Direct Support Professional - PathPoint

Are you looking for a meaningful career where you can make a positive difference in peoples' lives? Join the PathPoint team!

PathPoint is currently seeking full-time Direct Support Professionals to join our Pathfinder day program in Northridge, CA 91325. Pathfinder is an adult day program that provides skills training and behavioral support to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In this role, you will use behavior support and teach a variety of skills in the classroom and on community outings. We are looking for compassionate, patient people who are teachers at heart, and experience with Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a plus.

The schedule for this position is Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:00pm. This is an excellent opportunity if you are interested in a career in nursing, occupational therapy, special education, or a related field. Additionally, there are opportunities to advance within PathPoint. If you join our team, you can look forward to working in a compassionate and encouraging environment.

Why Work At PathPoint:

• Earn up to $4,750 in training bonuses by June 2024!*
• Culture of kindness, compassion and respect
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Opportunity to make a difference in your community every day
• Flexible schedule
• Mental health day after 60 days and on 1st and 2nd anniversaries
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance**
• Paid vacation and holidays**
• Paid sick leave
• 403(b) retirement savings plan with company match
• Other perks like a wellness program, employee assistance program, and referral bonuses

*Based on available funding.

**Benefits noted with an asterisk are for full-time employees regularly scheduled for 30+ hours per week.

What You'll Do:

• Create a positive physical and social environment and maximize each person's choices and ability to control his or her environment at all times.
• Encourage positive behavior and recognize, reward, and celebrate the use of new skills and appropriate responses on a daily basis with individuals.
• Recognize unique environmental triggers for challenging behavior and proactively plan to avoid them. Support the person in an appropriate response to triggers. Deescalate challenging behavior by acting quickly to modify conditions that may contribute to the behavior.
• Follow treatment and behavior support plans as written and provide feedback on their effectiveness and any barriers to success.
• Support individuals in the areas of personal hygiene including assisting with meals, lifting, transferring, toileting and range of motion.
• Provide support with medication and maintain medication and health records. Ensure medication logs and receipts are updated.

What We're Looking For:

• Prior experience supporting/instructing individuals with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities and/or mental illness is preferred; knowledge of ABA therapy is a plus
• Must have a valid California driver's license with a satisfactory driving record, 5 years of driving experience, and be eligible for coverage on PathPoint's auto insurance policy.
• Able to endure physical activities such as walking, standing, sitting, stooping, and lifting 30-40 pounds; physical strength/stature is required as the responsibilities of the position may require restraining an individual when their behavior is dangerous, in order to prevent them from harming themselves or others
• Culturally sensitive and aware of differences in employees based on cultural backgrounds; aware of one's own culture and how someone's background may lead to biases; has the skills and resources needed to work with employees from all different cultures and the ability to avoid making biased assumptions based on someone's culture

Compensation: This is an hourly, non-exempt position starting at $21.50 per hour. The pay range is $16.03-$24.04** an hour.

Bilingual: If you are bilingual (Spanish or ASL), the starting wage is $21.80 per hour and the pay range is $16.83-$25.24** an hour.

**The pay range is subject to change based on a variety of factors, and the maximum pay represents the wage potential based on attaining the highest level of position experience, talent, and responsibilities.

About PathPoint: PathPoint, a non-profit organization based in Santa Barbara, supports people in living the life they choose. PathPoint partners with people with disabilities, people with mental health diagnoses, and young adults to pursue their hopes and dreams through strengthening workplace abilities, building life skills, and developing meaningful relationships. Founded in 1964, it offers services in five Central Coast and Southern California counties: Kern, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, and we offer reasonable accommodations to support successful employment to those with disabilities.

Pre-employment background checks and health screenings will only be required post-offer.