may occasionally lift, carry, or move office materials, files, supplies, or equipment weighing up to 25 pounds. The position may also require maintaining and organizing records, operating standard office technology, and supporting daily operational or program needs.

This role requires the ability to communicate and interact effectively with staff, students, families, vendors, and community members in a professional and supportive manner.

Employees may work in environments with moderate noise levels and frequent interruptions while managing multiple responsibilities and deadlines.

Specific vision abilities required for this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Employees must also be able to hear and interpret verbal communication, phone conversations, alarms, and other environmental sounds related to workplace safety and operations.

Regular attendance, dependable onsite presence, and the ability to perform the essential functions of the position arerequired. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Travel

No regular travel is required for this position. Occasional travel to meetings, trainings, conferences, Bucks IU locations, or other work-related activities may be necessary based on organizational needs.

Education And Experience

• High school diploma required.
• Associates degree preferred.
• Two (2) plus years direct work experience with persons with disabilities.
• Successful completion of ODP Orientation Course within first thirty days of hire.
• Complete ACRE training for supported employment within the first 6 months.
• Valid Pennsylvania Driver’s License required.
• Able to pass Motor Vehicle background check

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing.
• Knowledge of disabilities.
• Able to take initiative, establish and maintain working relationships with community businesses/ volunteer work sites.
• Work effectively with individuals from a variety of educational, socio-economic, ethnic and disability groups.
• Impart and obtain information tactfully and accurately.
• Strong organization skills.
• Maintain accurate records of all activities undertaken with the client.

Work Authorization/Security Clearance (if Applicable)

Citizenship or work authorization to work in the United States required.

EEO/AA/VEVRAA Employer

The Bucks IU is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. Bucks IU does not discriminate on the basis of disability, veteran status or any other basis protected under federal, state or local laws.

Primary Location

US-PA-DOYLESTOWN

Work Locations

Itinerant Countywide

Job

Adult Services

Organization

Bucks IU Business Unit

Schedule

Full-time

Job Level

Entry Level