DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL RESUME EXAMPLE

Published: Nov 25, 2024 - The Direct Support Professional provides essential support to individuals with developmental disabilities in home, community, and work settings, including transportation and assistance with support planning. The role involves ensuring safety, facilitating relationships, and coordinating health care, such as medical appointments and medication administration. Additionally, the professional promotes personal development by organizing events and assisting with health and safety procedures.

Tips for Direct Support Professional Skills and Responsibilities on a Resume

1. Direct Support Professional, Harmony Living Services, Springfield, IL

Job Summary:

  • Support individuals’ journey to regain skills for daily living
  • Encourage independence through personalized plans of care
  • Lead recreational activities to help individuals experience joy
  • Assist with the implementation of the outcomes in his Individual Service Plan (ISP)
  • Promote home and community-based safety and welfare
  • Observation and documentation of mental and physical changes and provide care when she exhibits these changes.
  • Assistance with exercises and any other therapies required.
  • Promote and assist in identifying opportunities for socialization through entertainment that leads to the development of friendships with people her age.
  • Assistance with improving and maintaining her Daily Living Skills and homemaker responsibilities
  • Complete daily documentation and reports
  • Perform any reasonable function as requested by the individual, her family, or support team.
  • Assistance with personal care needs


Skills on Resume: 

  • Empathy (Soft Skills)
  • Communication (Soft Skills)
  • Adaptability (Soft Skills)
  • Activity Facilitation (Hard Skills)
  • Observation (Hard Skills)
  • Personal Care (Hard Skills)
  • Safety Awareness (Hard Skills)
  • Organization (Soft Skills)

2. Direct Support Professional, EmpowerCare Support, Fort Wayne, IN

Job Summary:

  • Supervise and assist individuals in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) i.e. bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene
  • Housekeeping functions such as laundry, cleaning floors, countertops, furniture, appliances, bathrooms, etc
  • Document all aspects of the individual which include behavior, health, emotional, and physical status
  • Prepare, cook, and serve meals based on individuals' feeding consistency and feeding needs
  • Medication administration - once passing the training course
  • Participate in staff meetings as a team member for the Individuals Support Plan (ISP)
  • Transport/Accompany individuals to various activities such as the ATF, community outings, hospital/doctor appointments
  • Provide transportation to and from day programs, rehabilitation services, appointments, and community activities
  • Practice and promote the agency’s mission statement and guiding principles in every interaction.
  • Provide ongoing support to the people who live in the Community Living Services program to ensure that a high quality of life is maintained.
  • Provide support in the areas of, for example, self-care routines, health, safety, household chores, socialization, and overall well-being.


Skills on Resume: 

  • Personal Care Assistance (Hard Skills)
  • Housekeeping (Hard Skills)
  • Documentation (Hard Skills)
  • Meal Preparation (Hard Skills)
  • Medication Administration (Hard Skills)
  • Team Collaboration (Soft Skills)
  • Transportation (Hard Skills)
  • Support and Advocacy (Soft Skills)

3. Direct Support Professional, BrightPath Assistance, Augusta, GA

Job Summary:

  • Accompany and support participants to access social activities, shopping, dining, community events, church programs, concerts, and other activities of individual interests.
  • Assist participants in understanding money management skills, reading, appropriate social interactions, and other skills.
  • Assist participants to make personal choices and to schedule activities.
  • Communicate effectively with participants, families, managers, and other staff.
  • Accompany participants to medical appointments.
  • Assist participants with personal care, oral hygiene, house cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, and household tasks.
  • Monitor the health of participants and report concerns immediately to the supervisor.
  • Provide transportation to community events.
  • Assist participants with hygiene and household tasks
  • Assists in monitoring completion of assessments, development of objectives and supports and services as determined by the ISP team.
  • Completes and/or assign person-served support reviews.
  • Performs special reviews/projects


Skills on Resume: 

  • Community Engagement (Soft Skills)
  • Money Management Assistance (Hard Skills)
  • Decision Making Support (Soft Skills)
  • Effective Communication (Soft Skills)
  • Transportation Support (Hard Skills)
  • Personal Care Assistance (Hard Skills)
  • Health Monitoring (Hard Skills)
  • Assessment Monitoring (Hard Skills)

4. Direct Support Professional, LifeBridge Resources, Harrisburg, PA

Job Summary:

  • Provides expertise and direction, as well as problem-solving assistance, for direct care staff.
  • Responds to routine questions/issues that arise during daily operations.
  • Ensures follow through of Individual Service Plan (ISP) in collaboration with Case Manager, including training, monitoring and maintaining of competency records.
  • Serves as a member of a child’s interdisciplinary team.
  • Serves as a responder during crisis intervention procedures.
  • Participates in shift changeover meetings to ensure that all activities and issues are communicated.
  • Ensures completion of all daily unit checks and balances (cleaning duties, nursing reports, program documentation, first report of injuries, etc.).
  • Supervises dining room to ensure compliance with infection control practices and the child’s ISP.
  • Provides job coaching and follow-along
  • Provides training to assigned personnel.
  • Provides continuous feedback to appropriate personnel.


Skills on Resume: 

  • Expertise and Direction (Soft Skills)
  • Problem-Solving Assistance (Soft Skills)
  • ISP Implementation (Hard Skills)
  • Team Collaboration (Soft Skills)
  • Crisis Intervention (Hard Skills)
  • Shift Communication (Soft Skills)
  • Unit Checks and Balances (Hard Skills)
  • Job Coaching and Training (Hard Skills)

5. Direct Support Professional, Helping Hands Support Services, Madison, WI

Job Summary:

  • Works closely with supervision and medical staff to ensure quality of care to individuals served.
  • Provides assistance to Supervisory Lead DSP and Coordinator of Support Services.
  • Helps ensure compliance with policies and procedures.
  • Assists with planning, scheduling and staffing.
  • Assists supervision with strategic planning for the work area.
  • Provides performance feedback.
  • Assists in the completion of timesheets.
  • Serves as a member of the residential location team.
  • Provides coverage and training for all tasks performed by Direct Support Professionals within the residential location (see DSP Job Description and appropriate Rider for the residential location).
  • Responds to questions/issues that arise during daily operations.
  • Orients and trains staff and attends ISP meetings
  • Addresses staff problems and recommends disciplinary actions.


Skills on Resume: 

  • Collaboration with Medical Staff (Soft Skills)
  • Policy and Procedure Compliance (Hard Skills)
  • Planning and Scheduling Assistance (Hard Skills)
  • Strategic Planning Support (Soft Skills)
  • Performance Feedback (Soft Skills)
  • Timesheet Management (Hard Skills)
  • Staff Training and Coverage (Hard Skills)
  • Disciplinary Action Management (Soft Skills)

6. Direct Support Professional, New Horizons Care, Tulsa, OK

Job Summary:

  • Assists in the implementation of written goals from the treatment plan
  • Instructs and reinforces target goal outcomes according to consumer
  • Accurately document consumer responses and results to staff
  • Maintains appropriate professional conduct
  • Assists in the development of consumer treatment plan and goals
  • Assists in interviewing and hiring DSPs.
  • Ensures quality and service standards are met.
  • Teach patients life skills
  • Maintain a safe living environment
  • Offer counseling and crisis intervention
  • Participate in the development of treatment plans


Skills on Resume: 

  • Goal Implementation Assistance (Hard Skills)
  • Target Goal Reinforcement (Hard Skills)
  • Documentation Accuracy (Hard Skills)
  • Professional Conduct (Soft Skills)
  • Treatment Plan Development Support (Hard Skills)
  • Hiring Assistance (Soft Skills)
  • Quality and Service Standards (Hard Skills)
  • Life Skills Education (Hard Skills)

7. Direct Support Professional, Sunrise Home Assistance, Reno, NV

Job Summary:

  • Assists and provides training in personal hygiene and grooming, self-care, travel, general household management, cooking and nutrition, laundry, decision-making
  • Implements and documents Individual Residential Habilitation Outcomes on a daily basis.
  • Plans and implements recreational activities.
  • Administers medication in conformance with state regulations and specific training.
  • Assist in the lifting and/or transferring of individuals who need assistance with toileting, bathing, etc.
  • Maintains confidential information regarding the individual and/or his/her family
  • Uses universal precautions when handling all bodily fluids/secretions.
  • Promotes integration, independence, individualization and productivity while working with the individual
  • Assist individuals with money management, housekeeping, personal hygiene and other routine needs
  • Provide transportation to social outings, doctor’s appoints and other activities
  • Maintain regular paperwork including fiscal reports, behavioral assessments, medication logs, casework notes and daily activity logs.


Skills on Resume: 

  • Personal Care Assistance (Hard Skills)
  • Outcome Documentation (Hard Skills)
  • Recreational Activity Planning (Hard Skills)
  • Medication Administration (Hard Skills)
  • Physical Assistance (Hard Skills)
  • Confidentiality Maintenance (Soft Skills)
  • Universal Precautions (Hard Skills)
  • Money Management Support (Hard Skills)

8. Direct Support Professional, Community Enrichment Services, Little Rock, AR

Job Summary:

  • Provide care and training to the individual as outlined in the Program Plan and the individual’s IPP.
  • Comply with facility policies and regulations.
  • Provide and supervise recreational activities in the facility and the community.
  • Treat each individual as an individual and with proper respect.
  • Keep the facility neat and clean.
  • Prepare nutritional meals and snacks as specified by prepared menus.
  • Provide a home-like setting for all individuals living in the home.
  • Understand and follow individual’s rights.
  • Assist individuals with self-administration of prescribed medications.
  • Recognize early signs of illness and the need for professional assistance.
  • Utilize necessary community services and resources.


Skills on Resume: 

  • Program Plan Implementation (Hard Skills)
  • Policy Compliance (Hard Skills)
  • Recreational Activity Supervision (Hard Skills)
  • Respectful Treatment (Soft Skills)
  • Facility Maintenance (Hard Skills)
  • Meal Preparation (Hard Skills)
  • Home-Like Environment Creation (Soft Skills)
  • Medication Assistance (Hard Skills)

9. Direct Support Professional, Pathway Living Support, Wichita, KS

Job Summary:

  • Assist and engage individuals with disabilities with daily living and independence skills.
  • Utilize Person Centered Plans to assess an individual's needs.
  • Administer medication(s) and complete appropriate documentation.
  • Accompany individuals to and from the Program and activities within the community.
  • Foster a meaningful relationship between the individuals and the community.
  • Creates engaging and thoughtful program activities related to participant's goals and interest
  • Delivers purposeful age-appropriate activities and support for program participants.
  • Assists program participants with daily living activities
  • Completes daily documentation in an electronic records system
  • Communicate ongoing care results and updates to relevant parties
  • Participate in-service training
  • Communicates appropriately with program participants, staff, and community affiliations
  • Maintains documentation in compliance with all licensing agencies


Skills on Resume: 

  • Daily Living Assistance (Hard Skills)
  • Person-Centered Plan Utilization (Hard Skills)
  • Medication Administration (Hard Skills)
  • Community Engagement (Soft Skills)
  • Program Activity Creation (Hard Skills)
  • Age-Appropriate Activity Delivery (Hard Skills)
  • Daily Documentation (Hard Skills)
  • Effective Communication (Soft Skills)

10. Direct Support Professional, Bridgeway Support Group, Montgomery, AL

Job Summary:

  • Provides required support to people with developmental disabilities in the home, community, and work environment including providing transportation to person.
  • Develops, coordinates, and assists persons in all areas of support planning. 
  • Helps create action plans and processes that will move a person towards goals.
  • Ensures the safety of people supported, co-workers and visitors, and follows all health and safety procedures.
  • Supports people in maintaining relationships with families and friends, facilitates good community/neighborhood.
  • Provides appropriate health care including administration of medication and health treatments
  • Assists with all medical appointments, and in obtaining appropriate resources.
  • Make and keep necessary doctor, dentist, eye doctor etc. appointments.
  • Keep ongoing notes by the regional center.
  • Promote special and individual events for the individuals (birthdays, dances, community outings, etc.)
  • Assist with Health and Safety Procedures
  • Assist with People Supported Development


Skills on Resume: 

  • Support and Transportation (Hard Skills)
  • Support Planning Coordination (Hard Skills)
  • Goal Action Plan Development (Hard Skills)
  • Health and Safety Compliance (Hard Skills)
  • Relationship Maintenance Support (Soft Skills)
  • Healthcare Assistance (Hard Skills)
  • Appointment Management (Hard Skills)
  • Event Promotion (Soft Skills)

11. Direct Support Professional, Caring Companions Network, Boise, ID

Job Summary:

  • Assisting with daily living skills and social skills
  • Assisting with independent skills
  • Assisting with transportation needs
  • Enjoying community outings together
  • Preparing and serving meals
  • Hygiene and grooming, Administering medications, Bathing and toileting
  • Maintaining complete and accurate documentation
  • Provide general supervision and guidance to consumers
  • Assists with Person Supported Community Life
  • Provides support to team members and supervisors
  • Assists with person-centered plans and outcomes


Skills on Resume: 

  • Social Skills Assistance (Hard Skills)
  • Independent Skills Support (Hard Skills)
  • Transportation Assistance (Hard Skills)
  • Community Outings Support (Soft Skills)
  • Meal Preparation and Service (Hard Skills)
  • Personal Care Assistance (Hard Skills)
  • Documentation Maintenance (Hard Skills)
  • Team Support and Supervision (Soft Skills)

12. Direct Support Professional, Thrive Together Services, Des Moines, IA

Job Summary:

  • Assistance with personal care including toileting, grooming and dressing,
  • Implementing behavior programs, modeling appropriate behaviors
  • Promoting and participating in activities within the community
  • Models teach and support individuals in identifying and developing skills 
  • Increase/enhance independence, social and community interests, engagement and participation, and communication with others, self-advocacy
  • Ensures the well-being and safety of individuals at all times. 
  • Responds appropriately to unusual incidents and informs all appropriate individuals.
  • Respond to crisis and behavioral situations in a supportive, therapeutic manner
  • Assists with medical requests
  • Assist with data collection and reporting
  • Transporting clients with the house vehicle and accurately documenting in the mileage log, as well as reporting any issues with the supervisor.
  • Assisting with purchases for the house and clients.
  • Maintaining funds accurately by counting funds at assigned intervals


Skills on Resume: 

  • Personal Care Assistance (Hard Skills)
  • Behavior Program Implementation (Hard Skills)
  • Community Participation (Soft Skills)
  • Skill Development (Hard Skills)
  • Promoting Independence (Soft Skills)
  • Safety Monitoring (Hard Skills)
  • Crisis Response (Soft Skills)
  • Data Collection (Hard Skills)

13. Direct Support Professional, Growing Futures Care, Baton Rouge, LA

Job Summary:

  • Provide support and assistance for clients, including behavior management, job coaching, cleaning, meal preparation, transportation, medical appointments, and other supports
  • Perform grooming and hygiene tasks for clients
  • Simply reminding all the way up to total assistance with all bathing and hygiene needs.
  • Prepare meals for clients.
  • Being able to follow the guidelines of these plans as well as any other protocols put in place by management.
  • Participate in all scheduled team meetings.
  • Administration of medications correctly during scheduled shifts.
  • Following all instructions with the medications, and communicating with others regarding individual observations.
  • Completing daily documentation correctly and thoroughly.
  • Attending and completing all assigned training sessions.
  • Communicating with all team members, including other Direct Care Supports, Residential Coordinators, and others on the treatment team.
  • Completing assigned housekeeping tasks by supervisor.


Skills on Resume: 

  • Behavior Management Support (Hard Skills)
  • Grooming and Hygiene Assistance (Hard Skills)
  • Meal Preparation (Hard Skills)
  • Protocol Adherence (Hard Skills)
  • Team Participation (Soft Skills)
  • Medication Administration (Hard Skills)
  • Documentation Accuracy (Hard Skills)
  • Housekeeping Tasks (Hard Skills)