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Direct support staff skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical direct support staff skills. We ranked the top skills for direct support staff based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 17.0% of direct support staff resumes contained direct support as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a direct support staff needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 direct support staff skills for your resume and career

1. Direct Support

Direct support is a one-on-one service that helps with daily life skills and tasks that strengthen one's independence. A direct support professional is responsible for a variety of tasks related to the general care of people with physical, cognitive, or developmental disabilities. The goal is to assist people to reach their full potential and to integrate and get engaged in their community.

Here's how direct support staff use direct support:

Direct support provides services assisting in the daily living for mentally challenged adults including transportation to special events and personal appointments.
Provide direct support to individuals with disabilities, pass prescribed medications, perform daily activities, complete daily documentation.

2. Direct Care

Direct care is the act of identifying people with special needs and offering the necessary care for them.

Here's how direct support staff use direct care:

Provided direct care to individuals with developmental disabilities in attempt to help them gain autonomy and integrate into the community.
Direct care for developmentally disabled and intellectually impaired individuals assisting and teaching them daily living skills.

3. Transport Clients

Here's how direct support staff use transport clients:

Transport clients to locations outside of home, such as physicians' offices, or outings, using a motor vehicle.
Transport clients to work, appointments, grocery shopping, or places at which the clients may need to go.

4. Good Judgment

Here's how direct support staff use good judgment:

Have a good judgment and able to handle crisis situations.

5. Home Maintenance

Here's how direct support staff use home maintenance:

Train persons served on daily living skills such as meal planning/preparation, shopping, grooming, job skills, home maintenance/cleaning.
Schedule cleaning and home maintenance activities to provide for the health and well-being of people served.

6. Ongoing Support

Here's how direct support staff use ongoing support:

Complete service documentation to record interventions and supports provided and reflect the goals and ongoing supports of the individuals served.
Provide ongoing support to developmentally disabled individuals to ensure that a high quality of life is maintained.

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7. Community Events

Community events are the events scheduled within the community.

Here's how direct support staff use community events:

Escorted consumers on personal outings with family members or community events.
Encourage social interaction by taking individuals to various community events.

8. Money Management

Here's how direct support staff use money management:

Initiated money management principles to disabled individuals and aided in completion of banking activities.
Assist individuals in developing skills in personal hygiene, household routines, money management and the use of community resources.

9. Behavioral Issues

Behavioral issues are the tendencies of individuals displaying unpleasant behavior as a result of sickness or addiction.

Here's how direct support staff use behavioral issues:

Required to do personal care of several individuals with mental retardation and behavioral issues.
Mentored individuals with disabilities and behavioral issues.

10. Mental Health

Mental health is the state of wellbeing in which an individual can cope with the regular stresses and tensions of life, and can work productively without having any emotional or psychological breakdown. Mental health is essential for a person of any age and helps them make the right decisions in their life.

Here's how direct support staff use mental health:

Provided daily living skills/services to adults with mental health and developmental needs; provided assisted living, safety and socialization skills
Followed person centered planning set by Community Mental Health agency for each individual.

11. Community Involvement

Here's how direct support staff use community involvement:

Facilitated community involvements by accompanying individuals on outings in the community, as well as home visits.
Expressed professionalism and dedication by helping consumers achieve independence and community involvement.

12. Intellectual Disabilities

Here's how direct support staff use intellectual disabilities:

Organize and plan activities of daily living to individuals with intellectual disabilities who live in a community-inclusive home environment.
Assisted, mentored, coached and supported individuals with intellectual disabilities in semi-independent living situations.

13. Meal Prep

Meal prepping refers to the practice of preparing healthy meals long before the timing of its consumption. This practice is widely popular among working individuals who have very little free time on their hands. Prepping for future meals has some great health benefits apart from saving one's time as it enforces the idea of healthy eating and discourages the temptation of fast foods and takeouts.

Here's how direct support staff use meal prep:

Assisted clients in their activities of daily living Meal prep Medication Administration Community Outings Behavior Management
Job responsibilities include meal preparation, medication administration, providing transportation.

14. Administer Medications

Here's how direct support staff use administer medications:

Administer medications accordingly to specified time complete all documentation needed.
Administer medications according to prescription and/or physician's direction.

15. Independent Living

Here's how direct support staff use independent living:

Worked on training individuals with development disabilities, techniques to improve daily independent living skills.
Work Primarily in a Supported Independent Living program for adults with Developmental Disabilities.

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List of direct support staff skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a direct support staff resume and required skills for a direct support staff to have include:

Direct Support
Direct Care
Transport Clients
Good Judgment
Home Maintenance
Ongoing Support
Community Events
Money Management
Behavioral Issues
Mental Health
Community Involvement
Intellectual Disabilities
Meal Prep
Administer Medications
Independent Living
Medical Appointments

ADL
Vital Signs
Motor Vehicle
Incident Reports
Community Integration
Patient Care
Physical Disabilities
Community Outings
Mental Illness
Emotional Support
Mental Disabilities
Blood Pressure
Physical Therapy
ISP
Service Plan
Data Collection

Tidiness
Bed Linens
Doctor Appointments
Urinals
Household Chores
Group Homes
Physical Support
Home Management
Nutritious Meals
Oral Hygiene
Community Life
Groceries
Training Programs
Oral Medications
Bedpans
Supported Living

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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