TENTATIVE

Occ. Code 8341260

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

            Positions in this title series provide a full range of rehabilitation and habilitation services to clients, and such vocational services as training, placement and support, and special employment programs.  Incumbents implement all of those services that the person needs to maintain and/or improve his/her functioning.

            These positions are located at the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) and the Office of Mental Health (OMH).  Incumbents of these agencies assist in the total care of patients and/or consumers, and all incumbents perform various duties and functions in conjunction with the overall operation of a facility and/or location to which they are assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

REHABILITATION COUNSELOR 1:  full performance level; full range of activities associated with the class, generally under the supervision of higher-level rehabilitation or clinical staff.

REHABILITATION COUNSELOR 2:  advanced performance and/or first supervisory level; independently handle the more complex client issues/cases and assist higher level clinical and rehabilitative staff in developing rehabilitation service programs.

RELATED CLASSES

Habilitation Specialists carry out a variety of activities in support of consumers diagnosed with mental retardation and/or developmental disabilities, assisting them in developing pre-academic, academic and self-help skills, as well as communication and prevocational skills.  They also help consumers reach their optimal level of functioning by developing individual habilitation plans, setting goals, and monitoring an individual's progress in reaching those goals.

Youth Counselors mentor and guide youth in the community programs and facilities operated by the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS).   Incumbents are responsible for the supervision, evaluation, and guidance of juvenile and youthful offenders, and juvenile delinquents referred to OCFS, by family and criminal courts and as such frequently communicate with the youth, families, staff, placing courts and other supporting community programs and agencies.  Incumbents must enter, access and retrieve information from various data sources.

Social Work Assistants perform a wide range of social casework and related activities under the supervision of a licensed master social worker or licensed clinical social worker.  Incumbents manage assigned caseloads to link patients/consumers/clients with agencies, programs, and services that meet their psychosocial needs; participate in the development of treatment plans and advocate on behalf of patients/consumers/clients to ensure that the individuals treatment needs are met; and participate in and provide individual, group, and family counseling.  The purpose of these activities is to help individuals, families, and groups change their behaviors, emotions, attitudes, relationships, and social conditions and to restore and enhance their capacity to meet their personal and social needs.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

REHABILITATION COUNSELOR 1

Evaluate rehabilitation and support needs of assigned clients on an ongoing basis.

·        Document findings and recommendations to ensure treatment team members receive accurate and timely information regarding clients needs.

·        Coordinate person-centered service plans with recipients to ensure services provided meet the needs of each assigned client.

·        Monitor client progress, consult with treatment teams, and modify individual service plans as indicated.

·        Participate in treatment team meetings by making recommendations and providing input, and by recommending and implementing modification of service plans as required to achieve desired outcomes.

Conduct comprehensive evaluations on the rehabilitation needs of patients.

·        Prepare and monitor rehabilitation plans for clients based on initial assessment and client progress.

·        Collaborate with other members of treatment teams to enhance rehabilitation services and reinforcement of positive behaviors.

Under the direction of clinical staff, assist in the formulation of treatment plans for rehabilitation services.

·        Prepare treatment plan goals and objectives.

·        Follow up on issues associated with client participation and progress.

·        Complete reports on client participation and progress.

·        Help to develop discharge plans to meet the clinical needs of the patient.

Complete all necessary documentation such as core evaluations, treatment plans, department indicators, and other written assignments.

·        Assist in gathering statistics and providing information such as the types and quantity of rehabilitation services delivered within a weekly and monthly time frame for compilation into management information report, medical records and program reports.

·        Assist in conducting a comprehensive evaluation of rehabilitation and social support needs of clients.

·        Interview clients to elicit information about skills and support networks that the client possesses.

Develop rehabilitation and long-term care client goals and objectives for the community placement and support of each client.

·        Observe clients in work, residential, transportation services, and other natural environmental settings.

·        Assist clients in linking up with and maintaining contact with the various social support services necessary to adjustment to community life.

Participate with other rehabilitation and community services providers in the development and coordination of client service plans and endeavors.

·        Maintain official records of client progress in rehabilitation and community support services through service progress reports, medical records, and rehabilitation services plans and review notes and other program and management information reports.

·        Attend weekly inter-program and inter-agency service planning and review meetings with other rehabilitation staff, treatment unit staff or other community service staff in order to set, monitor and review rehabilitation goals and programs and review client progress in these programs.

REHABILITATION COUNSELOR 2

May perform any of the duties as listed above for Rehabilitation Counselor 1.

Complete progress notes and referrals that are written by the rehabilitation staff, assuring compliance with recordkeeping requirements and standards.

·        Screen, evaluate, and approve all referrals.

·        Match and assign patients to appropriate daily programs.

·        Monitor tracking system.

·        Assure patient records are maintained as outlined.

·        Coordinate treatment planning with rehabilitation department.

Complete a comprehensive evaluation of rehabilitation and social needs of patients and the development of patient goals and programming to meet the needs of patients.

·        Review policies and procedures with staff.

·        Review rehabilitation programs available to patients.

·        Coordinate development of goals and programs with subordinate rehabilitation staff and treatment teams.

·        Participate with the Treatment Team Leader in policy meetings, long-term program planning, and review meetings to update, improve, and maintain programs which meet client needs and use current evidenced-based practices.

Evaluate and identify the needs of patients to determine the advisability of referrals to other specialists, advising patients of such judgments, and communicating as requested or deemed appropriate to such referral sources.

·        Coordinate services, interacting with significant others, placing patients and follow up with them, monitoring progress, and solving problems.

·        Determine what changes have occurred as a result of a planned program by comparing actual changes (results) with desired changes (stated goals), and by identifying the degree to which the activity (planned program) is responsible for those changes.

·        Act as rehabilitation liaison for services provided by the rehabilitation department.

Arrange for any necessary psychosocial, educational, and/or vocational services.

·        Provide inpatient treatment teams with objective information concerning a patient's performance abilities in the areas of residential, social, and daily living skills.

·        Interpret, report, and document all ongoing patient progress.

·        Assist patients with interpreting their daily activities and experiences and the impact upon the rehabilitation process.

Assure compliance with recordkeeping requirements and standards.

·        Match and assign patients to appropriate inpatient treatment programming.

·        Monitor rehabilitation program tracking system.

·        Monitor the delivery of rehabilitation programming.

·        Assure rehabilitation documentation in records is maintained as outlined.

·        Coordinate treatment planning with treatment team.

·        Complete incident reporting and conduct investigations.

Evaluate rehabilitation and support needs of assigned clients on an ongoing basis.

·        Document findings and recommendations to ensure treatment team members receive accurate and timely information regarding patient needs.

·        Coordinate person-centered service plans with recipients to ensure services provided meet individual needs.

·        Monitor client progress, consult with treatment team, and modify individual service plans as indicated.

·        Participate in treatment team meetings by making recommendations and providing input, and by recommending and implementing modification of service plans as required to achieve desired outcome.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

REHABILITATION COUNSELOR 1

Open Competitive: a Bachelors Degree in a human service field and two years of professional experience providing vocational, psychosocial or rehabilitative/habilitative services in an agency primarily serving individuals diagnosed with mental retardation, developmental disabilities, mental illness or addictions.  A Masters Degree in a human service field may substitute for one year of the qualifying experience.  A Masters Degree in rehabilitation counseling may substitute for two years of the qualifying experience.

Promotion: two years of permanent service as a Rehabilitation Assistant 2, Occupational Therapy Assistant 2, or Physical Therapy Assistant 2 and a Bachelor's Degree in a human service field or NYS licensure as a Registered Nurse; or one year as a Rehabilitation Assistant 2, Occupational Therapy Assistant 2, or Physical Therapy Assistant 2 and a Master's Degree in a human service field.

REHABILITATION COUNSELOR 2

Open Competitive: a Bachelors Degree in a human service field and four years of professional experience providing vocational, psychosocial or rehabilitative/habilitative services in an agency primarily serving individuals diagnosed with mental retardation, developmental disabilities, mental illness or addictions.  A Masters Degree in a human service field may substitute for two years of the qualifying experience.  A Masters Degree in rehabilitation counseling may substitute for four years of the qualifying experience.

Promotion:  one year of permanent service as a Rehabilitation Counselor 1.

Date:  3/09

NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.