Direct Support Professional(School for the Deaf Residential Program)

Pressley Ridge; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance with HSA employer 1

Retirement savings plan with employer

Paid Time Off

9 paid holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Pressley Ridge is hiring a Direct Support Professional for the School for the Deaf Residential Program in Pittsburgh, PA. The DSP will support students in residential cottages, collaborate with the treatment team, and implement individual service plans to improve social functioning.

Responsibilities include supervising youth, planning activities, documenting progress, and ensuring safety. ASL proficiency is required within two years of hire; a high school diploma is necessary, with a Bachelor’s

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
• ASL proficiency is preferred and required within two years from hire date.
• Experience with neurodivergent youth and/or youth who have experienced trauma is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support the students who reside in residential cottages and assist in developing and monitoring individual and group service plans.
• Collaborate with treatment team members in goal development and communicate health care issues as needed.
• Manage conflict and facilitate group and individual problem-solving.
• Teach community living skills and manage group behavior and dynamics.
• Plan, implement and evaluate daily living routines and transitions.
• Identify strengths and provide advocacy and support for youth.
• Plan Short Range and Long Range activities aligned with treatment goals.
• Maintain consistent rules and show genuine care for youth.
• Implement treatment interventions and evaluate their effectiveness.
• Engage youth in recreational activities and ensure proper evaluation of activities.
• Develop rapport and be available and approachable to youth.
• Assess and respond to dangerous situations per policy.
• Provide direct supervision and participate in clinical supervision.
• Document effectively and complete required paperwork on time.
• Attend professional development trainings and meet hours requirements.

Skills

ASL proficiency

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

Direct Support Professional(School for the Deaf Residential Program)

Job Category: Residential

Requisition Number: DIREC004412

• Posted : October 14, 2026
• Full-Time

Locations

Showing 1 location

Description

The well-being of our employees and their families is important to us. At Pressley Ridge, we strive to provide the most competitive and comprehensive employee benefit programs that are affordable and help you and your family achieve and maintain your best possible health.

• Medical coverage available with a Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer match
• Prescription coverage
• Dental and vision plans
• Patient advocate and Medicare specialists available at no cost
• Dependent Care Flexible Savings Account
• Retirement savings plan with an employer match
• Free life insurance and AD&D
• Paid Time Off
• 9 paid holidays (7 recognized holidays plus a floating and birthday holiday per year)
• Tuition reimbursement (if applicable)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Position Summary

The Direct Support Professional supports the students who reside in our residential cottages and assists in developing, implementing, and monitoring individual and group service plans and procedures during program hours that result in improved adaptive social/interpersonal functioning and high rates of successful program completion among youth in an assigned group.

• Clinical and Support
• Participate and collaborate with treatment team members in goal development.
• Respond to and communicate routine and emergency health care issues to necessary treatment team members.
• Manage conflict and facilitate group and individual problem-solving.
• Effectively use group process as opportunities to teach community living skills, assessing and responding to group behavior and dynamics.
• Plan, implement and evaluate all aspects of daily living routines and activities, including structuring the environment and managing group transitions.
• Identify and build upon child’s strengths, teaching and role modeling pro-social behaviors. Provide ongoing advocacy and support for children.
• Facilitate and implement Short Range (Daily, Weekly) and Long Range (Monthly, Yearly) planning of activities, connecting them to individual and group treatment goals.
• Demonstrates flexibility, fairness and consistency in setting rules and guidelines.
• Conveys a genuine interest and concern for youth in their care, considering the youths’ emotional, psychological and physical well-being when engaging in activities or interventions.
• Implement treatment interventions as it relates to a child’s individual service plan, evaluating the effectiveness of treatment interventions and provide feedback.
• Participates with youth in recreational and other daily activities, while observing and attending to their needs.
• Ensure evaluation occurs for each individual activity and overall evaluation of the treatment plan.
• Develops rapport, listens, and engages youth in daily interaction and is available and approachable to youth.
• Assess and respond to dangerous situations and conditions per organization policies and program expectations.
• Supervision
• Provide direct supervision of youth as required by individual, program and/or regulatory requirements.
• Participate in clinical supervision and implement clinical recommendations as determined in clinical supervision.
• Documentation
• Use written documentation to communicate effectively with peers, subordinates and supervisors.
• Risk
• Complete the minimum number of annual professional development training hours in accordance with regulatory guidelines.
• Complete all training requirements as identified.
• Complete all required paperwork in a legible, accurate and professional manner, making sure to submit paperwork by timelines established by the program and organization.
• Professional Development
• Achieve professional development goals as identified in performance evaluations.
• Participate in ongoing professional development in-service trainings.

Qualifications

• Education/Credentials/Licensure:
• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
• Experience:
• Experience with neurodivergent youth and/or youth have experienced trauma, preferred.
• School for the Deaf:
• American Sign Language proficiency is preferred.
• American Sign Language proficiency is required within two (2) years from hire date.

• Clearances:
• State Police
• FBI
• Child Abuse Clearances
• CPSL Mandated Reporter-Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse training per state regulation.

Working Conditions

• Physical Demands:
• This position requires operating office equipment 50% of the day. Transports clients 50% of the day. Fingers, thumbs, hands, wrists, elbows, legs and feet are used 70% the day. The lower and upper torso is used 30% of the day. Employee must meet minimum requirements for hearing, speech, and vision. At the School for the Deaf, deaf or hard of hearing employees fluent in American Sign Language do not have a minimum requirement for hearing and/or speech. Walking is required 40% of the day. Standing occurs 40% of the day. Sitting happens 10% of the day. Reaching above the shoulder as well as bending and twisting are performed 10% of the day. This function routinely lifts 15 pounds, 4 times per day. The maximum lift is over 50 pounds, 1 time per day. The position requires the ability to implement physical interventions and meet the physical demands of Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• Mental Demands:
• Occasionally requires the need to concentrate and handle distractions that interfere.
• Frequently requires a need for quick decisions and handle a diversity of problems.
• Continually performs multiple tasks.
• Indoors/Outdoors: Residential campus or residential cottages/townhomes and campus, school, home, community.
• This role cannot be performed at multiple locations.
• Working Hours:
• 40-hour week, variable schedule based on program need.
• On-call is not required for this position.

Qualifications

Education

Required

High School or better.

Preferred

Bachelors or better in Human Services or related field.

Experience

Required

American Sign Language proficiency is required within two (2) years from hire date.

Preferred

American Sign Language proficiency is preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.