HABILITATION SPECIALIST II

DEFINITION

This is mid-level professional work developing, implementing, and monitoring habilitation programs for persons with mental retardation and/or developmental disabilities.

This description may not include all of the duties, knowledge, skills, or abilities associated with this classification.

EXAMPLES OF WORK

Serves as a Qualified Mental Retardation Professional (QMRP) for a number of assigned clients; supervises the delivery of each client's individual plan of care, which includes training and habilitation services; writes/approves/signs staffing summaries, quarterly reviews, individual habilitation plans, and client progress reports; initiates time out and orders restraints as needed.

Implements and monitors individualized habilitation plans in such areas as self-care (i.e., grooming, toileting, eating, dressing), communication, socialization, safety, perceptual motor skills, functional arithmetic (i.e., numerals, money, measurement, time), behavioral management, vocational skills, domestic skills, community experience, and other specialized areas based on individualized habilitation goals.

Observes client's behavior and participation in habilitation programs; prepares reports on client behavior and writes progress notes.

Serves as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team in developing and reviewing individualized habilitation plans; reports on client progress and makes recommendations concerning changes in the individual habilitation plan.

Supervises and monitors the work of Client Attendant Trainees, Developmental Assistants and other employees as assigned.

Selects, adapts, and implements program activities with minimal supervision within established guidelines.

Performs other related work as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs)

Comprehensive knowledge of modern behavior modification principles and practices and cognitive behavior management techniques as they apply to habilitation programs for persons with mental retardation and/or developmental disabilities.

Intermediate knowledge of the behavioral sciences and allied disciplines involved in the evaluation, care, and habilitation of persons with mental retardation and/or developmental disabilities.

Ability to collect and analyze information utilized in making decisions concerning client habilitation plans.

Ability to evaluate the progress of clients and the quality of their treatment programs.

Ability to develop, write, and implement effective and practical individual habilitation plans and related program procedures.

Ability to exercise constructive discipline in a structured behavioral environment.

Ability to communicate effectively.

SPECIAL NOTE

Substitutions are not permitted because applicants must be eligible for designation as a Qualified Mental Retardation Professional (QMRP) under Federal standards for an Intermediate Care Facility-Mental Retardation (ICF-MR).

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

(The following requirements will determine merit system eligibility, experience and education ratings, and may be used to evaluate applicants for Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System positions not requiring selection from merit registers. When practical and possible, the Division of Personnel will accept substitution of experience and education on a year-for-year basis.)

One or more years of experience as a Habilitation Specialist I with the Missouri Uniform Classification and Pay System.

OR

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 24 earned credit hours in Elementary or Secondary Education, Special Education, Early Childhood Education, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Counseling, Recreation (including specialty areas such as Art, Dance, Music, or Physical Education), Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Nursing, or other specialties in the field of human services; and,

One or more years of professional experience working with persons with mental retardation and/or developmental disabilities.

NOTE: A Bachelor's degree with appropriate coursework at the undergraduate or graduate level is required with no substitutions allowed , except experience as a Registered Nurse may substitute on a year-for-year basis for deficiencies in the required education. Additional education will not substitute for the required one or more years of professional experience.

(Minor Revision 3/15/06)