HABILITATION SUPERVISOR

DEFINITION

This is professional supervisory 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 the primary assistant to a Unit Program Supervisor in supervising the implementation of individualized habilitation plans; assists a Habilitation Program Manager in directing a large centralized program; or functions as program manager in a centralized program of moderate size and scope.

Serves as a Qualified Mental Retardation Professional (QMRP) with responsibility for supervising professional, direct care, and other staff in 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; and initiates time out and orders restraints as needed.

Supervises and participates in implementing and monitoring 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.

Serves as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team; observes staff performance and participates in the design and review of individual habilitation plans.

Assists in the development, coordination, and adaptation of specialized habilitation programs and activities to fit the specialized needs, abilities, and conditions of assigned clients; integrates facility-wide programs with client needs.

Assists in the maintenance of administrative and therapeutic records; requisitions program supplies and equipment as needed.

Exercises independent judgment; work is reviewed for adherence to established policies and procedures.

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.

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

Intermediate knowledge of the principles of supervision and training as applied to habilitation programming.

Ability to assign, direct, and review the work of staff involved in the implementation of habilitation programs.

Ability to plan, coordinate, and adapt a variety of habilitation program activities to meet the specialized needs, abilities, and conditions of clients.

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 habilitation 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.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and facility staff.

SPECIAL NOTE

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.)

Two or more years of experience as a Habilitation Specialist II 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 semester hours or 36 earned quarter 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,

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

(Earned graduate credit hours from an accredited college or university in the specified areas may substitute on a year-for-year basis for a maximum of two years of the required experience at a rate of 24 earned graduate credit hours for one year of experience.)

(Experience as a Registered Nurse may substitute on a year-for-year basis for a maximum of two years of the required education.)

(Minor Revision 9/12/08)