Complexities in Attracting and Retaining Direct Support Professionals

• DOI: 10.1300/j198v06n04_02
• Publication Date: 2007-12-11T19:08:35Z
• Authors: Michael Wolf-Bran...; Karen Wolf-Branigin; Nathaniel Israel
• Keywords: Male; Social Work; Direct support professionals; Complex systems; developmental disability; feedback; Recruitment and retention; Job Satisfaction; Feedback; 03 medical and health sciences; Humans; Disabled Persons; Developmental disability; complex systems; Personnel Selection; Workplace; 10. No inequality; 360; Motivation; Salaries and Fringe Benefits; recruitment and retention; Rehabilitation, Vocational; Focus Groups; Career Mobility; Workforce; Female; 0305 other medical science

Copyright 2007 by The Haworth Press. All rights reserved.<br/>Recruiting and retaining direct support professionals (DSPs) remains essential to the full inclusion for persons with disabilities. Using a mixed-evaluation model, we measured DSPs’ views versus those of their supervisors. DSPs expressed lower perceptions concerning their supervisors, satisfaction with their work situation, and environmental and safety factors. Focus groups provided insights into resolving issues related to compensation, work environment, and recruiting and retaining future DSPs. Motivating factors included wanting to be part of a helping community where all are valued. To improve their performance, DSPs stated their desire to understand the roles of managers and of the consumer. DSPs indicated that having career paths that provided advancement opportunities and direct contact with persons with disabilities were primary motivators.<br/>