Jobs available in New Jersey - right now!

Human services agencies and individuals in New Jersey are looking to hire:

• Direct support workers to work with people with developmental disabilities
• Mental health counselors
• Home care aides work at agencies throughout the state.
• Personal Assistants (PCAs) to work with individuals and families.

To find an agency near you, click here.

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Direct support workers,

for agencies that provide services for people with developmental disabilities, often teach independent living skills to help their clients maintain a clean and safe living environment, prepare meals, and self-administer medications. They may also transport individuals to activities and/or appointments, and perform other responsibilities specific to the individual’s needs. Workers must also hold a valid New Jersey driver’s license and pass the state criminal background check.

Mental health counselors

work at the entry level in residential programs. These programs provide a safe, structured, consistent and homelike environment that promotes the clients’ normalization of behavior and development of self-care, socialization, and problem-solving skills. Residential counselors provide 24-hour supervision for when clients are not involved in education/vocational programming. They also help implement service plans that are developed by the Treatment Team.

Mental health counselors shall have

1. One of the following:
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a major in a mental health, health or other appropriate human services related discipline;
• A license as a registered nurse;
• A combination of one or more years of college, plus related work or life experience together equaling four years. The individual is required to have at least one year of related work or life experience if the four-year college education does not meet the requirements of (a)1 above;
• A license as a practical nurse plus two years of related work or life experience; or
• A high school diploma or the equivalent, plus four years of related work or life experience.
2. A residential counselor shall also have a valid driver's license, if driving a vehicle is necessary to provide services.
3. When "related work or life experience" is relied upon to meet staff qualifications, the personnel file shall clearly document the "related work or life experience" and how it relates to the job duties and responsibilities for the position in which the individual is being hired.
4. They must pass the state criminal background check.

Home care aides

are trained by their agency to work with people with disabilities. They give compassionate hands-on care and support to people who are frail or disabled, helping them to enjoy independence and dignity in the comfort of their own home. Also known as home health aides, they provide services in an individual's home, assisting with personal care such as bathing, dressing, eating and toileting under the direction of a nurse. They may also assist with food shopping, meal preparation and light housekeeping. Home health aides must complete a training course and hold a state certification as a Certified Homemaker-Home Aide. Although training courses for certification are provided by home care agencies, preference is for people with existing certification. They must pass the state criminal background check.

Personal Assistants,

also known as PCAs, support individuals at home, at work and in the community. PCAs work with people who have disabilities, perhaps as a result of birth or an accident. They enable people with disabilities to live fuller, more rewarding lives by assisting with their personal care needs and the activities of daily living. Personal Assistants — employed by people with disabilities — make a real, lasting difference in the lives of others.