Job Description

Job Location: Syracuse, NY - Syracuse, NY 13203
Position Type: Full-Time/Part-Time
Salary Range: $19.30 - $21.30 Hourly

Job Shift: Day
Job Category: Nonprofit - Social ServicesLooking for a rewarding way to earn a living while helping others in need? Wish you had a short break in the course of your workday to accomplish things in your personal life? We may have the opportunity for you!
Advocates is seeking a creative and compassionate Mentor (DSP/1:1 support staff) to work with gifted people with developmental disabilities. In this critical role, you will help to implement key independent living skills, teach skills to communicate and interact with others, assist in experiencing social, recreational, and physical fitness opportunities in the community, and help to achieve dreams!
This unique opportunity entails supporting one person during the first part of the day, and then a second person for a late afternoon shift. During the gap in-between shifts, the Mentor will have clocked out and is free to run personal errands, get lunch, or commute to the second position. This break not only allows you to accomplish important tasks during business hours, but also provides a nice variety to your day!
The ideal candidate for the DSP position will have effective communication and leadership skills, patience, flexibility, punctuality, and strong organizational skills. Previous experience working with people with disabilities is a plus but is not required. Please respond with resume or summary of experience.
Candidate must possess a keen sense of attention to detail, especially when electronically logging each day's time, mileage, and service documentation. DSP must have a valid email address.
Hours and days of work
Full-time status will be achieved through working a split-shift Monday through Friday. The exact hours of the shift may vary, but will likely fall between the hours of 8 AM - 2 PM and 2:30 PM - 7 PM.
Pay rate: $19.30-$21.30 per hour when providing direct support. The hourly rate for indirect/training is $16.00 per hour.
Location: Syracuse, NY area and surrounding suburbs
In addition to the hourly wage, Advocates provides the following benefits to its employees:
- Mileage (reimbursed at the IRS standard mileage reimbursement rate when providing transportation to the individual)
- Life and Long-Term Disability insurance at no cost to the employee
- Health, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- 401k with up to a 2% match
Advocates is a leading human services organization with over 1,300 dedicated employees serving people throughout Central New York. Advocates is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Requisition ID:

Qualifications
- Must be 18 years of age.
- Must have a valid email address.
- Must possess a valid driver’s license and auto insurance if required for the job assigned.
- Must demonstrate sound decision-making skills.
- Must demonstrate understanding for the Agency mission. People working in this position must believe in the philosophy of person-centered services, self-advocacy, and the right and ability of people we serve to self-direct their supports and services.
- Must demonstrate patience and compassion.
- Must have the ability to read and comprehend instructions, correspondence, and have the ability to write correspondence.
- Must have basic reasoning skills including the ability to analyze and problem solve.
- Must be able to tolerate a moderate noise level in the work environment and must be able to handle distractions.
- Ability to handle physical aspects of the job, including sitting, standing, using hands to reach, walk, push, or lift up to 50 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Background checks required
- Education &

Experience: GED or High School Diploma preferred. Applicable job experience preferred.
- Desired Skills and Abilities: previous experience working 1:1 in a related service environment preferred. Knowledge of disability related issues preferred.
- Other: The individual does not have the authority to set the staff salary in this model. The Mentor is paid at the provider’s rate for the service based on an assessment of the specific support needs of the individual in the areas of behavioral support, communication support, and physical support needs.