Direct support personnel

Job Details:

Job Location: Colorado Springs, CO - Colorado Springs, CO

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: 4 Year Degree

Salary Range: $18.00 - $24.00 Hourly

Travel Percentage: Up to 50%

Job Category: Nonprofit - Social Services

Griffith Centers is seeking a compassionate and dedicated Direct Support Professional (DSP) to support adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in achieving greater independence, community engagement, and quality of life. In this rewarding role, you will work directly with members in their homes and communities, providing individualized support, encouragement, and skill development while promoting dignity, choice, and personal growth. As a Direct Support Professional, you will play a key role in helping members achieve their personal goals, build meaningful relationships, and develop the skills needed to live as independently as possible. If you are passionate about helping others succeed and want a career where your work truly makes an impact, we invite you to join our mission-driven team.

What We Offer:

• Pay Range: $18.00 - $24.00 per hour
• Medical, dental, vision, and voluntary benefits
• Participation in our 403(b) retirement plan
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Colorado paid sick leave in accordance with Colorado Health Families and Workplaces (HFWA)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Professional development and training/certification opportunities

Responsibilities:

• Provide support with basic housekeeping, meal preparation, grocery shopping, and other daily living activities.
• Assist members with personal care needs while respecting dignity, individual preferences, and personal independence.
• Accompany members to medical appointments, shopping trips, recreational activities, and community events, providing transportation as needed.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with members, families, case managers, service providers, and community partners.
• Review and become familiar with member-specific protocols, service plans, behavior support plans, and individual goals.
• Implement person-centered support strategies tailored to each member's unique strengths, preferences, and needs.
• Accurately and promptly complete required documentation in compliance with organizational, state, and regulatory requirements.
• Manage challenging behaviors using approved intervention techniques and established training methods while promoting positive behaviors and emotional well-being.
• Maintain current knowledge of agency policies, regulatory standards, and best practices in the field of developmental disability services.
• Support members in developing life skills, increasing self-advocacy, and participating meaningfully in their communities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a Human Services field required.
• Associate degree, relevant coursework, or equivalent experience working in human services, caregiving, behavioral health, or developmental disability services may be considered.
• One to two years of experience in a similar direct support, caregiving, behavioral health, or human services role preferred.
• Experience working with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) preferred.
• Qualified Medication Administration Personnel (QMAP) certification, or ability to obtain within 60 days of hire.
• CPR and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Safety Care certification, or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.
• Valid driver's license, satisfactory driving record, and current automobile insurance with the ability to travel on behalf of the organization.
• Must successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen.
• Must successfully complete a comprehensive background screening as a condition of employment, in accordance with organizational and departmental regulations.
• This screening includes initial and ongoing state criminal background checks, fingerprinting, sex offender registry searches, and abuse and neglect clearances.
• If the employee has lived in any other state within the past five years, equivalent background and abuse/neglect checks from those states may also be conducted.
• In addition, employees are required to complete a health evaluation or physical examination prior to beginning service to confirm fitness for duty, and annually thereafter.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.

Why Griffith Centers?

• Community Impact: Be part of a team that is dedicated to serving the local community and making a difference in the lives of children and families.
• Values-Driven Culture: Join an organization that prioritizes service, psychological and physical safety, ethics, passion, and collaboration in everything we do.
• Exciting Challenges: Thrive in a fast-paced, community setting that creates dynamic, vibrant, and diverse activities and interactions, and every day presents new opportunities for growth and learning.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Griffith Centers is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of disability or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

ADA Compliance: If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact us at hr@griffithcenters.org.

Drug-Free Workplace: As a federal contractor, Griffith Centers maintains a policy of a drug-free workplace. Candidates for employment must pass a drug screen, and all employees are subject to reasonable suspicion and post-accident testing.

Employment with Griffith Centers is "at-will." Except as may be required by state law, employment with Griffith Centers is at-will, meaning that either you or Griffith Centers may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice, subject only to applicable law. All employees may be subject to an initial evaluation period of approximately 90 days; however, this initial evaluation does not guarantee any term of employment, and the employer may exercise the right to end their work relationship with the company for any reason. Completion of the introductory period does not alter the at-will nature of employment.