Direct Service Professional job description.
A Direct Service Professional provides hands-on daily support to individuals with intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities in residential, community, or day-program settings. They assist with personal care, daily living skills, and community participation while promoting independence, safety, and dignity. The role requires patience, reliability, and close collaboration with care teams to follow individualized support plans.
The Direct Service Professional job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 9 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Direct Service Professional Reports to: Program Manager or House Supervisor
A Direct Service Professional provides hands-on daily support to individuals with intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities in residential, community, or day-program settings. They assist with personal care, daily living skills, and community participation while promoting independence, safety, and dignity. The role requires patience, reliability, and close collaboration with care teams to follow individualized support plans.
- Assist individuals with personal care, hygiene, and daily living activities
- Support implementation of individualized service or support plans
- Accompany and support individuals in community, recreational, or vocational activities
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
9 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
5 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Program Manager or House Supervisor
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Assist individuals with personal care, hygiene, and daily living activities
- Support implementation of individualized service or support plans
- Accompany and support individuals in community, recreational, or vocational activities
- Administer or assist with medications per training and protocol
- Monitor and document behavior, health status, and daily progress
- Promote independence, choice, and community integration
- Respond to emergencies and behavioral incidents using approved techniques
- Maintain a safe, clean, and respectful living or program environment
- Communicate updates to supervisors, families, and care team members
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Valid driver's license, where transporting individuals is required
- Ability to lift, assist with transfers, and perform physical care tasks
- Patience, empathy, and strong communication skills
- Willingness to complete state-required training and background checks
- Prior experience supporting individuals with disabilities
- CPR/First Aid or medication administration certification
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Direct Service Professional job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Direct Service Professional job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The entry band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Program Manager or House Supervisor) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- Is prior caregiving experience required?
- Not always; many employers provide required training, though experience with individuals with disabilities is a plus.
- What certifications should candidates have before starting?
- Most states require background checks and role-specific training completed after hire, though CPR/First Aid is a helpful head start.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Direct Support Professional
A Direct Support Professional assists individuals with intellectual, developmental, or physical disabilities in daily living and community activities.
Caregiver
A Caregiver supports individuals who need help with daily activities due to age, illness, or disability, typically in a home or residential setting.
Residential Counselor
A residential counselor provides direct support and supervision to individuals living in a group home, treatment facility, or residential care setting, helping them build daily living skills and work toward treatment or care plan goals.
This Direct Service Professional job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.