At CIS, we are always looking for more Direct Support Professionals, often referred to as DSPs. But sometimes, that’s hard to do because (1) most people don’t know was a DSP is, and (2) we’re talking to people outside of social services and community care, so explaining the position is doubly confusing!
That’s why I thought it might be a good idea to talk about what a DSP is, why they’re vital to our agency, and what a DSP might do on any given day.
The Official Definition
A Direct Support Professional, or DSP, works directly with people who have intellectual or developmental disabilities. The people DSPs serve are called “clients.” DSPs are held to a high, nationally validated Code of Ethics and set of Core Competencies.
DSPs were trained as caregivers in the past, but now they are more like “care coaches.” DSPs don’t usually do things for their clients. Instead, DSPs help clients learn how to do things for themselves. For example, DSPs don’t buy groceries for clients, but they may drive clients to the grocery store and coach them during the shopping process, explaining how to compare products, keep track of spending, and make healthy choices.
Every day brings new challenges and opportunities, so the job is a little different every day.
If Every Day is Different, how do DSPs Know What to Do?
Community care at CIS is based on individual instruction and support plans (IISP) and positive behavior support plans (PBSP). Care specialists create these plans for each client. DSPs must follow these plans closely to meet their clients’ emotional, practical, and medical needs. These plans are used as a life planning process. They’re designed to enable people with developmental disabilities to live their best life.
At CIS, we work with individuals with a history of behavioral issues, which can include violence. That’s why our plans will factor in histories of abuse, incarceration, homelessness, or other challenging circumstances that may contribute to behavioral issues. Plans also map out strategies to help DSPs stay safe at work. For example, they will highlight recommended actions in a challenging situation, provide strategies to mitigate violence, and include instructions to look for clues of self-harm or harm to others.
Many CIS clients also have physical and psychiatric conditions that require medication, monitoring, and professional medical attention. Therefore, medication requirements, doctor appointments, and medical updates are also included in the plans.
Although CIS plans include references to the need for personal boundaries and “rules”, they’re ultimately developed to help the client recover, grow, and even thrive. Each plan also factors in the client’s vision for a meaningful life, including goals for self-care, relationships, recreation, education, employment, and housing.
The care our company provides includes a means to track progress, needing follow-up meetings, and adjusting the plans as the client grows and evolves.
Our plans are a map of sorts – identifying the path for DSPs to follow to best meet the client’s needs in the least intrusive manner. Such tasks will rarely take a full day to complete, so DSPs will find they have “free time”. Now, this doesn’t mean DSPs pick up their cell phone, take a nap or turn on the TV to zone out. This “free time” allows for relationship building with the clients, which means they can begin to understand what is needed to help the individual feel more comfortable, safer, or more confident. For example, DSPs may use this time with a client to do an art project, go for a walk, or teach how to play a musical instrument. Other DSPs may bake with their clients, plant and tend to a garden, or attend Zumba classes together.
DSPs Wear Many Hats
Direct Support Professionals complete various duties, and many of these responsibilities will expose the DSP to interaction with other professionals, such as medical clinicians, psychiatric providers, client employers, state social service case managers, probation officers, therapists, attorneys, and more.
At CIS, we often tell employees that their experience in community care can be a valuable stepping stone. It can provide experience in a range of fields, helping some employees identify new careers. For others, being trained as a DSP in community care is the starting point for a career path in social work, medicine, public policy, law enforcement, criminal justice, or education.
A DSP Position is a Launchpad to a Rewarding Career
Want to jumpstart a new career? Becoming a Direct Support Professional is a great way to learn about community care and related fields. At CIS, we pay you to train to become a DSP and even cover certification costs.
We also offer very competitive starting wages. DSP positions may be especially appealing to people who;
- have no experience in the field
- want to leave jobs in food service or retail
- want well-paid work with benefits
- want to start a career after high school and/or before college
- want to find more meaningful work that improves lives
If a job as a DSP sounds appealing to you, I strongly encourage you to apply for a DSP position at CIS in Spokane or South King County. We’re hiring at both locations, and we’d love to meet you!