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Direct Support Professional (DSP)

Lincoln and Southeast Nebraska | Full-Time

Why This Role is Different

At ABLED, Direct Support Professionals provide habilitative services—helping individuals build skills, achieve their personal goals, and participate in their communities. You'll use your creativity and problem-solving skills to support each person's Individual Service Plan, whether that means teaching community navigation skills, helping someone explore volunteer opportunities, supporting skill development in daily living, or assisting individuals in working toward their unique goals. This is person-centered work where your approach adapts to what each individual needs and wants to accomplish.

What This Offers You:

  • Meaningful Habilitative Work: You're actively teaching life skills, community integration, and problem-solving that create lasting change.

  • Use Your Creativity: Apply your own problem-solving skills to help participants develop theirs, finding unique solutions for each person's goals and challenges.

  • Community Integration Focus: Help individuals become active participants and contributors in their communities through volunteer work, employment exploration, and community engagement.

  • Professional Growth: Learn habilitation techniques, crisis prevention, documentation systems, and person-centered planning—skills that transfer across healthcare and social service fields.

This role is ideal for someone who:

  • Understands that habilitation means building skills and supporting personal growth

  • Enjoys teaching and empowering others to develop their capabilities

  • Finds joy in helping others achieve their goals and participate in community life

  • Loves connecting with people and building meaningful relationships

  • Radiates positivity and brings energy to their work

  • Thrives in a flexible, dynamic work environment where creativity matters

  • Takes documentation seriously as part of professional, regulated service delivery

Essential Responsibilities

Habilitative Service Delivery

  • Provide habilitative services that build participants' skills in areas like community integration, social interaction, problem-solving, and daily living

  • Use creative approaches to teach and support skill development tailored to each person's goals and abilities

  • Help participants identify and pursue community-based paid or volunteer opportunities that develop their capabilities and interests

  • Support participants in achieving their Individual Service Plan (ISP) goals through active skill-building activities

  • Facilitate community integration by teaching participants how to navigate, participate in, and contribute to their communities

  • Transport participants safely in the community while using travel time as teaching opportunities

Documentation & Compliance

  • Complete daily Therap documentation including S-Comms, T-Logs, Attendance, MARs, Programs, GERs, and Appointments

  • Document habilitative services accurately and thoroughly to meet regulatory requirements

  • Administer medications according to schedule and document immediately

  • Maintain timely, compliant records that demonstrate the habilitative nature of services provided

Crisis Prevention & Response

  • Apply Mandt de-escalation techniques to prevent behavioral crises

  • Implement Emergency Safety Interventions when necessary following established protocols

  • Maintain a calm, supportive presence during challenging situations

  • Use crisis situations as opportunities for skill-building when appropriate

Team Collaboration

  • Work effectively with ABLED leadership, fellow DSPs, and clinical staff to support participant outcomes

  • Participate in team meetings and contribute creative ideas for habilitative approaches

  • Abide by all ABLED policies and procedures as outlined in the Employee Acknowledgement

  • Collaborate on implementing behavior support plans and safety plans

Required Qualifications

Essential Attributes

  • Understands habilitation: recognizes the focus on teaching skills and supporting personal growth

  • Creative problem-solver: can think on your feet and adapt approaches to different people and situations

  • Compassionate teacher: patient and encouraging while helping others develop new capabilities

  • Flexible and adaptable: comfortable with changing schedules and dynamic daily activities

  • Detail-oriented: takes documentation seriously as a professional responsibility

  • Positive and encouraging: brings enthusiasm that motivates others to try new things

  • Reliable and accountable: shows up on time, follows through, and takes ownership of responsibilities

Required Skills

  • Valid driver's license and clean driving record (transportation of participants required)

  • Ability to pass background checks as required by state and federal regulations

  • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal

  • Computer skills for documentation in Therap system

  • Ability to learn and apply habilitative teaching techniques

  • Physical ability to assist participants as needed

Preferred Experience

  • Experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities

  • Experience in skill-building, teaching, coaching, or training roles

  • Familiarity with person-centered planning approaches

  • Community integration or employment support experience

  • Crisis intervention or de-escalation training

Compensation and Benefits

  • Starting wage of $16.00 per hour

  • Up to 40 hours per week

  • Paid Time Off (PTO)

  • 401(k) retirement plan

  • Health insurance

  • Vision insurance

  • Flexible schedule

  • Comprehensive training including Mandt certification and habilitation techniques

  • Supportive, dynamic leadership team

About ABLED's Mission

ABLED's mission is to glorify Jesus Christ by cultivating an environment where individuals of all abilities flourish in freedom and belonging. We are guided by Faith-Driven service rooted in compassion and dignity, Freedom-Centered support that prioritizes choice and self-direction, and a Family-Oriented approach that treats every individual with the care we would want for our own loved ones. ABLED welcomes people of all faiths, or no faith at all. We approach care holistically, recognizing that true flourishing includes physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being.

To Get Started

If you understand that habilitation means building skills and supporting personal growth, and you want a role where your creativity makes a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!

Please submit your resume to jennifer@abledinc.com.

If you prefer, you may also complete a DSP application. All candidates complete an application prior to hire.

Equal Opportunity Employment

ABLED is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

 

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