What does a direct support staff do?
The direct support staff is an individual who takes responsibility for the overall care of people with developmental disabilities. Direct support professionals work directly with developmental illness patients in long-term health care facilities. They perform their jobs as home health and companion care providers who assist their clients in their daily movements and actions. It is their duty to ensure the comfort and safety of their clients. Also, they encourage behaviors and attitudes which strengthen community inclusion.
Direct support staff responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real direct support staff resumes:
- Ensure HIPAA compliance and provide client education.
- Perform first aid, CPR and seizure care when require.
- Assist mentally disable adults with ADL such as bathing cooking clothing, cleaning and medication administration.
- Administer medication, provide transportation, assist with ADL skills, and inspire consumers to be independent.
- Provide caring and companionship to elderly and developmentally disable consumers and provide primary resident care and assistance with daily living activities.
- Maintain a safe and supportive environment while learning proper case management and the importance of ISP's and BSP's.
- Conduct, ISP s, monthly reports, safety assessments, family service plans, crises safety plans and progress notes.
- Care for residents that have dementia, Alzheimer's, and other health conditions relate to aging.
- Train to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
- Administer care to MRDD patients in a group home setting.
- Assist MRDD (mentally retard disable disabilities) with daily living skills.
- Implement behavioral plans for children with autism to teach communication, social, self-help, and play skills
Direct support staff skills and personality traits
We calculated that 17% of Direct Support Staff are proficient in Direct Support, Direct Care, and Transport Clients. They’re also known for soft skills such as Detail oriented, Integrity, and Interpersonal skills.
We break down the percentage of Direct Support Staff that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Direct Support, 17%
Direct support provides services assisting in the daily living for mentally challenged adults including transportation to special events and personal appointments.
- Direct Care, 11%
Provided direct care to individuals with developmental disabilities in attempt to help them gain autonomy and integrate into the community.
- Transport Clients, 11%
Transport clients to locations outside of home, such as physicians' offices, or outings, using a motor vehicle.
- Good Judgment, 9%
Have a good judgment and able to handle crisis situations.
- Home Maintenance, 7%
Train persons served on daily living skills such as meal planning/preparation, shopping, grooming, job skills, home maintenance/cleaning.
- Ongoing Support, 7%
Complete service documentation to record interventions and supports provided and reflect the goals and ongoing supports of the individuals served.
Most direct support staff use their skills in "direct support," "direct care," and "transport clients" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential direct support staff responsibilities here:
Detail oriented. One of the key soft skills for a direct support staff to have is detail oriented. You can see how this relates to what direct support staff do because "home health aides and personal care aides must adhere to specific rules and protocols and carefully follow instructions to help take care of clients." Additionally, a direct support staff resume shows how direct support staff use detail oriented: "maintain detailed monitoring and data collection logs and records for clients. "
Integrity. Many direct support staff duties rely on integrity. "home health aides and personal care aides should make clients feel comfortable when they tend to personal activities, such as helping a client bathe," so a direct support staff will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways direct support staff responsibilities rely on integrity: "entrusted with the care of both developmentally disabled clients and those with mental health conditions. "
Interpersonal skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of direct support staff is interpersonal skills. This skill is critical to many everyday direct support staff duties, as "home health aides and personal care aides must work closely with clients." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "helped enrich participant's interpersonal and communication skills with community outings and recreation on the farm. "
Physical stamina. A big part of what direct support staff do relies on "physical stamina." You can see how essential it is to direct support staff responsibilities because "home health aides and personal care aides should be comfortable performing physical tasks." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical direct support staff tasks: "provide emotional and physical support. "
The three companies that hire the most direct support staffs are:
- Advocates57 direct support staff jobs
- The Salvation Army36 direct support staff jobs
- Preferred Family Healthcare25 direct support staff jobs
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Compare different direct support staff
Direct support staff vs. Attending, ambulatory care
An attending, ambulatory care is responsible for providing patient care, supporting ongoing treatment of health issues, and managing recovery through coordinating with attending physicians or other medical professionals. They evaluate medical records, including history and consultation purposes, develop a necessary care plan, keep an accurate medical chart, and schedule laboratory tests and follow-up as needed. An attending, ambulatory care must have extensive knowledge of the medical principles and disciplines to monitor the patients' condition and observe medical measures.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, direct support staff responsibilities require skills like "direct support," "excellent interpersonal," "team-oriented environment," and "transport clients." Meanwhile a typical attending, ambulatory care has skills in areas such as "patients," "customer service," "quality care," and "rehabilitation." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Attendings, ambulatory care really shine in the government industry with an average salary of $30,236. Comparatively, direct support staff tend to make the most money in the professional industry with an average salary of $30,215.On average, attendings, ambulatory care reach similar levels of education than direct support staff. Attendings, ambulatory care are 0.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Direct support staff vs. Companion
A companion is responsible for assisting sick and recovered patients, as well as the elderly. Companions perform housekeeping duties, ensuring that a facility is well-maintained and safe for the use of the patients. They also monitor the patients' medication, prepare their meals based on a medical professional's prescription, support them on their daily activities, respond to the patients' needs and special requests as allowed, and report any developments to their family or guardians. A companion must be compassionate enough to extend physical and emotional support, depending on the client's condition.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that direct support staff responsibilities requires skills like "direct support," "excellent interpersonal," "team-oriented environment," and "transport clients." But a companion might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "companionship," "patients," "home health," and "provide emotional support."
On average, companions earn a lower salary than direct support staff. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, companions earn the most pay in the non profits industry with an average salary of $30,973. Whereas direct support staff have higher pay in the professional industry, with an average salary of $30,215.companions earn similar levels of education than direct support staff in general. They're 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Direct support staff vs. Provider
Health care providers are health professionals and health organizations offering health care treatment and diagnosis services. These professionals play significant roles with patients through consultation, treatment, and advice. The health care they provide is of different variations. They even perform other procedures depending on the needs of the patients. Their responsibilities include comprehensive care and specialist work. Also, they help in duties, medication, and housekeeping. They transport clients to and from errands, activities, and appointments.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from direct support staff resumes include skills like "direct support," "team-oriented environment," "transport clients," and "good judgment," whereas a provider is more likely to list skills in "patients," "healthcare," "customer service," and "cpr. "
Providers make a very good living in the health care industry with an average annual salary of $55,214. On the other hand, direct support staff are paid the highest salary in the professional industry, with average annual pay of $30,215.When it comes to education, providers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to direct support staff. In fact, they're 3.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Direct support staff vs. Habilitation specialist
Types of direct support staff
Updated January 8, 2025
