As Monarch Healthcare celebrates Direct Support Professional (DSP) Recognition Week, we’re recognizing the dedicated professionals who help people build independence, pursue their goals and thrive in their communities.
As a Sleepover Specialist at Monarch Healthcare, Quadeir Malone spends his days supporting individuals as they work toward greater independence and pursue personal goals. Whether he’s helping with daily routines, accompanying individuals to appointments or simply being there to listen, he believes the most important part of his role is helping people feel supported and included.
“I love my job, actually,” he said. “It’s the best thing ever. I love helping people, and it feels like my calling.”
A Passion for Helping Others
Before joining Monarch Healthcare, Quadeir worked as a firefighter and an at-home health manager in Jersey City, New Jersey. While those roles gave him experience serving others, his inspiration for supporting people with mental health needs began much closer to home.
“My brother actually has schizophrenia, and I’ve always wanted to help him do things that other people [said he] couldn’t do,” he said.
That experience helped shape the way he views the individuals he supports today.
“For some reason, a lot of people think that having a disability means you can’t do certain things,” Quadeir said. “But I think that as long as you can learn and comprehend certain things, you can learn anything.”
Since moving to North Carolina and joining Monarch Healthcare, Quadeir says he has found a workplace where he feels supported and encouraged to grow.
“This is actually one of the best companies I’ve ever worked for,” he said. “They allow you to grow within the company and I really like that.”
Supporting Independence Every Day
Throughout the day, Quadeir supports individuals as they participate in activities both at home and in the community.
“Besides bringing them to appointments and feeding them, I take them to the parks,” he said. “We just went to bingo the other night, and that was really fun. We go on walks, we went to the pool the other day, we play basketball, really anything and everything.”
A key part of his role is helping individuals exercise choice and independence. Depending on their goals and support needs, individuals have opportunities to make decisions about how they spend their day and the activities they enjoy most.
For Quadeir, those everyday moments often become the most meaningful.
He talks about the unique personalities and interests of the individuals he supports, from those who enjoy spending time outdoors to those who share his love of basketball and music. Speaking about one of the individuals he supports, Evangelena Richards, Quadeir smiled as he reflected on the connection they’ve built.
“We talk all day and every day,” he said. “She’s like a glowing light.”
Helping People Discover What’s Possible
Those relationships are one of the reasons Quadeir enjoys coming to work each day.
When asked about his favorite part of the job, he said, “allowing them to do things that others say they can’t do. That’s anything from going to the gym, riding a bike or even doing something on the computer.” Whether that means trying a new activity, building confidence in the community or working toward greater independence, Quadeir believes everyone deserves the opportunity to discover what they’re capable of.
“Probably the most important thing is allowing them to have fun in their own skin,” he said.
That focus on independence is central to how he approaches his work. He regularly checks in with individuals, asks what they need and encourages them as they work toward their goals. Quadeir also hopes people have a better understanding of what DSPs do every day.
“It’s not just watching them,” he said. “We are actually helping them.”
For him, the work is about helping people feel included, respected and empowered to grow.
“I think the most important thing is inclusion,” he said. “I just want them to feel included when they come here.”
The Impact of a Caring Presence
“He’s a lifesaver. He helps me a lot,” said Evangelena Richards, an individual that Quadeir supports. “He’s awesome. He really is. He’s patient. He’s always someone that you can talk to. If you want to talk to somebody and get something off your chest, he’s always there.”
Evangelena described Quadeir as a trusted source of support, someone who brings humor and encouragement to everyday moments.
“He’s like a father figure. I talk to him and kid around with him. We go to the park together. He does all kinds of basketball tricks and stuff, and he makes you laugh. If you have a down day, he brightens it up.”
She added that Quadeir is always willing to lend a helping hand.
“He just watches your back all the time and makes sure you’re doing the right thing, and he helps you out. He goes out of his way to help you, like he’s helping me right now with some internet things.”
Called to Make a Difference
For Quadeir, those relationships are what make the work so rewarding.
“The best part of my job is allowing clients to be independent while also staying safe and growing as individuals so that they can eventually leave.”
As Monarch Healthcare celebrates DSP Recognition Week, we thank Quadeir and all DSPs for the compassion and support they provide every day.
Inspired by stories like Quadeir’s? A career as a DSP offers the opportunity to build meaningful relationships, help individuals achieve their goals and make a difference every day. To learn more about becoming part of the Monarch team, visit our careers page and explore current opportunities.