Direct Support Professional

Job Summary and Purpose

At Tennyson Center for Children our core values guide everything we do. We are Joyful finding optimism and strength even in challenges; Curious always learning and innovating to provide the best care; Dependable building trust through reliability; Authentic celebrating uniqueness and creating safe inclusive spaces; andCompassionate deeply caring for our teammates our clients and the community we serve. If these values resonate with you wed love to have you join our team and help us make a lasting impact on the lives of children across Colorado!

The Direct Support Professional (DSP) is responsible for supporting a therapeutic residential program that fosters youth resilience healing informed by best practices and a deep understanding of trauma informed care.This position will be responsible for the supervision and support of clients in the residential setting as well as timely documentation of all incidents.A successful DSP must have a broad knowledge of best practice milieu skills and modalities for working with children with intellectual disabilities neurodevelopmental delays complex trauma knowledge in child development and of the relationship between trauma and neurobiology and a critical thinking lens grounded in a trauma informed client centered philosophy.

Our clients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds not just because its the right thing to do but because it makes our company stronger.

Essential Job Functions

• Assist clients in identifying and working toward selfdirected treatment goals.
• Collaborate with the internal and external treatment team on progress and barriers in therapeutic treatment goals for the clients home and community environments.
• Provide clean safe and therapeutic environments for the clients at all times.
• Engage clients in social emotional skill acquisition and practice.
• Ensure positive behavior supports are being implemented on a milieu and in the community consistently to support and encourage clients from a strengthsbased lens.

Other Job Functions

• Assist and support clients in getting ready to and from school.
• Take clients into the community to provide age normative childhood experiences.
• Supervise and monitor clients during all wake and sleeping hours.
• Utilize trauma informed therapeutic interventions for behavior management (both verbal and nonverbal) and physical managements as a last resort when imminent safety is at risk.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift 25/50 lbs. or more.
• Must be able to assume and maintain a variety of postures such as kneeling squatting crawling sitting standing for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to perform or assist with physical interventions either restraints or containments.

Working Conditions

• Full time in person work required.
• Several shift opportunities: SunWeds days overnight swing shift; WedsSat days overnight swing shift.
• Travel will utilize company vehicles to transport clients to community activities.
• Most of the work will occur on our campus in the residential cottages as well as in the greater community.
• Casual work attire.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services/related field or equivalent experience required.
• Must be willing to contribute to a positive home environment for children and collaborative working relationships with TCC staff.
• Must be willing to work evenings and weekends.
• Experience in a residential setting or with children with developmental disabilities preferred.
• Motivation to obtain specialized training that would enhance your daily work and professional development preferred.
• All candidates must have or qualify to obtain a current Colorado driver license. (Must obtain Colorado license within 30 days of employment.
• All positions require criminal CBI background check FBI fingerprint check State of CO child abuse check DMV driving record check preemployment drug test preemployment physical academic credential verification and reference check.

Benefits*New Hire Sign on Bonus: $600 after 90 days; additional $1000 after 6 months*

For employees working 30 or more hours

• Medical Dental Vision Insurance Options (United Healthcare Guardian: Dental Vision and Voluntary options)
• Health Savings Account & FSA Options
• Generous PTO 13 paid holidays
• Retirement Plan with the Pension Fund: Tennyson will match up to 4 of annual salary.
• Voluntary Benefits through Guardian: Accident Critical Illness Disability Hospital Indemnity
• Company paid Life Insurance and AD&D with options to purchase additional coverage
• Company paid Short Term Disability with options to purchase additional coverage
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Professional Development Assistance
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information go to a bachelors degree from an accredited university and interested in becoming a special education teacher Tennyson covers expenses for eligible employees as we partner with Aspire Alternative Teacher Licensure Program so you can become a credentialed teacher.
• Flexible schedules part time full time or work weekends only the possibilities are endless.
• Paid Mental Health days to regroup and recharge!
• Professional Development provided with opportunities for advancement.
• We are always looking for candidates of diverse experience to join us such as new grads people looking to make a difference in their community to Certified Nurse Assistants CNAs Medical Assistants MAs and aspiring professionals in the Residential field should apply!

EEOC

Must demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States in compliance with federal law all persons hired will be required to verify eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Tennyson Center for Children currently does not sponsor work visas.

Tennyson Center is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer; we are committed to creating a culture of belonging for all employees. We prohibit discrimination based on race religion color sex sexual orientation gender identity gender expression age national origin disability military status conditions relating to pregnancy or childbearing and/or any other status protected by federal state or local laws. If you have any questions please email our team at We appreciate your interest in Tennyson Center for Children.

Dont meet all the requirements We encourage you to apply if you think you are the right person for the position. We are keen to speak to people who connect with Tennyson Mission and Values.