JOB
About Our Agency The South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN) is the state agency that plans, develops, coordinates, and funds services for South Carolinians with the severe, lifelong disabilities of: intellectual disability and related disabilitiesautism spectrum disordertraumatic brain injuryspinal cord injury and similar disabilityAbout Midlands Regional Center Midlands Regional Center is a residential facility of the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs located in Columbia, SC serving residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.Under general supervision of the Psychologist I, assist in maintaining delivery of psychological service at Midlands Center; perform Psychological/Functional Behavior Assessments, Mental Health Status and Risk Behavior Evaluations, Clinical Interview / Diagnostic; prepare/update Psychological, Functional Behavior Evaluation Reports; develop Behavior Support Plans (BSP)/Addendum; consult, monitor its implementation; provide in-service trainings on-off-campus programs at Midlands Center for staff throughout the 24 hour day, Crisis Intervention and Stabilization, Individual or Group Counseling/Psychotherapy resolving target behaviors and improving adaptive/replacement behaviors; perform on call duties; follow requirements of Midlands Center Internal Procedures of Preventing and Responding to Suicidal Behavior and Sexual Assaults.Know requirements and interpretation of behavior assessment instruments approved by Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) Procedures and Department of Disability and Special Needs (DDSN) Directives; perform clinical diagnostic, mental health status and risk behavior evaluation, interpret obtained results; prepare Psychological/Functional behavior Evaluation Reports for mentally ill and intellectually disabled persons with full prescriptive analysis of obtained assessment results and diagnostic classification system.Administer Functional Behavior Assessments; calculate, interpret obtained results; develop, implement and update annual BSPs/Addenda of assigned caseload. Receive approval of BSPs/Addenda at Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) and Human Rights Committee (HRC). Follow ICF’s Internal Procedures and DDSN Directives, Department of Environmental and Health Control requirements and psychologist’s ethical standards. Implement Behavior, Cognitive-Behavioral, and other novel therapy interventions in behavior modification program of BSP.Provide consultations, monitoring and in-service trainings for staff throughout a 24-hour day regarding implementation of BSPs/Addenda and Planned Mechanical Restraints/Devices on-and off-campus programs at Midlands Center. Perform behavior observation sampling to validate data and on-spot in-service trainings for staff. Administer psychological assessment instruments as needed; perform admission of consumers; Clinical/Behavior Observations to validate data, Clinical Interview/Diagnostic, Mental Health Status and Risk Behavior Evaluations and calculate, interpret obtained results. Prepare/update Psychological, Functional Behavior Evaluation Reports. Participate in business meetings of assigned case load and report behavior changes or progress of behavior, and accordingly prepare Addendum to BSP as needed; collect, organize, calculate and prepare monthly data charts and graphs of target and adaptive/replacement behaviors for progress notes, updated annual BSPs, Psychotropic Medication Review meetings and Psychiatric Consultations and write progress notes of each consumer monthly; prepare Psychological/ Function Behavior Evaluation Reports for Single Plan. Revise objective of BSP quarterly or sooner as needed. Provide Individual and/or Group Counseling/Psychotherapy, Crisis Intervention and Stabilization, on-call service based on Behavior, Cognitive–Behavior, and other novel therapy interventions. Secure Psychotherapy/Counseling written notes based on psychologist’s ethical standards, ICF Procedures and DDSN Directives, and HIPAA requirements.Perform related solitary and/or group work functions assigned by supervisor. Perform other duties as required.The South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs offers an exceptional benefits package for FTE positions that includes: 15 days annual (vacation) leave accrual per year15 days sick leave per year13 paid holidaysPaid Parental LeaveHealth, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, and Life InsuranceState Retirement Plan and Deferred Compensation Programs
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
A master’s degree in guidance, counseling, the social sciences or a related field and professional experience in a mental health, human service or social service program. Institutions of Higher Learning must be recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
About Our Agency: The South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN) is the state agency that plans, develops, coordinates, and funds services for South Carolinians with the severe, lifelong disabilities of intellectual disability and related disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and similar disability.EEO Statement: DDSN provides affirmative action and equal opportunity in employment for all qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex --including the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, national origin, age, religion, or disability.Employment Contingency: Employment is contingent upon our receipt of the following required pre-employment screenings: medical screening – to include a drug screening; State and Federal background criminal record checks (to include FBI fingerprinting), SC Dept. of Social Services’ Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry screening, and CMS “List of Excluded Individuals/Entities” screening; SC Dept. of Motor Vehicles Driving Record check; and a review of transcripts verifying educational credentials. We reserve the right to rescind this offer in the event minimum requirements are not met to include positions that require certifications and/or licensure, your application is incomplete or inaccurate, or our review of your background uncovers information, including opinions of previous employers and references, which cause us to conclude, at our sole discretion, that you are not suited for the position.Immunization: If this position requires the applicant to work directly with DDSN consumers, a (2) step PPD testing or QuantiFERON TB Gold testing must be completed prior to beginning employment. All new employees who are healthcare providers are required to provide documentation of immunity or be immunized against measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis, Varicella and Hepatitis B prior to beginning employment.State Disaster Plan: In accordance with the State's Disaster Plan, which includes hazardous weather, DDSN employees may be required to work in times of an emergency or disaster.Employee Referral: The South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs supports a Referral Incentive Reward and a Retention Bonus program. You may contact Human Resource for further information. Supplemental Questions: Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the State application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume may not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.