Direct Support Staff
Part-timeNorfolk, MAPart-time$18.5/hrSeen 3mo agoSeen in employer's feed 3 days ago
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Requirements
Credentials this posting asks for.
Job overview
Advocates is hiring a Direct Support Staff. Advocates is seeking enthusiastic, compassionate, and motivated team players to provide meaningful support to individuals in a residential setting. This entry-level role involves providing hands-on support, guidance, and encouragement to adults with developmental disabilities, assisting with daily living activities, and helping them build skills and independence. It's an opportunity to make a real impact and grow a career in human services.
Key focus areas include Provide daily support at home and in the community, Help plan and implement daily routines and activities, and Support individuals in setting and achieving person-centered goals.
Successful candidates bring High School Diploma/GED, CPR/First Aid Certification, and MAP Certification. Important skills include Interpersonal Skills, Communication Skills, Coaching Skills, Basic Computer Skills, and Supporting Culturally Diverse Populations. Preferred (not required): Human Services Experience.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
Overview
Starting Rate: $18.50/hour
Schedule: Sunday 9am-9pm, Monday 3pm-9am, Tuesday 3pm-9pm
We’re looking for enthusiastic, compassionate, and motivated team players to provide meaningful support to individuals in a residential setting. If you’re ready to start—or grow! — your career in human services, this is a great opportunity to make a real impact every day.
As a Direct Support Staff, you’ll provide hands-on support, guidance, and encouragement to adults with developmental disabilities. This is an entry-level role with meaningful responsibilities and the chance to build lasting relationships. In this role, you’ll assist individuals with daily living activities, such as personal care, meals, routines and community outings – while helping them build skills and independence.
Who We Are
At Advocates, we provide comprehensive services for people facing developmental, mental health, or other life challenges.
We’re a nonprofit, mission-driven organization with a person-centered approach, empowering the individuals we support to make choices, build independence, and live full, meaningful lives. Our work is rooted in respect, compassion, and inclusion, and we envision a world where individual differences are appreciated and celebrated.
At Advocates, we value the ideas, experiences, and contributions of employees and are committed to fostering a supportive, welcoming culture where everyone can grow and thrive.
Minimum Education Required
High School Diploma/GED
Shift
Blended Shift
Responsibilities
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Provide daily support at home and in the community
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Help plan and implement daily routines and activities
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Support individuals in setting and achieving person-centered goals
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Encourage participation in community and social opportunities
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Support household cleaning and maintenance tasks
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Document observations, progress, and any concerns
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Implement established treatment and support plans
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Provide physical intervention in crisis situations when necessary
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Maintain required certifications (CPR/First Aid, MAP, SOLVE, HR/DPPC)
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Ensure individuals are treated with dignity, respect, and in alignment with Human Rights policies
Qualifications
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High school diploma or equivalent required
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Experience in human services or with similar populations preferred
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Strong interpersonal, communication, and coaching skills
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Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented, person-centered environment
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Basic computer skills required
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Valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle, and willingness to transport individuals
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Commitment to supporting culturally diverse populations
Advocates is committed to cultivating a diverse and welcoming community where everyone feels respected and valued. Advocates fosters a culture of inclusion that celebrates and promotes diversity along multiple dimensions, including race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, partnered status, age, national origin, socioeconomic status, religion, ability, culture, and experience .
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Job Locations US-MA-Norfolk
Minimum Education Required High School Diploma/GED
Job ID 2026-13246
Organization Advocates
Type Regular Part-Time
Number of Hours Per Week 24
Business Unit Developmental Services
How this job compares
Set against the 2,202 open Direct Support Professional jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 29, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$18.5/hr
- Massachusetts median$19/hr62 hourly ranges
- US median$18–19/hr1,792 hourly ranges
This rate, $18.50/hr, is close to the Massachusetts median midpoint ($19/hr) — in the middle half of Direct Support Professional hourly ranges in Massachusetts.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 82 open Direct Support Professional jobs in Massachusetts and 2,202 across the US. Under 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Massachusetts
- Advocates (this employer)34 open
- The Arc of Opportunity19 open
- Berkshire Family and Individual Resources (BFAIR)5 open
- Experience
- Direct Support Professional postings that state a minimum ask for 1 year of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 1 to 2 years (425 postings).
- Education
- This posting asks for a high school diploma; 1,414 of the 2,202 open Direct Support Professional jobs (64%) ask for a high school diploma or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 29, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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