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Direct Support Professional II - Behavior Specialist Assistant
Company : Seven Hills Foundation
Location : Cumberland, RI, 02864
Job Type : Part Time
Date Posted : 2 January 2026
Overview
$24.00/HR
$500 (sign-on bonus)
Are you looking to make a difference and promote healthy and happy lives? Do you have a passion for working with individuals with disabilities and significant life challenges helping them to achieve their fullest potential? If so, consider joining us here at Seven Hills Rhode Island where our CORE VALUES include Respect & Kindness, Integrity, Teamwork, Innovation, and Service to Others.
Behavior Specialist Assistants are responsible for providing direct support to individuals with unique behavioral and/or mental health challenges. In this role you will ensure the residents are living a safe, healthy, and fulfilled life. This position supports continued development of skills and abilities while respecting and celebrating the individuals’ culture, talents, and contributions and following the Individual and Behavior Support Plan. The goal is to provide each member with a comfortable, safe home, keeping them closely connected to family members, friends, and their community. The Behavior Specialist Assistant is responsible for monitoring and collecting data.
Benefits for Full-time employees:
- Health and Dental Insurance: With generous company contribution
- Generous Accrued Paid Vacation
- Vacation Cash-Out Option
- Paid Personal Days, Holidays and Sick Time
- Enhanced Retirement Plan: With Employer match
- Student Loan Assistance: Consolidation, counseling, & limited employer contribution
- Tuition Assistance: Reimbursed or prepaid college coursework
*Benefits are based on position and scheduled hours
Responsibilities
Behavior Specialist Assistant is responsible for the overall physical, psychological and emotional health and safety of the participants living in one of our residential homes in the community. Provides supports as written in the individual’s support plan that may include personal care, physical lifting and therapeutic holds. Assists with an individual’s environment such as cleaning, laundry, shopping, cooking, and budgeting. Provides assistance to the Behavior Specialist and Clinical Director in the development of teaching procedures for the implementation of each of the goals and objectives in the Individual Support Plan. Assists the Behavior Specialist in the analysis of data collected and development of graphic data presentations to determine teaching program effectiveness. Facilitates and monitors crisis intervention and prevention responses when indicated. Encourages the development of new relationships and contacts by assisting people to be active in their communities and home life. When applicable, follows clinical orders and ensures that medications and treatments are administered following proper medical procedures.
Behavior Specialist Assistants are provided a paid New Employee Orientation and receive training on CPR/First Aid, Safety Care, Defensive Driving, and Medication Administration. Comprehensive program-specific training at the work site is also provided.
You can also see an overview of the amazing work our organization does with this video:
https://vimeo.com/344648526
The mission of Seven Hills Foundation is to promote and encourage the empowerment of
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Education or related field preferred
- 4 years of experience in a related field can be substituted for education
- Valid Driver’s License & Good Driving Record.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Physical demands: sitting, pushing, pulling, carrying, grasping, speaking, listening, stooping, crouching, bending, standing, twisting, crawling, walking, and climbing. Requires a normal degree of flexibility; ability to walk, run or shuffle, kneel on one or two knees and then stand up; to utilize upper and lower body strength within weight restrictions; may be required to lift up to fifty (50) pounds or more with assistance.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working with individuals with behavioral challenges.
- Experience in the field of mental health and developmental disabilities.
- Commitment to assisting people with varying disabilities to participate fully in their community and in their own lives.
- Ability to work as a creative, engaged, dedicated member of your team.
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Frequently asked questions
Candidates with hands-on experience in behavioral challenges and a bachelor’s degree in psychology or education stand out. Strong communication skills combined with a valid driver's license and physical stamina to assist clients in daily tasks are essential for success in this specialized support position.
This role combines direct behavioral support with physical care, including data collection and crisis intervention. Unlike general support roles, it demands active participation in developing and implementing personalized behavior plans, ensuring clients’ safety while fostering community integration.
Growth often involves advancing into roles like Behavior Analyst or Clinical Support Specialist. Gaining certifications in behavioral intervention and expanding expertise in mental health challenges can lead to supervisory or specialized clinical positions within organizations.
Seven Hills Foundation emphasizes respect, teamwork, and innovation, providing comprehensive training including CPR and medication administration. Their focus on community integration and personalized care creates a supportive environment for specialists to deliver impactful behavior support.
The organization aligns job responsibilities with its core values by promoting empowerment and dignity. Assistants are encouraged to foster clients’ independence through individualized support plans, combining therapeutic care with community engagement to enhance quality of life.
The position offers $24.00 per hour plus a $500 sign-on bonus, reflecting competitive compensation in the Rhode Island market. This wage aligns with regional standards for specialized behavioral support roles, factoring in full-time benefits and professional development opportunities.
While a bachelor’s degree is preferred, certifications in CPR, first aid, and safety care are commonly required. Local employers may also value training in medication administration and defensive driving, which support the comprehensive care responsibilities in community residential settings.
Demand for qualified behavioral support professionals in Cumberland remains steady, driven by community-based care initiatives. Candidates with specialized training and experience in developmental disabilities often find favorable opportunities due to a consistent need for skilled assistants.
Yes, the role involves varied physical activities such as lifting, assisting with personal care, and mobility support. The job requires flexibility and strength to help clients safely while also managing environmental tasks like cleaning and budgeting assistance.
Beyond behavioral interventions, specialists must adeptly handle crisis prevention and data analysis for individualized plans. Balancing emotional support with practical assistance and adhering to clinical directives creates a dynamic, multifaceted work environment.