Direct Support Professional (DSP) -

APD Group Home Location:

Ruskin, Florida Employment Type:

Full-time and Part-time Starting Pay:

$16.00 per hour

Pay After Training:

$17.00 per hour following successful completion of required training, orientation, and competency requirements About Harmoni's Retreat Harmoni's Retreat is a licensed Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) residential group home serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Some residents may also have behavioral, communication, sensory, mobility, personal-care, medication, and other support needs. We are seeking dependable, compassionate, and professional Direct Support Professionals who are comfortable supporting individuals with disabilities and providing hands-on personal care. Applicants must be willing to follow individualized support plans, behavioral strategies, safety procedures, and all APD and facility requirements. Position Summary The Direct Support Professional provides supervision, personal care, life-skills training, behavioral support, and assistance with daily activities. The DSP helps residents maintain their health and safety while encouraging independence, dignity, choice, community participation, and achievement of personal goals. This is an active, hands-on caregiving position. It requires patience, consistency, good judgment, reliable attendance, and the ability to remain calm when responding to challenging situations.

Essential Responsibilities Responsibilities may include:

Providing continuous supervision and ensuring resident health and safety Assisting with activities of daily living, including bathing, grooming, dressing, oral hygiene, toileting, and incontinence care Supporting residents with meal preparation, eating, hydration, and dietary instructions Teaching and reinforcing life skills such as cleaning, laundry, organization, personal hygiene, meal preparation, and household participation Encouraging residents to complete tasks as independently as possible Supporting residents during community outings, appointments, recreational activities, school, work, or day-program participation Providing safe transportation when assigned and authorized Following each resident's implementation plan, support plan, behavioral support plan, safety plan, and medical instructions Using approved positive behavioral supports, prevention techniques, redirection, and de-escalation strategies Responding calmly and professionally to behaviors such as verbal aggression, refusal, impulsivity, property destruction, elopement risk, or other challenging behavior Maintaining professional boundaries and treating all residents with dignity and respect Assisting with routine medication administration only after completing all required medication-assistance training and validation Completing medication records and controlled-medication counts when trained and assigned Observing residents for changes in behavior, health, mood, appetite, mobility, or functioning and promptly reporting concerns Completing daily progress notes, behavioral documentation, incident reports, medication documentation, shift reports, and other required records accurately and on time Participating in thorough shift-to-shift communication and reporting unfinished tasks or important resident information Maintaining a clean, organized, and safe home environment Completing household responsibilities such as cleaning, disinfecting, laundry, meal preparation, and stocking supplies Participating in emergency drills, staff meetings, training, and competency reviews Following emergency procedures and immediately reporting suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment, injuries, medication errors, or safety concerns Protecting resident confidentiality, privacy, rights, personal property, and funds Performing other duties reasonably related to resident support and group-home operations Behavioral-Support Expectations Applicants must be comfortable working in a behavior-focused environment. Residents may occasionally display challenging behaviors consistent with their diagnoses and individual support plans.

Employees are expected to:

Remain calm and professional Follow approved behavioral strategies exactly as trained Use positive reinforcement, redirection, and de-escalation Request assistance when a situation exceeds their training or ability Never retaliate, threaten, punish, abuse, neglect, exploit, or use unauthorized restraint Report incidents, injuries, behavioral changes, and safety concerns immediately Minimum Qualifications Applicants must: Be at least 18 years old Possess a high school diploma or equivalent Be legally authorized to work in the United States Be dependable, punctual, patient, and compassionate Be comfortable providing direct personal care to individuals with disabilities Be able to communicate effectively with residents, families, coworkers, supervisors, healthcare professionals, and other members of the support team Be able to read, understand, and follow written plans, medication instructions, safety procedures, and facility policies Be able to complete clear, accurate, and timely documentation Be willing to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and overnight shifts as scheduled Remain awake and attentive for the entire overnight shift when assigned Be able to respond appropriately during emergencies Be willing to complete all required APD and facility training within the established timeframe Successfully complete a Level 2 background screening through the applicable Florida Clearinghouse Successfully complete any required local background screening Maintain eligibility to work with vulnerable individuals Maintain current required certifications and notify management before any certification expires Preferred Qualifications The following are preferred but not required: Previous experience as a DSP, caregiver, behavior assistant, residential staff member, CNA, home health aide, or patient-care assistant Experience supporting individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities Experience working with autism, behavioral needs, or mental-health diagnoses Current CPR and First Aid certification Current APD medication-assistance training and validation Professional Crisis Management (PCM) or comparable approved behavioral-support training APD Direct Care Core Competencies APD Zero Tolerance training HIV/AIDS, infection-control, and HIPAA training Behavior Assistant training Valid Florida driver's license, acceptable driving record, and reliable transportation Applicants who do not currently possess all preferred training may still be considered. Harmoni's Retreat is willing to train qualified candidates who demonstrate reliability, professionalism, compassion, and a willingness to learn. Physical and Functional Requirements Depending on resident needs, the position may require the ability to: Stand, walk, bend, reach, kneel, and move throughout the shift Use stairs safely and supervise residents using stairs Assist residents with personal care, positioning, mobility, and daily activities Perform household cleaning, laundry, and meal-preparation duties Respond promptly to behavioral, medical, or environmental emergencies Safely perform the essential functions of the position, with reasonable accommodation when applicable Schedule Full-time and part-time positions are available.

Scheduling needs may include:

Day shifts Evening shifts Awake overnight shifts Weekends Holidays Eight-hour or twelve-hour shifts, depending on facility needs Compensation Starting pay: $16.00 per hour Pay increases to $17.00 per hour after successful completion of required orientation, training, and competency requirements Continued employment and performance of restricted duties are subject to maintaining all required screenings, training, certifications, and validations

Pay:

$16.00 - $17.00 per hour Expected hours: 24.0 - 40.0 per week

Work Location:

In person