Direct Support Professional/Support Partner - Association For Autism and Neurodiversity

Organization Description: For over 27 years, AANE has been working toward our vision: a world where Autistic people belong and thrive. AANE helps Autistic and similarly Neurodivergent people build meaningful, connected lives. We provide individuals, families, and professionals with education, community, and support in an inclusive atmosphere of validation and respect.

AANE’s Commitment to Recruiting and Retaining Racially Diverse Professionals: As a global leader in promoting neurodiverse environments in all aspects of society, AANE is deeply committed to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the communities we serve and in our own workplace. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a racially diverse team, and we encourage professionals of color to apply for this and other job opportunities with our organization. Please consider joining us.

Position Description: AANE is seeking a trustworthy direct support professional who will embrace the opportunity to join our growing team at LifeNet, an independent living support program for autistic adults. As a LifeNet Support Partner, you work as part of a team and provide 1:1 support to clients. You’ll bring your experience, energy, and passion for working with our population to build connections with and for clients, and support their independent living needs and priorities as they navigate adulthood. The LifeNet Support Partner works closely with and reports to our Clinical Case Managers to monitor each LifeNet adult’s overall health, safety, and well-being, while providing direct support and accompaniment around the priorities outlined in the adult’s LifeNet Support Plan. The Support Partner receives supervision and support from our Clinical Case Managers, Clinical Supervisors and Program Director.

Ideally, candidates will have experience working with Autistic adults or similarly Neurodivergent  profiles in personal, professional, volunteer, and/or academic contexts.

Primary responsibilities:

• Travel to and perform scheduled in-person, home- and community-based visits with each assigned LifeNet adult, to carry out activities aligned with the adult's LifeNet Support Plan (LSP) 
• Work closely with Clinical Case Manager(s) to implement each adult’s strengths-based LSP, which outlines specific independent living support activities in areas that include, but are not limited to:
  • home organization and housekeeping
  • meal prep, nutrition, and food safety
  • healthcare appointments and medication reminders
  • mail, bills, benefits, and money management
  • companionship and social engagement
  • recreation and exercise
  • personal hygiene and self-care
  • shopping and errands
  • travel and transportation support
• Build a professional, trusting relationship with each LifeNet adult, while setting and maintaining appropriate boundaries
• Carefully observe the status of, and changes in, a LifeNet adult’s personal health and living environment, and communicate issues back to the respective Clinical Case Manager or Clinical Supervisor
• Organize and facilitate in-person or virtual small-group social/recreational events for LifeNet adults to encourage social engagement and peer-to-peer relationships
• Participate in weekly department, collaboration, and supervision virtual meetings
• Track time, mileage, and case notes in the secure LifeNet case management system
• Perform additional duties as assigned, which may include researching resources, organizing client data, making telephone calls, planning events, drafting guidance for adults or staff in Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, or Excel, and others

Requirements:

• Minimum 1-2 years personal or professional experience with providing in-person support to adults on the autism spectrum (or equivalent/transferable experience) is preferred
• Ability to commute to client homes/communities within approximately one hour of our office of Watertown, MA (mileage reimbursed at federal rate)
• Willingness to accompany LifeNet adults in independent living responsibilities at their homes and in the community
• Openness and ability to, on any given day, engage in conversations or pursuits with LifeNet adults involving music, theater, dance, art, anime, comic books, animals, nature, sports, science, computers, history, mass transit, aviation, travel, TV shows, movies, games, and more
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• ​​Ability to exercise patience, persistence, flexibility, and problem-solving during independent work and work with colleagues and clients
• Ability to collaborate and work as part of a team, including the ability to ask for help when needed
• Ability to learn and use new technologies/apps in service of LifeNet adults
• Must have valid state driver’s license, clean driving record, and a reliable vehicle
• Must agree to state and federal background checks

Salary & benefits: 

• 48,000-50,000 annual compensation range
• Reimbursement for all miles driven to clients
• Insurance, FSA, etc.