Direct Support Professional (Valparaiso)

Sertoma Star Services; Merrillville (IN); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Holidays

Health insurance

Life/AD&D

EAP

401(k) with match

Tuition assistance

PSLF eligible

Training opportunities

Job summary

Sertoma Star Services in Indiana seeks a Direct Support Professional to provide 1:1 and group training in a supportive, person-centered environment for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental illness. You may cover short-notice absences and unscheduled shifts to ensure continuous, high-quality care and community integration.

Join a mission-driven team that values dignity, independence, and collaboration with families and professionals to support daily living, safety, and growth.

Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work with individuals with disabilities.
• Ability to work independently and complete tasks.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license when transportation is required.

Responsibilities

• Responding promptly to fill in for shifts.
• Communicates with consumers to determine likes, interests, strengths and needs.
• Treats consumers with dignity and respect while providing needed support.
• Support to obtain outcomes documented in the Person-Centered Plan.
• Provide 1:1 services and group training as needed.
• Assist with hygiene, grooming, dressing, and meals.
• Advocate for consumers and support community participation.
• Document supports in progress notes and medication records.

Skills

Verbal & written communication

Disability knowledge

Independent work

Education

High School Diploma

Job description

Who We Are

At Sertoma Star Services, we're on a mission to empower individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and those living with mental illness to reach their goals and lead fulfilling lives. With a strategic presence in South Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, we proudly serve over 2,000 consumers through a diverse range of vocational, educational, therapeutic, and residential programs.

Direct Support Professional On Call

Department: Indiana Services

Status: Full-time and Part-time

Who We Are

At Sertoma Star Services, we're on a mission to empower individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and those living with mental illness to reach their goals and lead fulfilling lives. With a strategic presence in South Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, we proudly serve over 2,000 consumers through a diverse range of vocational, educational, therapeutic, and residential programs.

Sertoma Star Services’ roots trace back to the merger of two dynamic social services organizations, New Star and Sertoma Centre combining over 125 years of expertise in providing cutting-edge, person-first services. Our united commitment is straightforward: to transform lives through delivering comprehensive services, choices, and opportunities to those we support in an environment that promotes self-advocacy and personal success.

By joining the Sertoma Star Team you will have a unique opportunity to challenge limits and change lives. Together, we can shape a brighter future for those we serve.

Your Role

As a Direct Support Professional, you will provide individual and group training in a supportive environment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This includes the provision of 1:1 services to specific consumers, as needed. This role is essential to Sertoma’s mission of providing compassionate care and ensuring services are delivered in a person-centered manner. In this position, you will be responsible for picking up short notice absence or unscheduled shifts to provide immediate care and support to clients as needed.

Responsibilities

• Responding promptly to fill in for shifts.
• Communicates well with consumers, using their preferred form of communication, to determine their likes, interests, strengths, wants and needs.
• Treats consumers with dignity and respect, while providing them with the support needed to become as independent as possible.
• Provides support to consumers to obtain outcomes that will allow them to live their best lives possible as documented in their Person-Centered Individual Service Plan.
• Provides support and training to consumers by completing tasks with the consumer instead of for the consumer.
• Provides support to complete all hygiene and grooming needs and training to support the consumer in understanding the importance of these tasks.
• Provides support to complete all dressing needs and training to support the consumer in understanding clothing that is appropriate for the weather.
• Provides support to ensure the consumer’s home is free from debris, clean and safe from hazards and training to support the consumer in understanding the importance of a clean and safe home.
• Provides support to consumers to make healthy choices when determining their meals and provides support and training while preparing meals, as needed, to ensure that meals meet any high risk plans and that kitchen safety is followed.
• Provides support and training on medication administration needs to each consumer according to agency policies and procedures.
• Provides opportunities for consumers to learn about medical providers and allows consumers to make informed choices about providers and services that they receive.
• Advocates for consumers wants and needs and helps them advocate for themselves, as requested.
• Supports consumers to participate fully in their community.
• Promotes community inclusion by assisting consumers in developing natural supports.
• Allows consumers to make choices throughout their daily life by providing opportunities and encouragement to learn problem solving skills, consequences and how to take responsibility for choices.
• Assesses and plans for risks to allow consumers to make informed choices when taking risks to participate in new experiences.
• Protects the rights of consumers by understanding their rights, educating them on their rights, and ensuring their rights are not violated.
• Documents all supports provided in a timely manner to include, but not limited to, daily progress notes, Medication Administration Records, incident reports, and injury/illness reports.
• Works cooperatively with all staff, outside providers, and family members/guardians to ensure high quality services.
• Follows all agency Policies and Procedures.

Qualifications

• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to effectively work with coworkers and consumers
• Knowledge of working with individuals with disabilities
• Ability to work independently and to carry out assignments to completion within parameters of instructions given, prescribed routines, and standard accepted practices
• High School Diploma preferred
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license and meet agency driving requirements when required to provide transportation.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off
• 12 Paid holidays
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance Plans
• Employer Paid Insurance: Basic Life/AD&D and Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• 403(b) with company match
• Tuition assistance
• Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Ongoing training and development opportunities

Health, Safety, and Culture

Sertoma Star is an equal opportunity employer that embraces the uniqueness of every person. Sertoma understands that in order for you to work effectively and be an advocate of inclusivity, we must foster an environment that is respectful and sensitive to persons of all gender identities and from every cultural, socioeconomic, ethnic, religious, and racial background. Our open-door, team-building concept supports both agency goals and employee success.