MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Must be in title or on the Civil Service eligible list for this location or be eligible for transfer under Section 70.1 in a designated title determined by the New York State Department of Civil Service.

NON-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.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Preferred qualifications are at least one year’s experience providing services to persons with
developmental disabilities AND either; a master’s degree in a field of psychology, a bachelor’s
degree in a human services discipline, a psychology license currently registered with the NYS
Education Department, a nursing (or licensed practical nursing) license currently registered with the
NYS Education Department, or a master’s degree in social work with current certification and
registration with the NYS Education Department as a social worker.

***Bring your credentials to the interview.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Habilitation Specialists perform a variety of tasks and activities to assist and support individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in acquiring, retaining, and improving the self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills necessary to live successfully in home and community-based settings. Incumbents work directly with individuals to help them lead better lives; develop and implement person-centered plans for habilitation services, including community habilitation, day habilitation, residential habilitation in certified sites, pathway to employment, pre-vocational services, and supported employment; assist in setting goals; and monitor individuals’ progress in achieving their valued outcomes.

Habilitation Specialist 1: full performance level; instructs and supports individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities in developing and/or enhancing life skills; develops, implements, and modifies habilitation plans to help individuals achieve their valued outcomes; provides training to direct care staff in the implementation of habilitation plans; and may supervise direct care staff.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

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 inclusion activities and building relationships.
• Completes and maintains habilitation records and required documentation in accordance with agency standards.
Monitors and trains direct care staff in the implementation of habilitation plans; and may perform the full range of supervisory duties over direct care staff.



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Please note:
• 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 believes that they need a reasonable accommodation, they should contact the NYS OPWDD Workforce and Talent Management Central Office (518) 473-4785 or Email at accommodationrequests@opwdd.ny.gov to obtain information and RA forms.
• Preference will be given to OPWDD employees impacted by closures. If you are being impacted by closure, please indicate this on your resume/cover letter.
• In order to be eligible for appointment and to maintain employment, you cannot be listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of the Federal and/or State Medicaid and Medicare exclusion lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program). If you are appointed and subsequently listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of these lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program), you may be terminated from your employment.
• OPWDD is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
• OPWDD is committed 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.
• 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.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.