At Aspire Living & Learning, we don't just talk about making an impact, we live it. For more than 40 years, we've supported neurodiverse children and adults across New England and Maryland as they discover their passions, unlock their potential, and live more independently in their communities. Our person-centered services evolve with people's needs, from education and behavioral health to residential and community-based supports. We empower people to live lives shaped by their own interests, choices, and strengths. Join our collaborative, mission-driven team and bring your skills to work that makes a real difference every day.

Aspire Living & Learning is currently seeking a Lead Direct Support Professionals (DSP) to play a vital role in providing person-centered services to supported individuals.  The DSP Lead coordinates schedules, assigns responsibilities, monitors activities and ensures that program employees complete their responsibilities and comply with all of Aspires policies, procedures and state specific requirements. This DSP Lead role is available in Baltimore County - Catonsville, MD. & Harford County - Bel Air, MD

Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday 3:00p -11:00p - Baltimore County or Monday - Friday 3:00p - 11:00p in Harford County

Compensation: $20.20 hourly

Key Responsibilities: 

The DSP Lead job requires a myriad of roles to assist in behavioral and personal care services that will enable individuals to reach their fullest potential and improve behavior, academic, social, and functional skills while treating individuals supported with respect and dignity. Below are key aspects of the position: 

Relationships and Communication: 

• Cultivate a positive and productive workplace atmosphere to enhance team morale and productivity. 
• Through ongoing communication, support the individuals live to their fullest potential.  
• Communication with other employees, guardians and others involved on the team is essential.  
• Ensure all communication is timely and occurs professionally, clear and concisely. 

Supporting Individuals: 

• Assist supported individuals with learning valuable life skills while exploring ways in which to integrate with their community. 
• Provide ongoing support regarding daily activities including menu planning and meal preparation, cleaning and other household tasks.  
• Other instances of support could include teaching and aiding with self-care tasks. 
• Ensure the individuals live in a safe inclusive environment by performing tasks such as documentation, medication administration and personal hygiene. 

Supporting the Program Manager 

• Therap uploads, documentation and support; support of program finances and meal planning  
• Scheduling of medical appointments.  
• Conducting environmental checks.  
• Oversight of maintenance needs and fleet management (if applicable) 
• Under the guidance of the Program Manager, support financial management for the program. 
• Perform any additional job responsibilities assigned by supervisors or team leaders to support the organization's smooth operation. 

Leadership and Coordination: 

• Support an environment where the dignity, decisions and rights of the individuals are valued. 
• Foster a positive work environment while championing a culture of teamwork, growth, collaboration and communication.  
• Coordinate with other departments such as Quality Assurance/Quality Enhancement, nursing, clinical and other administrative departments. 
• Provide leadership and guidance to the day-to-day operations of the shift including but limited to data collection and documentation, ISP/IEP goals, community inclusion activities, aids to daily living. 
• Participate in and complete training sessions as delegated by management to enhance skills and knowledge relevant to the role. 
• Communicates feedback to manager to assist with the supervisory process of DSPs as they develop their own skills 
• Perform any additional job responsibilities assigned by supervisors or team leaders to support the organization's smooth operation. 
• Conduct training as required and assigned.   
• Accept reassignment as required 

Qualifications: 

• Excellent Verbal and written communication skills.  
• Must have demonstrated computer literacy to complete required electronic documentation 
• 18 years of age or older  
• Organizational skills and attention to detail.   
• Ability to pass and maintain required trainings and certifications  
• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent required, Degree in Human Services, Psychology, or related field preferred 
• Must have satisfactory background checks  
• Valid driver’s license and safe driving record 

Working Conditions: 

• Ability to handle physical aspects of job, including bending, stooping, lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, and walking for periods of time   
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times    
• Must be able to perform all physical management techniques required for position 
• May be required to transport individuals and travel   
• This position requires flexibility to work various shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays, as the role supports 24/7 operations 
• Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable qualified people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of this position. 

• Employees at Aspire enjoy working with a collaborative and dedicated team that values a culture of belonging and care. We take pride in offering a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees, including:

  • Comprehensive Health, Dental, & Vision Insurance - Choose from multiple medical plans, with vision coverage included at no extra cost.
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Saving Account (HSA) options - Use pre-tax dollars for medical and dependent care expenses.
  • Lifestyle Spending Accounts with JOON - Monthly funds for wellness, fitness, commuting, childcare, pet care, and more.
  • 403(b) Retirement Plan with Employer Match - A 100% match on contributions up to 2% of your salary.
  • Generous Paid Time Off - Paid sick, personal, and vacation days, plus holidays.
  • Professional Growth Opportunities - Access to training, leadership and management courses, mentorship, and career advancement.
  • Employer-Paid Life & Disability Insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Telehealth Services and more!

If you want to join us in making a difference and positively impact the lives of others while charting your own path of development, then we at the Aspire team would love to hear from you.

Aspire Living & Learning believes it must play an active role in creating a community of employees that is diverse, inclusive and equitable. Our work benefits greatly from the contributions of people of color, people from working class backgrounds, women, LGBTQ people, and individuals with disabilities. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities. 

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