Direct Support Professional - Level 2

Create stability. Inspire growth. Join the 2nd Mountain team!

2nd Mountain Homes is deeply committed to providing safe, stable, and supportive housing for adolescents and young adults ages 18–21 who are transitioning out of foster care or experiencing homelessness in the Greater Orlando area. We take a holistic, youth-centered approach grounded in four core pillars: Housing, Education, Employment, and Mental Health. Through structured housing, life skills development, employment readiness, and access to mental health support, we help young people build stability, independence, and a path forward. Our work is strengthened by strong community partnerships and a deep commitment to reducing youth homelessness in Central Florida.

Why Work With Us?

At 2nd Mountain Homes, your work directly changes lives. You’ll be part of a mission-driven team supporting young adults through one of the most critical transitions of their lives. We value compassion, consistency, accountability, and teamwork, and we offer meaningful work where your impact is felt every day. If this resonates with you, please apply now.

What This Role Matters:

The Direct Support Professional II is an experienced, trusted presence within the residential program. This position combines hands-on resident support with sound judgment, strong knowledge of child welfare and community resources, and the ability to help maintain consistency across daily operations. The DSP II serves as a resource to residents and colleagues, supports newer team members, and helps strengthen relationships with community partners.

This is not a formal management position. It is designed for a seasoned human-services professional who can lead through credibility, example, and relationships while remaining actively engaged in direct resident support.

In This Role, You Will

• Provide direct, day-to-day support to residents in accordance with individualized service plans.
• Use extensive child welfare or human-services experience to build trust, recognize emerging needs, and respond appropriately to complex resident situations.
• Maintain a safe, structured, trauma-informed, and supportive residential environment.
• Coach residents in daily living skills, decision-making, routines, problem-solving, and personal accountability.
• Monitor resident behavior, identify patterns or concerns, and use sound judgment to prevent or de-escalate conflict.
• Encourage and help residents navigate education, employment, therapy, benefits, and other supportive services.
• Serve as a knowledgeable resource to DSP team members and provide informal guidance, modeling, and onboarding support to newer staff when requested.
• Help preserve program continuity by sharing relevant operational knowledge, identifying gaps, and recommending practical improvements to resident services and day-to-day processes.
• Develop and maintain professional working relationships with child welfare professionals, service providers, and community partners, as assigned.
• Communicate significant resident concerns, operational issues, and recommended next steps to leadership promptly and professionally.
• Document resident interactions, incidents, referrals, and shift notes accurately and on time.
• Uphold program rules, policies, confidentiality requirements, and professional boundaries.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

What You Need

• High school diploma or GED required; an associate or bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, psychology, criminal justice, education, or a related field is preferred.
• At least ten years of progressively responsible experience in child welfare, foster care, independent living, youth homelessness, residential services, behavioral health, or a closely related human-services setting. Extensive directly relevant experience may be considered in place of formal education.
• Demonstrated ability to establish credibility and respectful working relationships with adolescents, young adults, families, service providers, and community partners.
• Strong working knowledge of child welfare systems, community resources, case coordination, and the barriers faced by young adults transitioning to independence.
• Ability to remain calm, exercise sound judgment, and respond effectively to behavioral, emotional, or operational challenges.
• Strong communication, documentation, interpersonal, mentoring, and boundary-setting skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with program leadership and the broader support team.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule between 6:45 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. and weekends on a rotating basis.
• Medication Management Certified, or ability to obtain certification before day one.
• Ability to complete all required agency, regulatory, and program-specific training within 60 days of hire.
• Ability to pass required background checks and screenings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fifteen or more years of experience in child welfare or a closely related field.
• Deep familiarity with Central Florida child welfare, housing, behavioral health, education, employment, and community-support networks.
• Experience supporting youth ages 18–21 who have aged out of foster care or experienced homelessness.
• Experience informally mentoring staff, supporting team onboarding, or helping improve program practices without formal supervisory authority.
• Training in trauma-informed care, de-escalation, crisis intervention, motivational interviewing, or positive youth development.
• Familiarity with transitional housing, independent living, or residential program operations.

Application Question(s):

• Do you have at least five years of professional experience in child welfare, foster care, residential services, youth homelessness, behavioral health, or a closely related human-services field?
• During the past 10 years, have you remained with at least one employer for five or more consecutive years?

Shift availability:

• Day Shift (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Orlando, FL 32810 (Required)

Work Location: In person