Direct Support Professional, 1st Shift

Company: Chileda Institute Inc.
Location: La Crosse
Posted on: January 15, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Direct Support Professional We are hiring Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) to support our students during first shift with a start date of August 12, 2025 . We have other shifts available with immediate openings. See our careers page for more information on the available options! DSPs work directly with our students to teach important life, social, and communication skills, support them in activities of daily living (ADLs), and provide physical behavior interventions. This role is ideal for individuals who are compassionate, motivated, and eager to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children with developmental disabilities. Chileda's mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals with cognitive and behavior challenges. We aim to help students increase their appropriate social behaviors and develop independent living skills, through an enriched learning environment and individualized behavior programming. Our DSP's play a vital role in helping our students and residents meet their treatment and program goals and gain important life skills. No experience is necessary. We provide training to help you succeed. If you have a positive attitude, a willingness to learn, and want to help make a difference in the lives of children, we want to hear from you. Whether you choose full-time or part-time, you'll enjoy competitive pay ranging from $20.00 to $23.00 an hour during first shift. EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE NEEDED: High school diploma or equivalent Must be at least 18 years old Behavioral skills and judgment conducive to role modeling appropriate skills for students Experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities is a plus JOB DUTIES: Use a Trauma Informed Approach by communicating with and about students in a respectful, positive, and age- appropriate manner while consistently using a therapeutic tone even in high stress situations. Encourage individuality of students by allowing self-expression and opportunities to make choices throughout their day. Record behavior data, goals and communication logs of all assigned students, and complete Emergency Intervention Forms (EIFs), Incident Reports (IRs), and/or Employee Accident Reports. Communicate with house/classroom leads when there is an incident or emergency intervention. Participate in debriefing and check out with house lead or classroom prior to leaving before your shift, ensuring all chores, data, and forms are completed. Review expectations with students prior to transitions, activities, or events. Help students to understand their rights by offering opportunities for self-advocacy. Use Crisis management techniques taught in trainings including verbal de-escalation, creative redirection, topic changes, and allowing space and time for processing during a crisis. Are you a good fit for this JOB? A passion for helping others is essential, especially when working with our clients. While experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities is preferred, it's not a strict requirement. What truly matters is your empathetic nature and willingness to learn! Strong communication skills will enable you to connect effectively with clients and collaborate with your team. If you're ready to embrace a fun and forward-thinking environment, this role is for you! GENERAL HOURS OF DUTY: This position is first shift (with working hours between 7:30am and 4:30pm), Monday through Friday, and every other weekend. We have full or part time openings. DSPs work rotating holidays and overtime as approved. DSPs will work collaboratively with the Scheduler and Shift Manager to coordinate schedules. Shifts are scheduled in a two-week period and repeat after those two weeks (i.e week 1 schedule, week 2 schedule, repeat). Shift lengths and times may vary. Connect with our team today! If you feel this is the right job for you, go ahead and apply. We look forward to meeting you!

Keywords: Chileda Institute Inc., Dubuque , Direct Support Professional, 1st Shift, Social Services , La Crosse, Iowa