Bethany House provides a safe place for healing and personal growth for women, and women with children, experiencing homelessness. It is built on a foundation of community support to provide a continuum of care, from uncertainty to stability. Through our partnerships, we provide the women in our programs with trauma informed services, in-house and community based health services, and case management focused on securing educational and employment growth opportunities and a path to permanent housing and self-sufficiency. We strive for our guests and their children to experience a sense of self-worth and belonging in response to their experience with our dedicated staff and volunteers.

JOB TITLE: DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL

REPORTS TO: RESIDENTIAL DIRECTOR

QUALIFICATIONS:

The successful candidate will be a self-starting individual who demonstrates the desire and capability to work in a flexible and diverse atmosphere, interacting with a variety of persons from different socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. The DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL must have the ability to be part of a cooperative team, must possess organizational and management skills, and must have a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the crisis of homelessness. The candidate must have, at a minimum, a high school education, but additional professional education is preferred. Basic knowledge of computer word processing is useful.

The DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL must represent the values and philosophy of Bethany House to all whom she/he encounters by being: professional, concerned, and welcoming.

JOB SUMMARY:

• The DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL’s primary responsibility is the care and safety of the residents, and secondarily, the care and safety of the facility.

• The DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL must create an atmosphere of acceptance, challenge and concern for the residents, act as a healthy adult role model, and supervise the activities of the house.

• The DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL must make decisions when necessary and appropriate in keeping with the House Regulations and Rules, and be available to residents in times of emergencies.

• The DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL also assists the Residence Director, the Director

of Residential Services, and the Executive Director as needed.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supervise the daily activities of the house

• Orient new residents to house activities, regulations and responsibilities

• Prepare and serve the evening meal and interact with guests during meals and/or snack times, observing interactions

• Coordinate clean-up of kitchen and dining area

• Instruct, supervise and assist the residents in the care of the house

• Provide informal support and encouragement to residents and be available to them to discuss difficulties, problems, goals, needs, etc.

• Ensure that the rights, privacy, and dignity of the residents are protected

• In consultation with the Residence Director, develop and implement daily activities to prepare residents for healthy independent living

• Instruct, assist and provide the residents with ongoing parenting skills and childcare

• Initiate and coordinate appropriate recreational activities for the women and/or the children

• Respond to phone calls and visitors with attentiveness and compassion, taking and giving appropriate information and referral assistance

• Maintain a daily log of house activities and complete appropriate progress notes

• Attend and participate in all staff meetings, ongoing staff training and professional development as scheduled