Direct Care Professional

Job Summary

Provide direct support and comprehensive care to individuals with behavioral health, intellectual, or developmental disabilities in residential and community settings. Responsibilities may include assisting with activities of daily living, implementing individualized support or treatment plans, monitoring client well-being and safety, facilitating therapeutic and skill-building activities, documenting services, responding to behavioral or crisis needs, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams. The scope, complexity, level of independence, mentoring expectations, and clinical responsibilities assigned to the position will vary based on the employee’s education, experience, credentials, assigned Direct Care Professional level, program requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential duties and primary responsibilities below are intended to describe the general requirements of this job and are not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties. Other duties may be assigned.

• Provide direct care, supervision, and behavioral support to clients in residential and/or community settings.
• Assist clients with activities of daily living, which may include hygiene, dressing, meals, nutrition, mobility, and medication-related support within the scope of assigned responsibilities.
• Implement and follow individualized support plans (ISPs), treatment plans, behavioral protocols, and established care procedures as applicable to the assigned program and level.
• Monitor client behavior, mood, progress, health, and safety; identify changes or concerns and respond or escalate appropriately.
• Maintain timely and accurate documentation of services, observations, progress, incidents, and interventions using required documentation systems, including electronic health records when applicable.
• Facilitate or support group activities, therapeutic exercises, educational sessions, skill-building activities, and community integration opportunities.
• Support clients in developing coping strategies, independent living skills, and other skills consistent with individualized goals.
• Respond to crisis situations and behavioral concerns using approved de-escalation, safety, and intervention techniques within the employee’s training and scope of responsibility.
• Transport clients to appointments, treatment sessions, community activities, and other approved locations as required.
• Maintain a safe, clean, and supportive environment, including room checks, basic housekeeping, laundry, and other program-related duties as assigned.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with clients, families, supervisors, clinicians, therapists, and other members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Provide informal guidance, mentoring, or training to lower-level or less experienced direct care staff when assigned.
• Support medication monitoring or administration activities only as authorized by training, certification, program requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Other duties as assigned.