What Do Direct Care Specialists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for direct care specialists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what direct care specialists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Direct Care Specialists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about direct care specialists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Direct Care Specialists counsel individuals to maximize the independence and employability of persons coping with personal, social, and vocational difficulties that result from birth defects, illness, disease, accidents, aging, or the stress of daily life. Coordinate activities for residents of care and treatment facilities. Assess client needs and design and implement rehabilitation programs that may include personal and vocational counseling, training, and job placement.
Popular Job Titles For Direct Care Specialists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Rehabilitation Specialists
- Career Navigators
- Resource Navigators
- Patient Navigators
- Success Partners
- Nurse Navigators
- Care Navigators
- Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialists
- Direct Care Specialists
- Client Trainers
- Navigators
- Vocational Rehabilitation Technicians
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for direct care specialists can be found.
Best Industries for Direct Care Specialists
Direct Care Specialists Jobs By Industry
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services: 34.7%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 16.8%
- Individual and Family Services: 14.1%
- Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities: 11.4%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 6.4%
- Outpatient Care Centers: 2.7%
- Other: 13.9%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of direct care specialists can be found working in the Vocational Rehabilitation Services sector. In 2022, about 34.7% of all jobs for direct care specialists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (16.8%), Individual and Family Services (14.1%), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (11.4%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (6.4%) and Outpatient Care Centers (2.7%).
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What Do Direct Care Specialists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what direct care specialists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work direct care specialists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that direct care specialists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for direct care specialists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Direct Care Specialists
Based on 6,231 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Direct Care Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation | 1,752 | 28% |
| Social Work | 1,693 | 27% |
| Case Management | 1,106 | 18% |
| Psychology | 1,002 | 16% |
| Human Services | 962 | 15% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Direct Care Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 3,126 | 50% |
| Management | 1,483 | 24% |
| Customer Service | 1,343 | 22% |
| Problem Solving | 1,194 | 19% |
| Coordinating | 1,181 | 19% |
Based on 6,231 job postings related to direct care specialists, rehabilitation was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 28% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for social work, case management, psychology, human services and mental health were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for direct care specialists, followed by management, customer service, problem solving, coordinating and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation | 1,752 | 28% |
| Social Work | 1,693 | 27% |
| Case Management | 1,106 | 18% |
| Psychology | 1,002 | 16% |
| Human Services | 962 | 15% |
| Mental Health | 944 | 15% |
| Behavioral Health | 560 | 9% |
| Treatment Planning | 534 | 9% |
| Medical Records | 472 | 8% |
| Disabilities | 447 | 7% |
| Medicaid | 435 | 7% |
| Data Entry | 428 | 7% |
| Nursing | 418 | 7% |
| Electronic Medical Record | 397 | 6% |
| Project Management | 393 | 6% |
| Bilingual (Spanish/English) | 382 | 6% |
| Crisis Intervention | 368 | 6% |
| Mental Diseases | 345 | 6% |
| Office Equipment | 319 | 5% |
| Care Coordination | 313 | 5% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 3,126 | 50% |
| Management | 1,483 | 24% |
| Customer Service | 1,343 | 22% |
| Problem Solving | 1,194 | 19% |
| Coordinating | 1,181 | 19% |
| Writing | 1,097 | 18% |
| Planning | 1,017 | 16% |
| Microsoft Office | 998 | 16% |
| Advocacy | 959 | 15% |
| Leadership | 826 | 13% |
| Detail Oriented | 823 | 13% |
| Microsoft Excel | 754 | 12% |
| Coaching | 734 | 12% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 717 | 12% |
| Computer Literacy | 687 | 11% |
| Time Management | 684 | 11% |
| Presentations | 650 | 10% |
| Organizational Skills | 641 | 10% |
| Operations | 613 | 10% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 575 | 9% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Direct Care Specialists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation Specialists | 3,642 | 32.1% |
| Career Navigators | 971 | 8.6% |
| Resource Navigators | 711 | 6.3% |
| Patient Navigators | 942 | 8.3% |
| Success Partners | 466 | 4.1% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was rehabilitation specialists, with 971 unique job postings. Career navigators were second, with 388 postings, followed by resource navigators, patient navigators and success partners.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to direct care specialists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation Specialists | 3,642 | 32.1% |
| Career Navigators | 971 | 8.6% |
| Resource Navigators | 711 | 6.3% |
| Patient Navigators | 942 | 8.3% |
| Success Partners | 466 | 4.1% |
| Nurse Navigators | 436 | 3.8% |
| Care Navigators | 400 | 3.5% |
| Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialists | 382 | 3.4% |
| Direct Care Specialists | 547 | 4.8% |
| Client Trainers | 301 | 2.7% |
| Navigators | 382 | 3.4% |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Technicians | 561 | 5% |
| Clinical Navigators | 322 | 2.8% |
| Qualified Developmental Disability Professionals | 306 | 2.7% |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisors | 200 | 1.8% |
| Housing Navigators | 131 | 1.2% |
| Eligibility Referral Specialists | 97 | 0.9% |
| Employment Trainers | 253 | 2.2% |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists | 161 | 1.4% |
| Community Navigators | 120 | 1.1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for direct care specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for direct care specialists.
How much do direct care specialists make?
Direct Care Specialists: How do you become one?
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