Direct Support Professional, 1st Shift
$41,600–$47,840 year
On-siteLa Crosse, Wisconsin, United States
Job Summary
Teach life, social, and communication skills while supporting activities of daily living and providing physical behavior interventions for students with developmental disabilities. Implement a trauma-informed approach using verbal de-escalation and creative redirection during crises, and encourage student individuality through self-expression and choice-making. Record behavior data, goals, and communication logs; complete Emergency Intervention Forms, Incident Reports, and Employee Accident Reports. Communicate with house or classroom leads regarding incidents and participate in pre-shift debriefings to ensure all chores and forms are finalized. Review expectations with students before transitions and offer opportunities for self-advocacy regarding their rights. Work first shift (7:30am–4:30pm) Monday through Friday and every other weekend, collaborating with the scheduler and shift manager on rotating schedules.
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Behavioral skills and judgment conducive to role modeling appropriate skills for students
- A passion for helping others
- Empathetic nature
- Willingness to learn
- Strong communication skills
- Use a Trauma Informed Approach by communicating with and about students in a respectful, positive, and age-appropriate manner while consistently using a therapeutic tone even in high stress situations
- Encourage individuality of students by allowing self-expression and opportunities to make choices throughout their day
- Record behavior data, goals and communication logs of all assigned students, and complete Emergency Intervention Forms (EIFs), Incident Reports (IRs), and/or Employee Accident Reports
- Communicate with house/classroom leads when there is an incident or emergency intervention
- Participate in debriefing and check out with house lead or classroom prior to leaving before your shift, ensuring all chores, data, and forms are completed
- Review expectations with students prior to transitions, activities, or events
- Help students to understand their rights by offering opportunities for self-advocacy
- Use Crisis management techniques taught in trainings including verbal de-escalation, creative redirection, topic changes, and allowing space and time for processing during a crisis
- Must be available for first shift (with working hours between 7:30am and 4:30pm), Monday through Friday, and every other weekend
- DSPs work rotating holidays and overtime as approved
Desired Qualifications
- Experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities
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