Direct Support Specialist - FT 40h

Journey Found; East Lyme (CT); On-site; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Journey Found, Inc. in Connecticut is seeking a Direct Support Specialist to assist people in our group homes. Responsibilities include daily living tasks, transportation, coordinating activities, medication administration, appointments, and teamwork with nurses and supervisors.

We offer extensive training, flexible scheduling, and a comprehensive benefits package. Requirements include a high school diploma, 3 years driving experience, and MAP program completion; commitment to compassionate care

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• At least 3 years of driving experience with a valid license.
• Behavioral Management experience or training.
• Clear communication, both oral and written.
• Must obtain PMT, CPR, FA and DDS Medication Administration training.
• Must be free from communicable disease.

Responsibilities

• Support individuals with activities of daily living.
• Transport individuals as needed.
• Organize activities and community outings.
• Administer medications.
• Attend doctors’ appointments.
• Document program data.
• Teach and engage individuals.
• Implement good routines.
• Assist in decision making.
• Grocery shopping and running errands.
• Deescalate situations and manage behaviors.
• Work as part of a team.
• Communicate professionally with nurses and supervisors.

Job description

Job Location: 092 Pontiac - Niantic, CT 06357
Salary Range: $19.67 Hourly
SCHEDULE: Saturday 2p-9p, Sunday 10a-6p, Monday 3p-12a, Thursday 1p-10p & Friday 1p-8p.

For internal applications written interest & resume must be submitted by application deadline: 7/31/2025

Are you interested in helping others? Compassionate, empathetic, and caring? Then this might be a great opportunity for you! We are currently looking for a Direct Support Specialist to help the people we are supporting in our group homes.

The mission of Journey Found Inc. is to provide behavioral, residential, and other support services to individuals of Connecticut with Pervasive Developmental Disorders and Intellectual Disabilities to enable them to become all they are capable of being.

Fundamental functions of the position

• Supporting individuals with activities of daily living (getting dressed, cooking, cleaning, bathing, toileting etc.)
• Transporting people
• Organizing activities and community outings
• Medication administration
• Doctors’ appointments
• Documenting Program Data
• Teaching and engaging
• Implementing good routines
• Helping in decision making process
• Grocery shopping and running errands
• Deescalating situations and managing behaviors
• Working as part of a collective team
• Communicating professionally with Nurses, Clinical Staff, Directors and Supervisors

Benefits

We offer a rich benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, flexible spending accounts, dependent care accounts, and 403-(b) plan, tuition reimbursement and more for full time employees.

Training

We provide state-of-the-art training in areas such as person centered planning/thinking, CPR/first aid, human rights, compliance/HIPAA, workplace safety/OSHA and medication administration.

Experience preferred but not necessary--we train exceptional people to provide exceptional care.

Requirements

• Must have at least a High School Diploma or its equivalent
• Must have at least 3 years driving experience with a valid driver’s license
• Behavioral Management Experience and/or formal training
• Ability to communicate, both orally and in writing
• Will be required to be PMT, CPR, FA and complete DDS Medication Administration Program (MAP)
• Must be free from communicable disease

Equal Employment Opportunity

Journey Found, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Journey Found, Inc. complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The ability to move independently throughout a wide range of environments, some of which may not be wheelchair or otherwise handicapped accessible, is required. Independent transportation to locations that may not be served by public transportation may be necessary. Journey Found will make reasonable accommodations, whenever possible, when needed and/or requested by employees. Requests for accommodations will be honored, unless the accommodation would cause undue hardship on the operation of the program and/or on the organization.