Residential Direct Support Professional (Group Home)

Location: Pennington, NJ

Description: Since 1977, PCDI has provided compassionate support in neighborhood homes. Our residential program is expanding and our team is too.

PCDI seeks a direct support professional for a community-based group home for adults with autism. Individuals will teach new skills using Applied Behavior Analytic (ABA) principles and teaching strategies with heavy emphasis in areas of Practical Functional Assessment (PFA), Skill-based training (SBT), script and script-fading procedures, activity schedules, and zone supervision. The home is supported by two, full-time live-in residential coordinators and a trainer/consultant who ensures consistent implementation of programming. This position includes opportunities for long-term growth including career advancement, conducting and publishing research, and presenting at professional workshops and conferences.

• Establish comfortable and supportive relationships with residents and colleagues
• Document all services provided in accordance with state and federal regulations
• Effectively manage time and productivity
• Teach and assist in the development of learners’ instruction and treatment goals with special emphasis on home and community-living skills, social skills, and language and communication skills
• Exercise good judgement and remain calm when faced with a crisis
• Collect, summarize, and analyze ongoing data regarding skill acquisition and behavior management programs for learners
• Create and maintain a home-like living and learning environment that enhances the quality-of-life experience for residents
• Ensure the safety of those we support
• Support residents with daily activities including leisure and recreational activities, medical appointments, and community outings
• Communicate effectively with parents, siblings, neighbors, and colleagues
• Drive residents to and from activities in a company-owned vehicle or your own vehicle

• Has a valid driver’s license
• Some experience working with people with autism or other developmental disabilities
• Work within designated evening, overnight, and weekend hours
  • Sample schedule: Monday – Friday 2-10pm; with two days off per week, on average; Direct Support Professionals are assigned to 3 overnight shifts per month
• Knowledge of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
• Complete and pass required trainings including: CPR, SFA
• Sample schedule: Monday – Friday 2-10pm; with two days off per week, on average; Direct Support Professionals are assigned to 3 overnight shifts per month
• Has, at minimum, a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology, education, or related field
• Pass extensive background checks

Working Environment/Physical Demands: Sitting, walking, standing, occasional running, some lifting, good fine and gross motor coordination when guiding learners, vision, hearing, receptive and expressive language abilities as suited to instructional and behavior needs of residents.

Salary: minimum of $51,500

Benefits:

• BCBA supervision
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
• Holidays and vacations, where eligible (approximately 10 days per year)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Life and AD&D
• Professional mentoring
• Vision insurance (voluntary coverage)
• 403b Retirement (voluntary beginning Day 1, employer contribution beginning Year 3)
• Medical and dental insurance for each employee and optional dependent coverage
• Tuition discount
• Paid-time off (8 days accrued per calendar year)