What are the responsibilities and job description for the Developmental Specialist ( Day Services ) position at Incompass Human Services?
Title: Developmental Specialist
Department: Day Habilitation Services
Direct Supervisor: Program Manager
Status: Salaried Non-Exempt
Date: May 2023
This is a bargaining unit position
Inclusive. Innovative. Open-Hearted.
We are Care Champions. A team of adaptable, collaborative, diverse, mission-driven individuals with a passion for purposeful innovation and service excellence. Our community commits itself to being inclusive and welcoming as we put the whole person at the center of everything we do.
HOURS: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm (35 hours total)
Summary
Developmental Specialists are members of a team responsible for providing high quality services to adults with developmental disabilities. Responsible for implementation of developmental skills groups and activities as prescribed in individuals’ day habilitation support plans.
Developmental Specialists are responsible for following and implementing lesson plans; ensuring positive interactions with team members and Individuals to maximize their self-sufficiency and skill development. Staff are responsible for treating all participants with dignity and respect and for ensuring the human rights of all Individuals are met.
Essential Job Functions
None
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, individuals must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. The requirements below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
Experience/Education
Must successfully complete all mandatory trainings as required by the Agency within the required timeframe.
Ability to effectively, professionally and respectfully communicate with co-workers, management, Individuals, guardians and stakeholders
Must be able to read and write instructions; compose progress notes; read and interpret policy and procedure manuals; understand and follow written and/or verbal instructions; complete data sheets and other documents as needed in a complete and legible fashion.
Ability to speak effectively, professionally and respectfully before groups.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to understand and apply common sense to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form.
Ability to deal with problems, maintaining composure and professionalism.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, use hands/fingers, talk and hear.
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Employees working with individuals who require physical interventions for behavior control need to demonstrate competency in physical restraint techniques (PAC restraint certification required).
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud.
This job description is not all inclusive and does not state or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by direct support staff. Employees are required to follow/perform any job related instruction or job related duty as directed by their immediate supervisor or another member of management in the Residential function.
Department: Day Habilitation Services
Direct Supervisor: Program Manager
Status: Salaried Non-Exempt
Date: May 2023
This is a bargaining unit position
Inclusive. Innovative. Open-Hearted.
We are Care Champions. A team of adaptable, collaborative, diverse, mission-driven individuals with a passion for purposeful innovation and service excellence. Our community commits itself to being inclusive and welcoming as we put the whole person at the center of everything we do.
HOURS: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm (35 hours total)
Summary
Developmental Specialists are members of a team responsible for providing high quality services to adults with developmental disabilities. Responsible for implementation of developmental skills groups and activities as prescribed in individuals’ day habilitation support plans.
Developmental Specialists are responsible for following and implementing lesson plans; ensuring positive interactions with team members and Individuals to maximize their self-sufficiency and skill development. Staff are responsible for treating all participants with dignity and respect and for ensuring the human rights of all Individuals are met.
Essential Job Functions
- Responsible for implementing daily written lesson plans for groups and activities offered in the day habilitation program
- Responsible for contributing ideas for program design
- Ensures groups, activities and community offsite opportunities meet the needs of Individuals and meet the day habilitation plan goals (DHSP) for assigned individuals
- Serves as a program staff in assigned room to meet the minimum staffing ratios as required by regulations
- Assist Individuals with any activities of daily living (ADLs) as applicable to each Individual’s abilities
- Responsible for the health, safety and well being of Individuals served, seeking assistance and medical interventions as appropriate.
- Ensures groups and activities are delivered in a manner that meet the learning styles of the individuals, following their implementation strategies
- Facilitates the distribution of materials and leads the groups and activities
- Assists Individuals in attaining their personal goals and provides individualized support when necessary
- Provides constructive input in the completion of assessment tools and support plan documentation
- Completes daily data related to participants learning, individual outcomes and identified day hab support plan goals as they relate to the activities
- Ensures adherence to daily group and activity schedule, ensuring the timely start and end to each training group
- Responsible for assisting in the transportation process, ensuring individuals arrive and depart safely from the program. Communicates with transportation staff and providers as needed. Responsible for assisting in the transporting of individuals both into and out of the building and vehicles both during transport and community activities
- Facilitates daily morning meeting program as designed by the speech language pathologist. Reviews the daily activity schedule with individuals and completes daily documentation for those with specified day hap support plan goals related to morning meeting
- Responsible for keeping each day program participant active for entire activity period, working effectively with direct support staff to ensure participants are kept engaged and experience maximum learning and enjoyment from their participation in program
- Facilitates and maintains daily attendance record, ensuring its accuracy and completion
- Ensures equipment and supplies used during activities are inventoried, maintained, cleaned and in good repair. Reports loss of supplies/broken supplies to supervisor
- Ensures overall physical care, appearance and set up of all areas in assigned program/activity room. Ensures the rooms are clean and organized
- Responsible for ensuring compliance with regulations regarding food storage and preparation
- Ensures that all information regarding Individuals is maintained with the highest level of confidentiality based on the policies and procedures regarding protected health information
- Recognizes the symptoms of illness in individuals and takes appropriate action to relieve symptoms/illness, reporting medical issues to program nurse and/or program supervisor
- Responsible for producing accurate, legible, timely and complete documentation for Individuals, including but not limited to charts and data sheets
- Provides support and counseling to Individuals to assist them with developing problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Identifies interfering behavior and implements behavioral interventions and protocols and/or provides counseling to Individuals as needed
- Participates in regular team meetings and clinical discussions regarding Individuals
- Attend and actively participate in mandatory staff meetings and trainings as well as supervision meetings.
- Responsible for being familiar with and abiding by Agency, Department, and Program policies and procedures and for acting in a manner consistent with organizational values, mission, and goals
- Handle crisis situations according to agency policies and procedures, seeking resources when necessary
- Serves as a Mandated Reporter and is required to advise direct supervisor, DDS and DPPC immediately if abuse and/or neglect of an Individual is suspected
- Establish rapport with Individuals participating in the Day program.
- Support the learning of Individuals by use of motivational techniques, effective interventions and various communication approaches including verbal, gesture, and written communication.
- Support each Individuals existing relationships and assist in increasing their network of friends and acquaintances.
- Accompany participants on community trips using agency vehicles.
- Communicate effectively, professionally and respectfully with Individuals, co-workers, management, guardians, and others while on company time.
- Serve as an active, contributing and problem-solving member of the team. Provide support to co-workers including relief staff by sharing knowledge about Individuals as appropriate for the role of support staff.
None
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, individuals must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily. The requirements below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
Experience/Education
- Bachelor’s degree in human service-related field or 2 years of demonstrated ability working with persons with developmental disabilities
- 1 Year experience working with persons with developmental disabilities
Must successfully complete all mandatory trainings as required by the Agency within the required timeframe.
- Current Red Cross or American Heart Association First Aid
- Current Red Cross or American Heart Association Adult CPR
- Valid driver’s license preferred
- Certification in specific restraint training required by some positions
- Must be able to pass a Criminal, Sori, DPPC, and Mass Fraud screening
Ability to effectively, professionally and respectfully communicate with co-workers, management, Individuals, guardians and stakeholders
Must be able to read and write instructions; compose progress notes; read and interpret policy and procedure manuals; understand and follow written and/or verbal instructions; complete data sheets and other documents as needed in a complete and legible fashion.
Ability to speak effectively, professionally and respectfully before groups.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to understand and apply common sense to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form.
Ability to deal with problems, maintaining composure and professionalism.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, use hands/fingers, talk and hear.
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
Employees working with individuals who require physical interventions for behavior control need to demonstrate competency in physical restraint techniques (PAC restraint certification required).
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud.
This job description is not all inclusive and does not state or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by direct support staff. Employees are required to follow/perform any job related instruction or job related duty as directed by their immediate supervisor or another member of management in the Residential function.