What is this job?
As a Direct Support Professional, you would provide mentorship, coaching, and support to a young person, aged 14-20 years old, in a residential setting.
You would be part of a larger team working together to organize and run programming activities, ensuring the daily schedule of each child meets their goals, assisting with transports to school and offsite appointments (using our vehicles), and modeling life skill-building activities such as preparing meals and doing mock interviews for jobs.
What are the ECDD and LOTUS Programs?
The ECCD program offers high-intensity residential group home programming on its Baltimore campus for youth aged 14-20 who present with Emotional, Cognitive, and Developmental Disabilities (ECDD).
Our specialized Lotus Program offers holistic, high-intensity treatment for young females aged 14-20 who meet (or are at risk of meeting) the profile of Commercially Sexually Exploited Children as defined by the State of Maryland.
New name, same enduring commitment.
This year, we are celebrating 150 years of serving children and families through our work to enrich communities, one family at a time. As we reflected on our history and contemplated our bright future, one thing become clear: the name “Board of Child Care” no longer represented the vast array of services we offer. We are thrilled to share that our name has changed to Everstand! Our holistic range of residential, mental and behavioral health support, trauma recovery, case management, and educational services will continue to grow and expand. Learn more about our rebrand at everstand.org.
What does a Direct Support Professional do specifically?
Depending on which shift you’re working, here is what you can expect.
When the kids are awake you would:
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Document daily activities and happenings in the living unit within Everstand’s electronic health record system
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Accurately administer medication according to physician and/or nurse’s orders. Document the medication administration record (MAR). [All of Everstand's MD staff get certified as medication distribution technicians.]
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Help implement each child’s treatment plan (every child at Everstand has one – it’s a list of goals they’re working on while they’re at Everstand).
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Coach kids on cleanliness and orderliness in their personal hygiene, living unit and the surrounding campus.
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Link the kids to the medical team if they need anything.
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Support the kids getting ready for school.
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Provides safe transportation (in Everstand vehicles) to scheduled appointments.
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Conduct inventories for resident belongings upon admission, discharge, and on a quarterly basis. They are all growing teens - you'll help them purchase new clothing once per quarter.
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Engage the kids in whatever is on the living unit’s schedule. Play games, facilitate getting calls or video visits set up with their families or other stakeholders, etc.
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Ensure the kids are dressed in weather and activity-appropriate clothing. Generally, during your shift, you'll always spend a little time outside (weather permitting), like throwing a football around or taking a therapeutic walk around campus.
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Prepare and enjoy meals together as a living unit. Sometimes you’ll pick up meals already prepared from the dining hall (on grounds), other times the living unit will cook together.
While the kids are asleep you would:
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Complete bed checks for every resident every fifteen minutes.
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Finish any laundry and cleaning tasks to get ready for the next day.
Generally, as a part of the team you will:
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Complete a unit inspection checklist (all shifts perform this task) to make sure everything is working, supplies are stocked, and generally, the space is safe and well-lit.
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Rotate in the on-call coverage schedule.
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Foster an atmosphere of collaborative problem-solving among residents and co-workers.
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Provide good notes to the incoming shift so they are aware of what has been working well and what they should be mindful of.
This isn't an exhaustive list of responsibilities, but we hope it gives you a feel for what your day might be like.
What shifts would I work? Are full-time positions available?
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We are hiring for FULL TIME (40/30 hours a week) positions with benefits!
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Most of our staff work four days a week, either front-end (Sunday through Wednesday) or back-end (Wednesday through Saturday).
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We have afternoon/evening, and overnight shifts available.
Do I need any prior experience?
You need 3 years of experience working in either a children's or an elder care-focused environment. Our recruitment team can talk to you about whether your background meets this qualification - a lot of different professional experiences may qualify you. Things like working at a summer camp, an assisted living facility, correctional facility, may all be great starting points for you to begin working at Everstand. We will train you and get you certified in everything you need for this role.
Required Education
Other Job Requirements
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This position requires you to drive Everstand's vehicles. Must have a valid, active, driver's license with less than 7 points.
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Background check and drug screen required.
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Must be available to complete a paid 2-week orientation, which runs Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm.
The Board of Child Care is an equal opportunity employer by choice committed to excellence through diversity. All eligible candidates, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply for vacancies as appropriate.