Per Diem Direct Support Professional
$18.50 - $19.55/hr+ 403(b) employer match
Entry
Bachelor's
Babylon, NY, USA
In PersonBabylon location; assignments may also involve other YAI or off-site locations, including hospitals.
Social & Community ServicesResidential & Direct Support
About the job
Requirements
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Ability to meet the position's physical demands, including frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling, and reaching; handling objects, tools, or controls; assisting with lifting or moving individuals of any weight with mechanical lifts or other equipment and/or pushing individuals in wheelchairs; lifting or moving up to 25 pounds on occasion; and implementing emergency interventions as specified in an individual's Behavior Support Plan, including lifting or moving individuals of any weight with or without equipment or other staff.
- Effective written and oral communication skills, including the ability to document services for billing and tracking.
- Enthusiasm for working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; willingness to take initiative; and ability to demonstrate positivity, patience, empathy, and compassion in interactions.
- Ability and willingness to assist with varied supports and activities of daily living, including regular exposure to and handling of bodily fluids.
- Basic computer skills, including email and use of Workday and related systems such as Digital Agency.
- Must hold or obtain and maintain Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention – Revised within one year of appointment.
- Must hold or obtain and maintain additional certifications required by the program assignment and people supported, such as Choking Return Demonstration, Approved Medication Administration Personnel, Diabetes Care, CPR, and Tube Feeding, within one year of appointment.
- Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships aligned with YAI's mission and vision.
- Ability to remain calm in stressful situations and work in a high-energy, fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work beyond scheduled hours or shifts and report as scheduled on holidays, in inclement weather, or during emergencies to maintain minimum program coverage, unless otherwise authorized.
- For assignments involving transportation, must hold or obtain and maintain a valid driver's license and van certification as required by the position, location, or program.
Responsibilities
- Support individuals in maximizing their strengths, interests, and abilities; uphold their personal rights; provide emotional support; and build positive relationships with patience and tolerance.
- Help people meet personal goals associated with quality of life; communicate respectfully using person-first language; encourage socializing; and facilitate activities that build social connections and community participation.
- Supervise, protect, and care for individuals at all times; maintain program guidelines; facilitate fire-safety learning and training; and identify and appropriately escalate signs of potential harm to self or others.
- Promote health, wellness, and safety through appropriate supervision and crisis management in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, and regulations.
- Provide support in varied settings according to individualized service and behavior support plans, using appropriate skills for people with varying needs and demonstrating OPWDD Core Competencies.
- Implement person-centered individualized plans, including levels of supervision and safeguards such as Individual Plan of Protective Oversight, Behavior Support Plans, Staff Action Plans, and Life Plans, and understand their intentions and goals.
- Maintain a clean, safe, and organized therapeutic environment.
- Use safe and appropriate handling procedures and implement infection-control protocols.
- Provide personal care and assist with activities of daily living, including intimate care and hygiene such as bathing, dressing, and toileting, as well as laundry and housekeeping.
- Ensure medication is administered as prescribed and in accordance with applicable guidelines.
- Teach and develop skills.
- Support person-centered advocacy.
- Assist with communication and self-expression and help resolve disputes among individuals.
- Facilitate ethical decision-making.
- Supervise and/or plan and prepare balanced meals and snacks in accordance with individual dietary restrictions and guidelines, including modified diets or liquid consistencies.
- Transport and escort individuals to recreational activities, medical appointments, home visits, volunteer or employment sites, and other destinations.
- Assist people with purchases and safeguard personal allowance and other funds provided to them.
- Develop specialized clinical knowledge for individual needs, including supporting adults, challenging behaviors, autism spectrum disorders, and complex medical needs.
- Implement Behavior Support Plans as written by the Behavior Intervention Specialist.
- Collect, record, and summarize data on observable behavior.
- Observe and report behavioral changes and other signs or symptoms to the clinical or leadership team.
- Contribute to the support team by providing feedback, communicating program needs, and maintaining a solution-oriented approach during conflicts.
- Complete and maintain required trainings and certifications, including specialized training, to comply with YAI policies and applicable rules and regulations; apply the skills learned.
- Review communication logs daily and enter events, progress notes, services, and other information; collect and enter operational data in electronic health records such as Digital Agency and Electronic Medication Administration Records.
- Complete required paperwork and documentation accurately and on time for compliance and billing, including notifications, logs, incident reports, file updates, maintenance requests, phone calls, and incident tracking.
- Use foundational teaching skills such as Explain, Model, Observe and Evaluate, task analysis, essential skills, supports and modifications, and progressive teaching.
- Understand behavior as communication and use person-centered thinking to support positive interactions and prevent escalation.
- Comply with federal, state, local, and other applicable regulatory requirements, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
- Report maintenance, upkeep, and safety concerns at YAI facilities to the Program Supervisor or appropriate designee.
- Consult with program leadership, clinical staff, and other direct support staff to ensure high-quality care; attend and actively participate in team meetings.
- Use approved YAI and OPWDD training techniques, including verbal, environmental, and physical interventions such as takedowns, to respond appropriately to challenging or self-injurious behavior and protect the health and safety of people supported, oneself, and others.
- Provide coverage for other direct support staff as requested, which may involve another YAI or off-site location, such as a hospital, and remaining on shift to maintain minimum program coverage.
- May participate in developing treatment plans.
- For certain assignments, operate a YAI motor vehicle to transport individuals to and/or from programs, residences, community locations, or other destinations on a daily or other regular basis, with appropriate credentials.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Desired Qualifications
- A high school diploma or educational equivalent is preferred.
- Work or life experience in the intellectual and developmental disabilities field is a plus but is not mandatory for DSP 1 positions.
- For elevated DSP positions, at least three years of direct support professional experience with the intellectual and developmental disabilities population is required, along with obtaining and maintaining setting-specific YAI certifications within six months of appointment.
About the company
Yai's Manhattan Star Academy (MSA) is a private, non-profit day school within the YAI Network that serves students aged 3 to 21 with developmental disabilities. It combines academics with therapies (occupational, physical, speech, counseling) in a Montessori-inspired, developmentally based curriculum, using small classes and sensory-friendly facilities with technology to track progress. The school includes a transition and vocational program to prepare students for life after graduation. Its differentiators are the integrated therapeutic model, a specialized environment for neuro-developmental needs, and a continuous education path from early years through post-secondary readiness.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
Seed
Total Funding
$330K
Headquarters
New York City, New York
Founded
2023
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- STAR generated new adult-transition demand after its July 2025 launch.
- YAI's FY2025 filings show educational revenue reaching $51.7 million.
- MSA still advertises rolling admissions, signaling continued parent demand in Manhattan.
What critics are saying
- MSA depends on YAI for $1.05 million annual management support and operations.
- YAI's FY2025 educational revenue concentration rises if New York tuition reimbursement weakens.
- Special-education staffing remains tight; MSA is hiring teachers, therapists, and social workers now.
What makes Yai unique
- MSA's 8:1 classes pair academics with OT, PT, speech, and counseling.
- YAI's STAR program, launched July 2025, extends transition services through age 21.
- YAI management supports MSA with finance, HR, IT, training, and fundraising.
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Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Paid Vacation
- Paid Sick Leave
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- 401(k) Company Match
- Life Insurance
- Disability Insurance