Habilitation Specialist 1

Duties Description

DUTIES:

Under the supervision of the Habilitation Specialist 2 the Habilitation Specialist 1 is responsible for the development, documentation, and implementation of Residential Habilitation Services for people living in state operated community residences. The Habilitation Specialist 1 will participate with other residential staff to ensure service delivery is focused on Valued Outcomes. The Habilitation Specialist 1 will also participate in the development and implementation of inclusion plans. May be required to complete investigations as assigned by the Treatment Team Leader.

DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE HABILITATION SERVICE PLAN

• Utilizing the Life Plan, the Staff Action Plan (SAP) is developed for each individual. The SAP Staff Actions are developed through discussions with the individual, the family/advocate, the Care Coordinator, and the interdisciplinary team.
• The plan will include the development of a current Safeguard Summary Plan, as well as the Personal Expenditure Plan and the Money Management Plan.
• Plans will be reviewed monthly and updated minimally twice per year or as needed.
  
  

PROVIDE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTIAL STAFF

• Ensure staff are trained in the implementation of the residential habilitation plan.
• Provide in-service trainings. Topics to include protective oversight, choices, inclusion, personal expenditure plans and money management assessments.
• Provide house specific training and assistance to help meet the valued outcomes for each individual.
  
  

PARTICIPATE IN SURVEY PROCESS

• Ensure compliance with agency policies, regulatory policies, and Administrative Memoradums.
• Participate in the Peer review process and other reviews as requested by Residential Habiliation Supervisor/TTL.
• Assist with Division of Quality Improvement (DQI) compliance standards.
  
  

MAINTAIN THE RESIDENTIAL HABILITATION FILES

• Update files according to the approved index.
• Complete monthly summary notes.
  
  

PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS AS NEEDED

• Advocate for specific clinical services when appropriate.
• Assist individuals in identifying and pursuing their desires, needs, rights and dreams.
  
  

CONDUCT CLINICAL/INTERDISCIPLINARY MEETINGS

• Schedule and coordinate regular meetings with the clinical/interdisciplinary team members at the request of the TTL.
• Prepare and distribute meeting minutes.
• Facilitate completions of assessments with the team (i.e. money management, bed safety determination, etc.).
  
  

CLAIM SAMPLE REVIEWS:

• Ensure EHR documentation is current.
• Participation in the Medicaid Compliance claim sample reviews.
  
  

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Minimum Qualifications

Competitive:

Candidates must be reachable for appointment on the current Civil Service Eligible List for this title.

Open Competitive Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s or higher-level degree in a human services field.*

• For the purpose of these qualifications, a degree in a human service field includes the professional disciplines of audiology, community mental health, nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, rehabilitation counseling, vocational counseling, social work, speech/language pathology and therapeutic recreation (including concentrations in art, creative art, dance, drama, music, or physical education.) Also included are related academic disciplines associated with the study of human behavior (e.g., gerontology, human services, sociology, speech communication); or human skills development (e.g., counseling/guidance, education, human development.) Examples of non-qualifying degrees include but are not limited to: criminal justice, political science, liberal arts, and business.
  
  

Transfer: Candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55-b/c status in the posted title and be eligible for lateral transfer; OR be eligible to transfer via Section 70.1, 70.4, or 52.6 of Civil Service Law. The transfer cannot be a second consecutive transfer resulting in an advancement of more than two salary grades.

To determine if your current Civil Service title is eligible for transfer to this title, visit the Career Mobility GOT-IT website: https://careermobilityoffice.cs.ny.gov/cmo/gotit/index.cfm.

Additional Comments

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). HELPS Program titles may be filled via a non-competitive appointment. This means that you do not need to take an exam to qualify, but you do need to meet the minimum qualifications of the title.

At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), employees hired under NY HELPS are expected to have their permanent non-competitive employment status converted to permanent competitive status. You will not have to take an exam to gain permanent competitive status.

• If you are currently a New York State employee serving in a permanent competitive qualifying title and eligible for a transfer via Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law, you may be appointed to this title as a permanent competitive employee.
• The assignment of PS&T employees will be made in accordance with any agreed upon Memorandum of Understanding between PEF and the local DDSO regarding the posting of job vacancies.
• Preference will be given to OPWDD employees impacted by closures. If you are being impacted by closure, please indicate this on your resume.
• All OPWDD employees must be eligible and maintain eligibility for full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Continued employment will depend on maintaining eligibility.
• If you are employed by state government you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments have been made under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. For more information on PSLF, please visit www.studentAid.gov/publicservice.
• Employees on long term leave can bid on positions but must be able to report to work within fourteen (14) days and be able to perform the essential functions of their positions with or without reasonable accommodation (RA).
• If an employee or job applicant believes that they need a reasonable accommodation, they should contact the Reasonable Accommodation Unit at (518) 486-7222 or email accommodationrequests@opwdd.ny.gov to obtain information and RA forms.
• Savings programs such as the U.S. Savings Bond and the College Savings Plan.
• Voluntary pre-tax savings programs such as Health Care Spending Account and the Dependent Care Advantage Account offer employees options to pay for uncovered health care expenses or dependent care expenses.
• Access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) an assessment and referral service that connects employees with local service providers and support services to address their personal needs.
• Life insurance and Disability insurance.
• The New York State Deferred Compensation Plan is a voluntary retirement plan that offers employees the option to invest a part of their salaries for retirement on a tax-deferred basis.
• Paid Holidays and Leave:
  
  

° Thirteen (13) paid holidays each year.

° Thirteen (13) days of paid vacation leave initially.

° Five (5) days paid personal leave each year.

° Thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave each year (PEF/CSEA), which may carry over from year to year.

° Up to three (3) days professional leave each year to participate in professional development events.

• Health Care Coverage:
  
  

Employees and their eligible dependents can choose from a variety of affordable health insurance programs. Employees are provided family dental and vision plans at no extra cost.

• Paid Parental Leave:
  
  

Paid Parental Leave allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave at full pay for each qualifying event. A qualifying event is defined as the birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care.

• Retirement Program:
  
  

Participate in The NYS Employees’ Retirement System (ERS), which is recognized as one of the best-managed and best-funded public retirement systems in the nation.

• Professional Development and Education and Training:
  
  

NYS offers training programs and tuition assistance to eligible employees to maintain and increase their professional skills and prepare them for promotional opportunities. For more information, please visit https://oer.ny.gov/training-and-professional-development.

• Additionally, the Public Service Workshops Program (PSWP) offers certain professional training opportunities for PEF represented and M/C designated employees that may grant continuing education credits towards maintaining professional licensure. For more information, please visit https://oer.ny.gov/public-service-workshops-program-pswp.
  
  

OPWDD is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer dedicated to creating and sustaining a culture of inclusion. We believe that we are most effective in managing and improving our service system with a diverse team of employees. With such a large workforce, we rely on the collective individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, self-expression, ideas and talent that our employees bring to their work. This speaks to our culture and is a key part of our successes. As we continuously recruit people for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that applicants bring in terms of their education, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation and beliefs.

***All people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.***