Direct Support Professional Resume Examples

If you like to help people overcome disabilities and challenges, then consider a career as a Direct Support Professional or DSP. You don’t need a college degree for this job. Training is provided by the employer. Skills will be honed on the job. What is important is having the right personality. As a DSP, the rewards come in the form of helping others live a better life.

Are you interested? If so, let’s take a look at your Direct Support Professional resume! As a DSP, you will work with people who have IDD. This stands for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Basically, people with IDD cannot function normally. They cannot perform the tasks you and I take for granted. These tasks include eating, dressing up, and going to the bathroom. In most jobs, the employer will provide the training. However, this job takes more than just basic patient care skills. You should have the personality for it. In fact, companies may be looking at soft skills more than hard skills. Does your resume reflect that?

We’ve prepared a resume sample that will place the spotlight on your soft skills. We will make it clear to the employer that you can be trusted with the welfare and health of their patients. Our article will show you how to optimize the strengths of your resume. We will teach you how to turn the resume objective into an invitation for an interview. Entry-level? Not to worry! We can help you boost the effectiveness of your resume.

Build a Direct Support Professional Resume

Expert Approved Resume Samples

Our samples are written by career experts with over 10 years of experience in resume writing.

Get inspired and explore what’s recommended to write in each section of the resume.

Direct Support Professional Resume Sample

direct support professional

Maria A. San Juan

Address:              2742 Windrose Drive, Orlando, FL
Phone:                  (407) 447 9784
Email:                    [email protected]
Current job:        Direct Support Professional; Special People Center, Orlando, FL


Objective

Direct Support Professional with 2 years experience seeks the opportunity to work as a DSP/ Care provider at WeCare Patient Services. I am certified by Williams-Sandberg Technical Training Institute which is accredited by the NASDP. Likewise, I am certified in First Aid. My work experience includes providing care for persons with disabilities and the elderly.


Skills

  • High School graduate
  • Certified DSP via the Williams-Sandberg Technical Training Institute
  • Certified in First Aid
  • 2 years experience as DSP
  • Experienced working with young people and the elderly
  • Patient
  • Dedicated
  • Great disposition
  • Excellent motivator
  • Great communication skills

Experience

Direct Support Professional, 2018 to Present
Special People Center; Orlando, FL.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Special People Center is a facility that attends to the needs of those with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Patients come in all age levels and were recommended for special care by their doctors.
  • Fosters an encouraging environment whereby my patients are motivated to pursue their hobbies, interests, and talents.
  • Endeavours toward building a strong, supportive, and enduring friendship as a means of nurturing the patient’s inherent skills.
  • Attends to the day-to-day needs of the patient; activities include eating, washing, and changing clothes.
  • Provides assistance to patients who have to undergo their scheduled sessions for exercise, consultation, and treatments.
  • Creates goals per individual patient; constantly monitors and tracks their progress.

Direct Support Professional; June 2017 to December 2017
Best Care Patient Services; Orlando, FL

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Best Care Patient Services attends to the needs of people who have been incapacitated due to injury, age, illness, and acquired debilitating conditions.
  • Assisted healthcare personnel in administering physical therapy particularly patients undergoing rehabilitation and the elderly.
  • Administered medication to patients as instructed by the attending physician and the nurse on duty.
  • Assisted patients in their daily functions such as bathing, eating, personal hygiene, exercise, and moving them around in bed.
  • Provided consultation to patients; worked to improve their communication and social interaction skills.
  • Kept patients company; provided companionship to the elderly who do not see their family on a regular basis.

Direct Support Professional; January 2017 to May 2017
Care On The Go Mobile Healthcare Services; Orlando, FL

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Care On The Go is a company that provides mobile healthcare services to their clients who are mostly the elderly. As a DSP, my daily routine consisted of visiting the company’s patients at their homes and providing care or assistance as needed.
  • Worked closely and assisted the Caregiver or Nurse in administering medication to the patient.
  • Assisted the Caregiver during physical therapy sessions with the patient.
  • Provided care and assistance to the patient so they can perform basic tasks and functions.
  • Drove the patient to specific places that were identified in the weekly schedule. Destinations included doctor’s office, grocery, rehabilitation centers, and family get-togethers.
  • Prepared reports attesting to the progress and general condition of the patient.

Education

High School
Haggerty High School
Orlando, FL
2015 to 2016


Direct Support Worker Resume Sample

Name: Terrance Beltran

Address: Cornelius, NC 28031

Phone: (936) 660-4229

Email: [email protected]

Current job: Direct Support Worker at Baptist Medical Center South

Objective

I am a Direct Support Worker with a proven record of successfully providing services to individuals with developmental disabilities, mental health challenges and addiction disorders. I have experience in the areas of supervision, crisis intervention, advocacy, and support. I am eager to work for an organization that offers a professional development environment.

Work Experience

Direct Support Worker, 2018 – present
Helen M. Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Provide support and assistance to the people you are working with
  • Monitor the safety and well-being of the people you are working with
  • Work with others to set goals for people you are working with
  • Work with others to create an individualized plan for each person you are working with

Direct Support Worker, 2014 – 2018

Piedmont Rockdale Hospital

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Work with individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families to provide assistance with daily living skills such as eating, bathing, dressing, and grooming.
  • Assist in the development of daily schedules, participate in recreational activities, accompany individuals to school and community activities, and complete assigned tasks.
  • Perform evaluations to assess needs for individuals
  • Authorize individuals for services
  • Create individualized care plans
  • Monitor individuals’ safety and security needs

Direct Support Worker, 2012 – 2014

Baptist Medical Center South

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Take care of scheduled activities
  • Help general support staff
  • Help families and individuals
  • Work with supporting agencies
  • Assist with transport, food, etc.
  • Provide appropriate client care and advising
  • Attend therapy sessions as needed

Skills

  • Data entry skills
  • Ability to multitask
  • Reading comprehension and language arts skills
  • Ability to work with different personalities and cultural backgrounds
  • Computer proficiency
  • Ability to follow directions and respond to notes from clients
  • Maintain confidentiality during confidential conversations.

Direct Support Professional Trainer Resume Sample

Name: Jaydon Zavala

Address: Wheaton, IL 60187

Phone: (899) 727-0619

Email: [email protected]

Current job: Direct Support Professional Trainer at Bayfront Health Seven Rivers

Objective

My qualifications make me an ideal candidate for a Direct Support Professional Trainer.
I am a caring, compassionate, and dedicated professional who is a team player, who wants to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. I am energetic and enthusiastic about my work, and I thrive in a fast-paced environment.
I am capable of completing tasks accurately and efficiently, working independently with minimal supervision, and thoroughly understanding the needs of the people I support.

Work Experience

Direct Support Professional Trainer, 2018 – present
Heritage Valley Beaver

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Serve as a trainer for assigned staff
  • Coordinate classroom training and other in-service training programs
  • Identify, research and provide training materials on emerging trends and topics
  • Develop and maintain training programs to ensure compliance with new legislation
  • Maintain skills list to identify training needs and provide feedback on competencies
  • Attend workshops and trainings and develop presentations to disseminate new information

Direct Support Professional Trainer, 2014 – 2018

WellStar Paulding Hospital

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Coordinate, instruct and evaluate students in direct support training program
  • Provide ongoing training and feedback to direct support staff
  • Work with supervisor to ensure all staff members are compliant with I/O standards, policies and procedures
  • Facilitate direct support staff learning by creating new curriculum
  • Monitor, evaluate and review staff’s performance
  • Maintain, update and implement all current training materials
  • Conduct independent research projects related to education

Direct Support Professional Trainer, 2012 – 2014

Bayfront Health Seven Rivers

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Work with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and/or mental health diagnoses to maintain physical, mental, and social health
  • Train staff and other professionals on the correct way to work with people with disabilities
  • Develop goals for participants in training sessions
  • Coordinate teaching schedules for training sessions

Skills

  • Detail oriented
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Ability to train staff and volunteers
  • Knowledge of DSP assessment methods and methods for instruction
  • Presentation skills including video-based instructional methods, PowerPoint presentations and other presentations

Senior Direct Support Professional Trainer Resume Sample

Name: Kody Parsons

Address: Redford, MI 48239

Phone: (978) 300-3107

Email: [email protected]

Current job: Senior Direct Support Professional Trainer at Boca Raton Regional Hospital

Objective

I have experience working in a direct support setting with a variety of populations and care needs. My experience includes working with clients with intellectual disabilities, early childhood clients, individuals with autism, language-dependent individuals, and clients with substance use disorders. My training includes working with people who have mental health issues, as well as training and teaching people how to work in specific settings.

Work Experience

Senior Direct Support Professional Trainer, 2018 – present
Heritage Valley Kennedy

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Provide planned and unplanned training sessions that include content and skill level based on program requirements
  • Conduct pre-training assessments to identify staff competencies
  • Develop, manage, and provide training activities, including in-services and on-the-job training, to new and existing direct support professional staff
  • Develop and provide training plans for direct support professional staff in areas such as instructional design, behavior management, and crisis interventions.

Senior Direct Support Professional Trainer, 2014 – 2018

Chatuge Regional Hospital

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Provide training for support staff and family members.
  • Design, develop and implement training programs.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of training programs.
  • Conduct research on new developments in the field.
  • Provide supervision and guidance to less experienced staff.
  • Develop, maintain and update policies, procedures, forms and records.

Senior Direct Support Professional Trainer, 2012 – 2014

Boca Raton Regional Hospital

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Conduct presentations on the basic needs of individuals with developmental disabilities to professionals and parents
  • Conduct presentations on the process of contracting for a person with developmental disabilities
  • Develop and implement curriculum for training professional in the field of developmental disability
  • Provide guidance to supervisors and staff on appropriate methods of working with individuals with developmental disabilities
  • Develop and implement training programs for professional in the field of developmental disability
  • Provide individualized and group training sessions for professionals

Skills

  • Manage time efficiently
  • Demonstrated ability to create, present and execute training plans and materials
  • Experience designing and conducting training in an academic setting
  • Ability to recognize and correct common mistakes during training
  • Skill in providing behavior support plans and community education

Certifications

  • Williams-Sandberg Technical Training Center – Direct Support Professional; 2015.
  • Williams-Sandberg Technical Training Center – First Aid; 2015

Direct Support Professional Skills List

This is a job where you work with people who need patience and understanding. Employers want to hire those with the right personality traits. Your Direct Support Professional skills list should show how you approached the job.

  • Education

    Many employers will require at least a high school diploma. However, some may not even require that at all. As long as you are 18 years old, you can find work as a DSP. The employer will provide all the training you need.

  • Certification

    Another option is to take up courses related to DSP work. In our sample resume for DSP, Carlos signed up for training at a technical institute. The training agency should be accredited by a healthcare regulating agency. In the United States, it is the NASDP. This stands for the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals.

  • First-Aid

    In your line of work, patients can get injured. A DSP sometimes works with the elderly. Many of them have diminished motor skills and can fall easily. You will work with patients with mental issues. They might handle things that can cut them. First Aid is a must. You should be able to attend to injuries as they happen.

  • Physical Fitness

    There are times when you have to assist your patient. You will have to move them around on their bed. You will help them walk. There are situations where you will have to carry them. As a DSP, you must be sure of your fitness level.

  • Patience

    You will work with people who have unpredictable behaviour. They can go from docile to angry without warning. Anything can set them off. You might get attacked by a pair of scissors. A patient may throw his/her food at you. Someone may shout at you for giving him/her medicine. In some case, the patient will not do anything at all. All throughout these types of situations, you must be patient and understanding.

  • Great Interpersonal Skills

    For many, all they want is a friend. Someone who wants to spend time with them. They are just lonely. Some patients feel society has given up on them. As a DSP, you should do your best to keep them motivated. Help them realize they are people of value. Be someone who can become a genuine friend. The best medicine can just be a sincere conversation.

Direct Support Professional Resume Objective

The best resume objective for this position is a short one. However, it should have all the information the employer needs.

Always review the job post before writing the objective statement. Make sure you have the skills the job needs. The employer can be very specific about this.

In our sample, we started out with Carlos’ experience. The employer wanted a DSP with a minimum of 2-years experience. We also mentioned that Carlos has received the right training. This is favourable for the employer because the company will spend less time on training.

Include your other strong points. We added Carlos’ certification in First Aid. Lastly, give the employer an idea of the kind of experience you’ve had as a DSP. This will get his attention especially if your experience is in line with their work.

Direct Support Professional Resume Format

Employers prefer candidates with some background on DSP work. If you have a good experience, use the chronological resume format.

Start out with your most recent work experience. Include the name of the employer and the inclusive date of employment. Identify at least 5 key tasks that were assigned to you. Work your way back to at your earliest experience that is relevant to DSP work.

Arrange the sections this way:

  • Contact Information
  • Objective Statement
  • Skills
  • Work Experience
  • Education
  • Certification
  • Personal Information

Entry Level Direct Support Professional Resume

You can find plenty of entry level positions that don’t require experience. They will provide all the training that you need. It is important that you are at least 18 years old.

Here are a few tips on how you can get your resume noticed right away:

  • Write the objective in your own voice. Share a story. Tell the employer why you want to become a DSP. However, keep it short!
  • Show some proof that you can handle the demands of the job. In your work experience, cite instances where patience and understanding were exhibited. For example, when you helped the elderly with their daily activities.
  • Were you a volunteer for healthcare services? Make sure to mention that.

How to write a good Direct Support Professional Resume

Do you have what it takes to be a DSP? This can be a very demanding job.

  • Avoid Errors – How can you prove that “You care”, if you don’t even care about your own resume? Spelling and grammatical errors show a sloppy worker. Clean up your application before sending it out.
  • Keep it Short – Recruiters don’t spend much time reviewing applicants. They may have to review a hundred more. Do them a favour by keeping it short. Stay on one page.
  • Let your personality shine and don’t be generic. Be original and create a unique resume for every potential employer.

Is this resume sample helpful?

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

Be the first to rate this post

As you found this post useful...

Consider sharing it on social media

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

Author

It’s time for you to build your winning resume

Go to the resume builder and start designing your own winning resume.

  • Custom design resume
  • Sharable across platforms
  • Free basic resume
  • Easy pdf download
Create a new resume