A direct support professional helps people with developmental disabilities take care of themselves and keep their independence. A direct support professional’s actual services will be determined in part the needs of his or her clients as well as the policies of his or her employer. A direct support professional’s typical responsibilities include teaching clients about self-care and hygiene, assisting them with living independently or in a residential setting, and assisting them with finding and keeping jobs.
Public policy in many jurisdictions encourages the integration of people with developmental disabilities into communities. When at all possible, these policies encourage people with cognitive disabilities to live independently or in a group setting where they have a lot of freedom. Those with developmental disabilities, on the other hand, are expected to participate in the community taking responsibility for their own care and, if possible, working. Direct support professionals will typically provide guidance and assistance to cognitively disabled clients in these communities.
Assessing client needs, facilitating client care collaborating with other support professionals and agencies, and educating and motivating clients in their efforts to take responsibility for their own care are all responsibilities of direct support professionals. In some cases, the direct support professional may take on case management responsibilities to assist clients in receiving the assistance they require. This could include teaching the client self-advocacy skills so that they can communicate directly with professionals and community agencies. If a direct support professional believes that a client requires more intensive assistance in one or more areas, the support professional can begin pursuing these services for the client.
Both jurisdictions and employers have different requirements for becoming a direct support professional. Although employers may require new hires to participate in an in-house training program or even an apprenticeship, there are no specific educational requirements for those who wish to provide supportive services to the cognitively disabled in some areas. A direct support professional must complete an extensive standardized training program before working in a residential care setting in some jurisdictions, such as the state of California. To protect vulnerable clients from abuse and exploitation, some areas may require those who perform this type of work to undergo a background check.