FEATURED JOB OPENING: House Parents/DSP Couple - Ft Myers, FL

Posted: 6/18/2025

God's Protected Harbor is a Christ-centered, nonprofit organization that provides a safe haven for God’s special people. Every resident God entrusts to our care is nurtured by loving house parents and each other to reach their full potential spiritually, emotionally, personally, and physically in a loving family atmosphere. Gods Protected Harbor has served adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for over 15 years. Our mission is to provide residential and community-based programs and services, enhanced with Christian care, for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, enabling them to reach their full potential and live their best lives.

Position Overview:

The Houseparent/Direct Support Professional is responsible for ensuring services are being delivered through consistent compliance with Protected Harbor’s policy and procedures, requirements outlined in the iBudget Handbook, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Agency of Health Care Administration, and other governing agencies. Protected Harbor is seeking couples to serve as houseparents, also known as Direct Support Professionals, to provide full-time care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our family-style home. Houseparents are the heart of our ministry, creating a stable and regular routine environment where our residents can continue to grow emotionally, spiritually, and socially. This in this role, you will work 7 days on and 7 days off. Housing provided. This role is more than a job; it’s a calling.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Care of Individuals Served:

• Assist with transporting, organization, and scheduling of health/mental/dental care responsibilities for clients, as necessary.
• Assist and provide coaching and training to individuals in good personal hygiene, proper personal presentation, and encourage healthy and safe quarters maintenance, organization, laundry procedures and housekeeping.
• Provide coaching, training, support, and as applicable, hands-on assistance, with daily self-care to include but not limited to assisting with toileting, showering, and dressing.
• Provide one-on-one services, as described in the Individual Support Plan.
• Provide training and coaching in life skills, specific to the individual’s established person-centered goals.
• Support clients with volunteering, employment, and community activities.
• Ensure the health and safety of clients.
• Provide coaching, training, and support, which may include assisting the client in activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, and preparation of meals. When specified in the support plan, this service can also include household chores to make the home safer, such as washing floors, windows, and walls; tidying loose rugs and tiles; or moving heavy items or furniture.
• Provide training and coaching on cooking and healthy alternatives.
• Ensure all individuals receive 3 meals a day. Assist in meal preparations.
• Document services following requirements in the iBudget Handbook
• Assist in budget preparation, budgeting skills, and other factors of living independently.
• To always act as a positive role model

Essential Functions:

• Provides direct care to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• To be always flexible and responsive to meet the changing needs of the service and the service users.
• Support individuals in a non-judgmental way based on the principals of anti-discriminatory practice.
• Assure proper training for individuals served, which may include how to get along with others, selected life skill goals, fire drills, and health and safety training. 
• Support clients with job skills and proper employment conversations.
• Effectively communicate with all staff regarding client needs.
• Finance - support people to manage their resources and finances.
• Maintain confidentiality and follow all HIPPA guidelines.
• Assesses individual’s comprehensive needs for services and support through interviewing individual, natural supports, guardians, legal representatives, and other providers, as applicable.
• Maintain open communication with care team, to include natural support, guardians, legal representatives, Waiver Support Coordinators, and other providers, as applicable.
• Attending meetings requested by any member of staff or support team.
• Assist individual, family/caretaker, guardian, and other natural supports in navigating the system for support (APD, AHCA, Waitlist)
• Links individuals to services and support specified by the service plans.
• Provide Supported Living Coaching as described in in the iBudget handbook
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor, which are consistent with the duties and responsibilities of this position, and within the policies and procedures of Protected Harbor

Physical Requirements

• Must be in good physical, mental, and emotional health and able to assist the individual served and their support, as needed.
• Ability to lift to 50 pounds.
• Able to bend, reach, lift, drive, use cleaning supplies, and assist with cleaning, when applicable.

General Qualifications

• Meet all the employment qualifications and pass all background screenings. This includes a Level II and Local background, and drug screenings.
• Successful completion of all initial and annual training.
• Knowledge of laws and regulations governing individuals with Intellectual and Developmental disabilities
• Mature Christians with personal integrity, character, and reputation, and willing to model Christian values and lifestyle to the residents.
• A desire to seek and serve God and His kingdom.
• A willingness to encourage individuals to grow spiritually through devotions, prayer at meals, Life Group participation, and regular church attendance.
• Ability to manage time, set priorities, and to organize and follow structured routines.
• Must demonstrate exceptional problem-solving and customer service skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and abide by HIPAA policies.
• Demonstrated ability to interview individuals and families, and observe and record on an individual’s functioning, need for resources and services.
• Effectively use assessment tools and resources
• Identify services within the community and coordinate services.
• Ability to work independently under general supervision.

Education, Experience and Skills Required

• High school diploma or GED
• A bachelor’s degree or 4 years of college from an accredited college or university, and two years of documented direct experience with individuals with Intellectual and Developmental disabilities.
  • One year of college from an accredited college or university and three years of documented direct experience in collaborating with recipients with developmental disabilities

OR

• • Two years of direct professional experience working with individuals with Intellectual and Developmental disabilities may substitute for college on a year-for-year basis.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must hold a current, valid driver’s license and have a safe driving record.