Habilitation Specialist 1

Duties Description Instructs and supports individuals in developing and/or enhancing life skills necessary to live more independently in home and community settings; and develops, implements, and modifies habilitation plans to help individuals achieve their valued outcomes. Collaborates with individuals, family members, advocates, care managers, and service providers to determine strategies for service delivery (e.g., skill acquisition/retention, staff supports, and/or exploration of new experiences); and attends Life Plan meetings to assess the effectiveness of habilitation plans and services and establish objectives. Assesses individuals’ skill levels in relation to their valued outcomes and identifies appropriate methods to teach and assist individuals in acquiring, improving, and maintaining life skills. Communicates with treatment team members and gathers information to plan and/or modify services to meet individuals’ needs. Implements appropriate safeguards and protective oversight measures to ensure the health and welfare of individuals while participating in programs and services. Monitors, records, and measures individuals’ progress in reaching their goals, including accomplishments and challenges; and modifies habilitation plans to ensure continual progress, prevent regression, and meet individuals’ needs. Schedules, transports, and assists individuals in participating in community. Provide services in a classroom and alternate community settings with developmentally disabled adults to promote basic learning and self-help skills, as well as communication and prevocational skills. Facilitate programming, community inclusion and meaningful activities to support Day Hab Staff Action Plans. Provide and oversee services at the day program and alternate community locations. Assist with development, revision, and implementation of Day Habilitation Staff Action Plans Ensure completion and quality review of monthly notes to document progress toward goals. Coordinate with the interdisciplinary residential team to develop/review/revise Safeguard Summary Plans. Provide direct care staff with ongoing training and support regarding goal implementation, documentation, safeguard summary plan. Schedule and attend annual and semi-annual Life Plan meetings, and special meetings as needed. Establish working relationships with Care Managers, clinicians, residential programs to ensure Life Plan meetings are conducted and services are coordinated. Follow up on billing discrepancies, prepare documents for audits and claims reviews. Caseload may change based on operational need. Conduct on-site reviews of documentation to monitor billing compliance. Additional responsibilities as assigned by supervisor. Travel required. Under the supervision of the Treatment Team Leader, the incumbent will act as the Res Hab. Coordinator, and the duties will include but will not be limited to: Attend all annual and semi-annual ISP/life plan meetings for approximately 20-30 individuals in an assigned case load. Develop Residential Habilitation Plans/ Staff Action Plans for each individual based upon valued outcome and IPOP. Ensure Gate keeper form is completed at each meeting. Review and revise all “Res Hab. Plans” or Staff action plans every six months or as needed. Review all Life plans to ensure accuracy as presented at meeting. Any issues request addendums from CCO and seek assistance from Gate keeper. Will ensure all “Res Hab. Plans” staff action plans data sheets are completed and will set up new data sheets monthly. Upload accurate documents into HER and appropriately secure and file hard copies of required documentation. Write a monthly progress note based upon each individual’s response to interventions. Provide training to DSA Residential staff on all “Res Hab. Plans” or Staff Action Plans. Conduct AM and PM observations to ensure implementation of “Res Hab. Plans” and to ensure “active engagement”. Ensure continuity between Res Hab. Plan /staff action plans and Day Hab. Plan. Review all ISP/ Life-plans for accuracy and communicate in written form to the MSC/Care Coordinator to correct errors upon receipt of the ISP/Life Plan. Work directly with other team members and MSC/ Care Coordinator to help develop ISP/ Life Plan, to establish valued outcomes, review and revise individual Plan of Protective Oversight (IPOP). Will be responsible for record keeping and record review to ensure OMIG Compliance. Review and assist in correcting billing discrepancy report. Additional assignments as warranted. Must be current on all mandatory trainings Must be current on all mandatory trainings. LinkedIn: 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: 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. Please note that starting salary for this title reflects the Downstate adjustment. Posted Hiring Salary includes the sum of the statutory hiring rate for Grade 14 ($53,764) and Downstate Adjustment ($4,000). Downstate Adjustment is added to the job rate ($68,630). 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 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 View phone number on click.appcast.io or email View email address on click.appcast.io 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 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 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.*** #J-18808-Ljbffr