Live-In Assistant (Direct Support Professional)

Are you caring and collaborative, joyful and adaptable? Are you perceptive to the needs of those around you? L’Arche St. Louis seeks you to join our team of Assistants that provides care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in a home. L’Arche’s unique model of care seeks to offer more than a job; it’s an opportunity for personal transformation through relationships.

Build community. Grow in compassion. Impact society.

Live-in Assistants fill an important role in our L’Arche Community. Life shared with other members of the community is what makes us who we are. The role is unique compared to most jobs. This overview is meant to provide some information about the role, but does not represent a contract or guarantee of terms.

What does "Live-In" mean?

Live-in Assistants make L’Arche St. Louis their primary home. L’Arche provides a bedroom, basic bedroom furniture, and full access to the house(s). Live-in Assistants have full-time employment with L’Arche St. Louis. This role is primarily to support the day-to-day life of the Core Members and the functioning of the home.

What a week looks like :

Live-in Assistants are scheduled for 5 days per week, with 2 “personal days”. During the 5 days in community, Live-in Assistants are typically scheduled 40-45 hours per week. The hours are often split up, with some “personal time” in between. Assistants are expected to be fully present and actively supporting the house and Core Members when scheduled as “on”, and are free to do as they please during their personal time. This includes normal things one might do at home : snack, sleep, read, recreate, leave to visit friends or run errands, etc. Scheduled hours can include direct Core Member support, house chores and errands, administrative time, trainings and meetings, cooking dinner, attending events, and more (based on the needs of the house and community).

The 2 "personal days"  or days away, typically stay the same week-to-week, but on rare occasions may be shifted to meet the needs of the community. Currently, Assistants work together to determine which set of personal days they will take. During these days Assistants are totally free to do as they please. Many Assistants stay somewhere else during these days to relax and recharge, but there is no expectation to do so.

Pay & Benefits :

Live-in Assistants are provided room and board as a benefit for their role in community. This includes access to the kitchen and preferred foods (within reason, based on the house budget and preferences of the rest of the house). In addition, Assistants are paid for their scheduled hours, including overtime for any hours over 40. Currently the rate is $18.00 per hour. $18.00 x 40 hours = $720.00 gross pay per week, $37,440.00 gross pay per year.

In addition, live-in Assistants are provided with health, vision, and dental insurance, in addition to life insurance and long-term disability coverage after 90 days of employment. L’Arche currently pays 100% of the premium for those benefits . Live-in Assistants also accrue Vacation PTO, Holiday PTO, and Sick Time.

Reviews and Organizational Relationships :

Each Assistant will have a 3-month introductory probationary period, and will have a review at the end of that time. Additionally, Assistants will have an annual review each year. Assistants work directly with other Assistants, work closely with the House Leader of each house they provide support for, and work with the Assistants Coordinator and Assistant Director on training and other details.

Why Be an Assistant?

L’Arche is an opportunity to become your best self and support others to do the same. We believe that as we live our ordinary moments together in community we experience something extraordinary and develop vital skills in relating to others. We shape society by modeling a vision of humanity that promotes inclusion over competition.

L’Arche St. Louis stands out as a qualified support provider offering excellent care in homes that are regulated by the State of Missouri. Additionally, we share life in communities belonging to an International Federation with written practices and guidelines based on 55 years of experience lived out in 37 countries around the world. We celebrate the unique value of every person. Trust in God is at the heart of our journey together. People are welcome from diverse backgrounds and faith practices, including those with no religious affiliation at all.

Requirements

• Can embrace the mission and values of L'Arche
• Must be 18 or older
• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Must possess a valid driver's license
• Current auto insurance and ability to provide transportation
• Ability to pass a background check
• Eligibility to work in the United States
• Assisting individuals with the activities of daily living, including personal care and passing medications
• Implementing support plans
• Documenting care given

L’Arche St. Louis is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and will accept applications, hire qualified applicants, administer all terms and conditions of employment, and make available all benefits and compensations of employment without regard to   race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression e xcept when such constitutes a bona fide occupational qualification necessary to proper and efficient administration. L’Arche St. Louis complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws with regard to equal employment opportunity. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.