Staff Spotlight: Kaitlyn Hamilton, Direct Support Professional, Supported Independent Living Program (SILP)

Kaitlyn Hamilton’s job as a direct support professional for United Counseling Service’s (UCS) Supported Independent Living Program is driven by the needs of her clients each day. She takes cues from clients as to how much support, and what kind of support they need, to encourage independence and skill building. Kaitlyn’s workdays can look completely different from one to the next because every client has a different set of needs and interests. One day she might help someone do laundry, and later that day, might take a walk in the park and cook dinner together.

“I work with many clients—the same people every week, consistently,” says Kaitlyn. “I help with grocery shopping, laundry, giving medications, home care, and appointments.” She typically works with two to three clients per day and travels from home to home. Kaitlyn loves serving her clients and building strong relationships with them over time. “I love that I can come to work and enjoy it,” says Kaitlyn. “I enjoy seeing the clients and they’re excited to see me. Just being able to build those connections with people is really special.”

Many of her clients do not have any built-in natural supports or families at home. Her role in their lives is more than that of a staff person who comes in to help for a few hours each day—she is an important trusted person that clients come to for advice and support. Kaitlyn thinks of her dad, who provides guidance and help in her life, and aims to provide that same support for her clients.

“I can be there for someone, support them and really care about them,” says Kaitlyn. “My clients come to me with the smallest things or their problems, and they can trust me to do something about it. They see when someone comes in and really cares about their job and the person themselves—it’s a great feeling.”

Kaitlyn says that some of her clients’ family members look to her as a trusted person in their lives as well. When one of her clients experienced a medical emergency and was unable to care for her cat, Sushi, Kaitlyn stepped in to help. Kaitlyn was able to give Sushi a home and provide peace of mind for her client’s family. Making that connection would not have been possible without the strong relationship Kaitlyn built with this individual.

Kaitlyn’s job in SILP is extremely rewarding and comes with some challenges that she enjoys tackling. The biggest challenge, she says, is determining the kind of support each client needs. The goal is to encourage independence as much as possible, so providing too much help can be less helpful to a client. Some clients have a high degree of independence and need rides to the grocery store, where other clients may need a lot more support throughout the day. “The challenge is figuring out your place with your clients, because it’s not just a whole umbrella for everyone,” says Kaitlyn. “We don’t want to take any independence away from somebody—we’re trying to encourage more and more independence every day.”

Kaitlyn’s favorite task to help clients with is cleaning their homes, something she loves to do for herself as well, along with mowing her lawn. She is happy when everything is clean, in order, and completed. When all of that is done, she loves traveling and would go anywhere. As spring starts to take hold in Vermont, she has her sights set on a beach.

Though she is always ready to travel, Kaitlyn feels right at home working with her clients.  

“I’m happy that I can come to work and be with my friends—because they are. I spend every day with them. We do a lot for them, but they do a lot for themselves.”