Habilitation Specialist

Duties and Responsibilities

The Habilitation Specialist 1 (HS1) ensures Medicaid compliance for Residential Rehabilitation Service across four IRAs (total of 21 individuals). The assignment area includes Ulster County - Neighborhood IRA;
Ulster County – Livingston IRA; and Greene County – Rt. 23B IRA, with the base site at Neighborhood IRA. The HS1 ensures continuation of residential habilitation services for individuals in IRAs and supports socialization opportunities. The primary responsibility is to ensure proper service provision based on individualized residential habilitation goals and to provide guidance to the DSAs in the IRA’s.

Duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Write, oversee implementation, and ensure data collection for Safeguard Summary Plans and Staff Action Plans
• Train all IRA staff in implementation of SSPs and SAPs, data collection, and continuing notes to substantiate Res-Hab billing
• Rectify Res-hab billing issues with RSFO
• Provide and/or ensure training of all IRA staff as needed in response to DQI audits, regulations, and their roles in Medicaid Compliance
• Write, revise as needed, and oversee implementation of individuals’ annual Personal Expenditure Plans and ensure spending and documentation meets regulation and fulfills PEPs
• Follow up with house managers and assist house managers in training and supervising direct care staff in the areas of individual care to ensure standards of care
• Participate in DQI and Medicaid Compliance audits, implement and oversee implementation of corrective actions as needed under the oversight of TTL
• Complete HCBS Satisfaction Surveys for all individuals on the caseload on an annual basis
• Complete bed check assignment data entry for new individuals, review and revise as needed for all individuals at least annually or more often if necessary
• Completion of E-scores
• Ensure respectful relationships among staff, persons served, and service recipients in line with OPWDD’s guiding principles
• Attend all treatment-related and team-level meetings including Life Plan review meetings, Special ITTs, placement meetings, etc.
• Train all staff on all treatment plans for which the Habilitation Specialist is responsible and maintain records of trainings
• Provide effective instruction/training to a mix of direct care, paraprofessional, and lower-level clinical staff in implementing service plans and related issues to enable staff to deliver more skilled assistance
• Review and acknowledge life plans, maintain contact with the care manager to ensure safety, values, and individual goals are maintained
• Oversee individuals’ data and maintain all files in the IRA (Welcome book, Res Hab book, Active Treatment book) and upload files into the EHR
• Ensure Life Plans are completed with proper supervision, prescribed diet plans, goals, health information and other safeguards to ensure safety
• Reciprocate all Life Plan content into Staff Action Plan to maintain safety and safeguards
• Complete and train on plans (LP, SSP, SAP), with Res Hab personnel responsible for training direct care staff on Life Plans and Staff Action Plans, ensuring daily implementation of goals and safeguards

Note:

A valid driver’s license is required as travel is part of the duties. Travel may involve a state-owned vehicle, as available, or the employee’s own vehicle. Reimbursement will occur at current negotiated rates if using personal vehicle.

Linked In: n/a

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. This includes professional disciplines such as 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, dance, drama, music, or physical education) or related disciplines linked to human behavior (e.g., gerontology, human services, sociology) or human skills development (e.g., counseling/guidance, education, human development).
• Examples…