DSP Jobs and the Mission of Bello Machre
Bello Machre’s direct support professionals (DSPs) deliver loving care and direct support to individuals with disabilities. They are essential to our mission of empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live full, independent, and rich lives.
What is a Direct Support Professional?
Direct support professionals enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities through dedicated support and care. They teach independent living skills, plan community-based activities, and implement individual program plans. If you’re looking for a meaningful job that offers good pay and benefits, flexibility, and professional growth, then a DSP career might be right for you.
What Does a Direct Support Professional (DSP) Do?
Bello Machre DSPs help with a number of duties and activities, including household chores, meal preparation, personal hygiene, and medical oversight. They’ll also offer emotional support and companionship, transporting people to appointments, running errands, participating in recreational and social activities, and helping with job-related coaching and support.
Direct support professionals might work in one of our Bello Machre-owned residential group homes, at an individual’s home, or out in the community helping people with disabilities participate as fully as possible in all facets of life. This includes employment-related supports.
Direct Support Professional Job Description
While Direct Support Professional job descriptions vary, patience, creative problem-solving, and flexibility are essential as you help individuals explore the world and realize their hopes and dreams.
DSP Duties and Responsibilities
Duties and responsibilities of DSPs might include:
- Providing outstanding support and services to people with developmental disabilities, enabling them to participate as fully as they wish in all aspects of community life.
- Helping individuals develop friendships and other relationships.
- Helping individuals actively participate in their communities and build natural support networks.
- Understanding the person-centered plan for each individual and supporting them according to their plan.
- Interacting warmly with each person to promote a caring environment.
- Fully understanding all aspects of fundamental rights.
- Providing choice and support in obtaining employment, educational, social, and recreational services.
- Documenting and reporting goals, challenges, successes, and deviations from an individual’s baseline.
- Advocating for rights and services, such as employment-related accommodations and modifications.
DSP Qualifications & requirements
- Must display a genuine interest in the wellbeing of adults with developmental disabilities.
- Must be able to communicate effectively with supervisors, peers, individuals, and families.
- Must display a positive attitude when interacting with others.
- Must be able to teach skills, provide support, and build on each individual’s strengths and capabilities.
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- High school diploma or GED required
- Must have a valid driver’s license with no more than 5 points.
The Critical Role a Direct Support Professional Job Plays in Care
Take a look at the video featured to the left, and learn more about a day in the life of DSPs from our Residential, Personal Supports, and Meaningful Day Services in Maryland.
Direct Support Professional Salary & Benefits
DSp Salary and work/Life balance
At Bello Machre, we care about you while caring for others. DSPs earn a competitive salary and benefits that support a healthy work/life balance.
- Purposeful work
- Competitive pay
- Shifts that fit your lifestyle (full-time, part-time, weekends, evenings)
- Paid on-the-job training
DSP Healthcare/Medical benefits
For our full-time staff, we offer healthcare and medical benefits to support you and your family.
- Company-paid (100%) medical insurance
- Dental and vision insurance
- Disability insurance (long and short-term)
- Flexible spending accounts (medical and dependent care)
Interested in a DSP Career with Bello Machre? Take a look at our current openings.
DSP Career Path
As a DSP, there are many ways to care for people, from living in group residences with program participants to going directly to an individual’s home to provide loving care and assistance.
A typical DSP career path follows:
- Begin at the entry-level
- Gain experience, taking on additional responsibilities along the way.
- Become a DSP leader, supervising and mentoring other DSPs and serving as liaisons between DSPs and staff.
- Oversee programs or services, manage staff, ensure quality of care, and manage group homes.
- From there, the sky’s the limit, with some DSPs taking on higher-level management and leadership roles within organizations.
The DSP career also serves as a great foundation for pursuing a future in nursing, physical and occupational therapy, social work, management, and teaching.
How to Become a Direct Support Professional
With care jobs in high demand and a shortage of support providers, now is a great time to begin your journey to become a DSP. If you choose to do so, you’ll know that you’re making a difference every day.
And, no prior experience is needed to begin your DSP journey with Bello Machre! We’ll provide all the training and certifications you need to get started, and we’ll compensate you for your time.
DSP Skills
Direct Support Professionals bring a positive attitude and the ability to resolve problems and conflict effectively. Patience and a passion for providing direct support are critical. DSP positions do require a high school diploma or GED, a current driver’s license, and a genuine interest in working with people with disabilities. You likely are looking for a meaningful and stable job that offers a variety of shift and availability options.
Required DSP Training and DSP Certification
Direct Support Professional training courses set the foundational knowledge and experience to help you become competent and confident in the role. Bello Machre pays for these courses, and you are compensated to attend them.
- Adult CPR, First Aid, & AED
- Standard Precautions & Bloodborne Pathogens (OSHA, Bloodborne Pathogens, & Communicable Diseases)
- Mandt System Training
- HIPAA Compliance Training
- Individualized training for persons receiving supports
- Lift-Van & Wheelchair Restraint Training Course*
- Medication Technician Update*
*Based on departmental needs or the need of the individual receiving services
Direct Support Professional Apprenticeship Program
Bello Machre partners with the Direct Support Professional Apprenticeship Program, a statewide initiative that aims to increase Maryland’s DSP workforce through the apprenticeship model. As a registered apprentice with the Maryland Department of Labor, participants receive a combination of paid on-the-job training and classroom instruction within a variety of community-based settings, while earning professional certification through the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP).
“Our employees are set up for success, and you can see it in every home we support.”
– Yolanda Parker, Direct Support Professional
Join Our Team as a Direct Support Professional
Find work with purpose that supports you and your family. Become a Bello Machre Direct Support Professional!
Bello Machre Raises Pay for Direct Support Professional To $23.50 Per Hour
The non-profit organization reinforces their commitment to taking care of their staff members.
A Rewarding Career Working with Intellectually & Developmentally Disabled Adults
Bello Machre offers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the services, opportunities, and support they need to live full, independent, rich lives. Our direct support professionals (DSPs), are at the heart of what we do.
Developmental Disabilities Awareness
This past March we celebrated Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month (DDAM) to raise awareness and support for people with developmental disabilities. Get a recap of this month-long celebration.
