Direct Care Provider / CLS Staff

Refinement Principle – Grand Rapids, MI

Make a Meaningful Difference

Refinement Principle is seeking compassionate, dependable Direct Care Providers (Community Living Supports/CLS staff) to support an adult woman in her own home and community. This is a person-centered role for someone who is patient, calm, encouraging, and committed to helping an individual live safely, build daily-living skills, and enjoy meaningful routines and community experiences.

The individual is friendly, social, caring, humorous, and enjoys connecting with others. She values her home, good food, car rides, time with family, and being included in everyday activities. Staff will provide support in a way that respects her choices, communication, preferences, pace, and dignity.

What You’ll Do

As a Direct Care Provider, you will provide hands-on support while helping the individual participate in the routines and activities that matter to her.

• Support meal planning, grocery-related activities, meal preparation, and kitchen clean-up; invite participation in every meal and offer meaningful choices.

• Encourage participation in household routines such as dishes, laundry, bed-making, wiping surfaces, vacuuming, watering plants, and other chores she chooses.

• Support morning routines, including toileting and getting ready for the day, using a positive, respectful approach with limited prompting.

• Use modeling, narration, visual supports, encouragement, and hands-on assistance as trained and appropriate.

• Respect the individual’s right to decline an activity; avoid power struggles and re-offer support in a calm, encouraging manner.

• Build communication and social skills by encouraging greetings, “please,” “thank you,” asking for help, and communicating “all done.”

• Support safe, preferred community activities, including car rides, outings, and social opportunities.

• Monitor for changes in mood, health, sensory needs, environmental triggers, and early signs of escalation.

• Follow the individual’s Behavior Treatment Plan, crisis/safety plan, proactive strategies, and intervention procedures exactly as trained.

• Maintain a calm, supportive environment by adjusting expectations and communication style based on the individual’s daily support needs.

• Complete accurate shift documentation, CLS logs, behavior data, goal-tracking sheets, and incident reports as required.

• Communicate clearly and professionally with the program lead, coworkers, guardians, and authorized members of the support team.

Staffing and Safety Needs

This position requires reliable staff who understand that consistency, teamwork, and safety are essential.

• 2:1 staffing is required for community activities and other designated times.

• Some shifts may involve supporting an individual who experiences behavioral escalation, self-injury, emotional outbursts, property disruption, or attempts to leave a safe setting unexpectedly.

• Staff must be able to remain composed, use approved de-escalation strategies, recognize precursor behaviors, and seek additional support when needed.

• Awake overnight staff are needed to monitor health, safety, and unscheduled support needs during sleeping hours.

• Staff must be willing to follow all emergency, evacuation, crisis-response, and safety procedures.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for dependable team members who lead with patience, professionalism, and respect.

• Experience supporting adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities, autism, behavioral health needs, or high-support needs is strongly preferred.

• Experience implementing behavior support plans, collecting behavior data, or using positive behavior supports is preferred.

• Ability to stay calm and make sound decisions during stressful or unpredictable situations.

• Strong observation, communication, documentation, and teamwork skills.

• Ability to provide respectful personal-care and activities-of-daily-living support as needed.

• Ability to follow detailed support plans, safety protocols, and training requirements consistently.

• Willingness to work collaboratively as part of a 2:1 support team when scheduled.

• Reliable attendance, punctuality, and dependable transportation.

• Willingness to complete required training before working independently, including training on the IPOS,
Behavior Treatment Plan, crisis/safety plan, and agency policies.

• A valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and ability to transport or accompany an individual in the community may be required based on shift duties.

• Direct care experience is preferred; applicants with the right attitude, willingness to learn, and commitment to person-centered support are encouraged to apply.

Why Refinement Principle?

At Refinement Principle, we believe quality direct care starts with respect. Our staff help individuals pursue a meaningful life in their own homes and communities while receiving the support necessary for health, safety, independence, relationships, and personal growth.

We value team members who:

• See the person before the behavior.

• Honor choice and communication.

• Use patience rather than pressure.

• Support skill-building at the individual’s pace.

• Communicate consistently with the full support team.

• Help create safe, positive, and predictable daily routines.

Apply Today

If you are compassionate, reliable, and ready to provide meaningful one-to-one and two-to-one support, we would love to hear from you. Join Refinement Principle and help an individual build skills, enjoy her community, and continue living safely in the home she values.

Refinement Principle is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome qualified applicants from all backgrounds.

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