Youth Direct Support Professional

Devereux; West Chester (Chester County); On-site; USD 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid training

Professional development

Medical benefits

Dental

Mental health services

Tuition reimbursement

403(b) matching

Employee assistance

Job summary

Devereux is seeking a Direct Support Professional to support children, adolescents, and young adults aged 6–21 with IDD and BH/MH in Pennsylvania. You’ll help with daily activities, supervision, and progress toward treatment goals within a clinical team.

We offer paid training, benefits after 30 days, and a sign-on bonus. Schedule options include full-time, part-time, weekend, and PRN, with shift times that fit students and working parents.

Qualifications

• Education requirements as stated: high-school diploma or GED; higher education preferred.
• Candidates must be at least 21 years old.
• Prior experience working with children in behavioral health preferred.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safety: Supervise and maintain the well-being of the individuals in your care at all times.
• Engage and connect: Participate in daily ADLs, recreational, and social activities to encourage growth, confidence, and independence.
• Coach and redirect: Address and appropriately redirect inappropriate behaviors while reinforcing positive actions through supportive communication.
• Support progress: Implement individualized treatment plan goals and objectives while working collaboratively with the clinical team to support each person’s development.

Education

High-school diploma or GED

Education Evaluation for foreign education

Job description

Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Are you passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of children, adolescents, and young adults ages 6–21 with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and Behavioral/Mental Health (BH/MH) diagnoses? At Devereux, we’re looking for dedicated, compassionate, and energetic individuals to join our team as Direct Support Professionals. This is your opportunity to help shape brighter futures while growing your career in behavioral health and human services.

• Population Served: Children and adolescents ages 6–21
• Pay: $17.50–$23.05/hour, based on experience and education
• Shift Options: 7am - 3pm | 2pm - 10pm | 10pm - 8am
• Shift Differential: Additional $2.00/hour from 2:00pm–11:00pm
• Sign-On Bonus Paid out over the first 6 months of employment:
  • Full-time $1,000: $300 at 30 days | $350 at 90 days | $350 at 180 days
  • Part-time: $500: $150 at 30 days | $150 at 90 days | $200 at 180 days
• Schedule Options: Full-time, part-time, weekend intensive, and PRN options available

Every Day as a Direct Support Professional, You Will…

• Ensure safety: Supervise and maintain the well-being of the individuals in your care at all times.
• Engage and connect: Participate in daily ADLs, recreational, and social activities to encourage growth, confidence, and independence.
• Coach and redirect: Address and appropriately redirect inappropriate behaviors while reinforcing positive actions through supportive communication.
• Support progress: Implement individualized treatment plan goals and objectives while working collaboratively with the clinical team to support each person’s development.

What Devereux Offers You

• Opportunities to learn and grow in the behavioral health and human services fields
• A fun, fast-paced, supportive environment where you can participate in the treatment planning process
• ASCEND Career Accelerator Program to support your long‑term growth
• Paid training and professional development
• Benefit eligibility after 30 days of employment, effective the first day of the first pay period after 30 days
• Learn more through MyDevereuxBenefits
• Medical (including telemedicine via phone, web, app), dental, prescription drug, preventative care, and mental health services.
• Student loan debt assistance, tuition reimbursement and continuing education assistance.
• Generous time‑off (start accruing 1st day), 403(b) retirement plan with matching benefit, and voluntary/employee paid supplemental life and accident coverage.
• Employee assistance / work‑life balance program.

About Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Services

Devereux Pennsylvania Children’s Services (DPACS) serves children, adolescents, and young adults with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral, emotional, and psychiatric challenges and disorders. Located in West Chester and Malvern, Pennsylvania, services provided include psychiatric residential treatment (PRTF), acute inpatient psychiatric hospital (AIP), assessment services, community-based mental health services, community-based employment training and social skills training, and approved private school educational services to male and female children and adolescents ages 6–21 with diagnoses of intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and concomitant psychiatric and behavioral challenges often associated with experiencing some level of trauma in their lives.

Qualifications

• EDUCATION: High‑school diploma or GED required | Higher education preferred * Education Evaluation required if education was acquired outside the U.S.
• AGE: Candidates must be at‑least 21 years of age.
• EXPERIENCE: Prior experience working with children in behavioral health preferred.

Devereux has a zero‑tolerance policy for abuse and maintains policies and procedures to systematically reduce the risk of abuse to occur in our organization. Devereux fosters a culture of reporting abuse, and will cooperate with the authorities to the fullest extent possible.

Company Overview

Devereux is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations, providing services, insight and leadership in the evolving field of behavioral healthcare. Founded in 1912, Devereux operates a comprehensive national network of clinical, therapeutic, educational and employment programs that positively impact the lives of 10,000+ children, adults – and their families – every year.

Our Mission

Devereux changes lives – by unlocking and nurturing human potential for people living with emotional, behavioral or cognitive differences.

Our Culture, Our Expectations

At Devereux, Servant Leadership is embedded throughout our culture and every aspect of our organizational framework. Our mission‑driven, people‑first mindset is at the heart of the compassionate and high‑quality programming we provide – every day – for the individuals and families we serve, and other key stakeholders. Devereux offers challenging and exciting work, and our team environment creates an empowering, positive and rewarding atmosphere. To be successful at Devereux, you will: put the needs of others first, feel called to serve and called to lead. As a member of our team, you will be a significant part of our commitment to providing a welcoming and supportive work environment across all programs and services, and within all policies and employee practices. We believe a workplace rooted in inclusivity – offering a sense of belonging to all those who walk through our doors – is fundamental to delivering the highest quality healthcare services. Through open dialogue and the creation of brave spaces, we will engage in work that gives each of us a chance to change the world – one person, one family, one community at a time.

Visit www.mydevereuxbenefits.org to see why Devereux is a great place to work!

Devereux is a drug‑free workplace, drug screening required. EOE