Registered Nurse (RN)

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Patient Care Technician

Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)

Program Manager, Non-Profit Organization

Program Director, Non-Profit

Executive Director

Program Coordinator, Non-Profit Organization

Social Worker

Case Manager, Social Services

Case Manager

Direct Support Professional

Main

Female

Male

Prefer to self-define

Medical / Health

Dental

None

Vision

Rescare, Inc

The Mentor Network

The Arc

Catholic Charities

Rescare Home Care, Inc.

Less than 1 year

1-4 years

5-9 years

10-19 years

20 years or more

New York, New York

Chicago, Illinois

Binghamton, New York

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Cleveland, Ohio

Toledo, Ohio

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Rochester, New York

Disability Support

Medication Administration

Home Health/Home Care

Assisted Living

Cleaning

Transport

Adult Daycare

Writing Procedures & Documentation

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Crisis Intervention

Data Collection

Customer Service

Long Term Care

Team Leadership

Employment for Disabled

Training

Counseling

Community Health

Elder Care

Patient Counseling

Safety Compliance

Electronic Medical Records (EMR)

Home Care

Community Outreach / Activism

Client/Server

Problem Solving

Nutrition Support

Oral / Verbal Communication

Direct support professionals perform a number of tasks to aid people with disabilities, providing encouragement and instructions on specific tasks the individuals struggle with due to their disabilities. Most direct support professionals are expected to document their interactions with clients - as well as any changes they notice - so the care team may learn and develop strategies. Often, they communicate with external parties on issues related to the client's care. For example, some clients may be unable to talk on the phone; direct support professionals may help provide solutions for those clients and work with caretakers and loved ones as necessary.
Most direct support professionals do not work in a centralized location and make regular visits to clients' homes. However, in some cases, direct support professionals may report to a specific building in which several residents need their services. Although direct support professionals typically work during regular business hours, help outside of these hours may be required unexpectedly (such as in emergencies). As most direct support professionals are employed by contractors, many support professionals may need to report their activities to their employer, a care home manager, and/or clients' families. For this reason, direct support professionals must have excellent communications and interpersonal skills. 
A high school diploma or equivalent is generally required for direct support professionals, as is daily access to a vehicle. Additional qualifications - and previous experience in the field of patient care and disability services - are often preferred.

The average pay for a Direct Support Professional with DSP skills is $12.28 per hour.

The average pay for a Direct Support Professional with DSP skills is $29,875 per year.

total

base

United States