TENTATIVE

Occ. Code 5210100

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

          Positions in this title series perform a wide range of professional and administrative activities involved in the provision of services, programs, and community residential opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities. Incumbents assist local public and private agencies in identifying individuals eligible for services, in determining the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities, in identifying the services and settings best suited to meet individuals needs, and in developing new programs and services. Incumbents also assist agencies with budget preparation, staffing plans, regulatory compliance, site development, and identification of funding sources.

These positions are only classified at the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

          Developmental Disabilities Program Specialist 1: full performance level; perform a wide range of professional activities related to the design, development, support, and coordination of a program or service for individuals with developmental disabilities; supervises subordinate staff.

          Developmental Disabilities Program Specialist 2: supervisory level; supervises lower level Developmental Disabilities Program Specialists and other staff involved in the design, development, support, and coordination of programs and/or services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

          Developmental Disabilities Program Specialist 4: managerial level; directs the design, development, support, and coordination of multiple programs and/or services for individuals with developmental disabilities; supervises multiple Developmental Disabilities Program Specialists 2 and other staff.   

RELATED CLASSES

Developmental Disabilities Policy Development Specialists develop and implement policies that guide the development, operation, and monitoring of services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities. Incumbents analyze policy-related issues and prepare recommendations, develop, and review written policies and standards, and address policy-related issues.

Program Operations Specialists perform professional, administrative, and technical duties to promote the planning, development, implementation, operation, and evaluation of services provided to individuals with developmental disabilities. Incumbents of these positions plan, develop, evaluate, monitor, and coordinate developmental disabilities services at a statewide level.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

          Developmental Disabilities Program Specialist 1

A Developmental Disabilities Program Specialist 1 may perform duties in one, or several of the following areas:

In the design, development, and coordination of community-based residential, day, family, or placement support programs and/or services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

·       Assists local public and private agencies in the development of new programs or services to address shortcomings in the existing service delivery system.

·       Coordinates placement activities for individuals with developmental disabilities, by monitoring programs conducting service eligibility and needs assessments, and by recommending appropriate programs and settings best suited to meet individual needs.

·       Provides administrative oversight and coordination for a program or service, by monitoring staffing plans, budgets, contracts, funding sources, placement activities, and service delivery, and by identifying areas for performance improvement.

·       Supervises subordinate staff in the provision of community-based programs and services, including administrative oversight of clinical and program support functions, and conducting staff training and performance evaluations. 

·       Documents program and/or service suggestions from individuals with developmental disabilities, in order to identify unmet program and/or service needs.

·       Provides technical assistance to a variety of groups regarding program and/or service requirements, placement, eligibility, and in the use of environmental modifications for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Capital and technical support services to local provider agencies for program and service development.

·       Reviews site saturation maps, fair market appraisals, rent and lease contracts, and prior property approval requests to assist local agencies in determining appropriate sites.

·       In conjunction with building design staff, performs on-site walk-throughs of proposed sites in order to provide written reports on the feasibility of new site development to upper level staff, and to provide site recommendations to local agencies.

·       Assists agencies in identifying, developing, and monitoring budgets and funding sources, by performing cost verifications of agency budgets and projects, identifying new funding mechanisms for sites, reviewing change orders and payment applications, reviewing Certificates of Need (CON), and by attending design meetings, bid openings, and construction meetings for site development projects.

Quality assurance functions to ensure local agencies meet required federal, State, and OPWDD guidelines and regulations.

·       Conducts periodic program reviews by performing on-site inspections of local agency sites, by reviewing medical and program charts, inspecting medication storage and administration, inspecting environmental modifications, and observing the implementation of individuals goal, rehabilitation, and habilitation plans, in order to produce performance reports for upper level review.

·       Assists local agencies with Division of Quality Improvement (DQI) site surveys, by performing pre-survey on-site compliance visits of programs and physical plants; coordinating DQI survey visits; reviewing Statements of Deficiencies (SOD) to identify trends in site non-compliance; and by monitoring actions to address the deficiencies.

·       Reviews individuals personal allowances, Plans of Protective Oversight, implementation of goal, rehabilitation, and habilitation plans, and levels of community inclusion to ensure the provision of appropriate services, and to ensure that the rights of individuals are protected.

·       Monitors existing program and/or service options provided by local agencies in order to ensure programs and/or services are designed to appropriately meet individuals needs.

Advocacy functions to ensure that the rights of individuals with developmental disabilities are protected.

·       Implements individual rights training for staff, and provides information and resources regarding rights-related issues to a variety of groups.

·       Conducts preliminary reviews of suspected cases of abuse or neglect by reviewing local agency provided investigative reports; interviewing involved individuals and parties; and inputting reportable incidents into the Incident Review Management Application (IRMA).

·       Conducts outreach to local public and private organizations, in order to educate groups on available OPWDD programs and services.

·       Supervises the provision of case management and ancillary services to individuals discharged from Developmental Centers.

·       Serves as a point person to address daily inquiries and operational problems that arise in the delivery of programs or services.

          Developmental Disabilities Program Specialist 2

Developmental Disabilities Program Specialists 2 directly supervise Developmental Disabilities Program Specialists 1 and other staff in the provision of community-based programs and/or services.

·       Reviews placement determinations to provide recommendations to upper level staff for the development of placement plans based on OPWDD census projections.

·       Reviews established service levels for individuals with developmental disabilities, in order to verify appropriate levels of care.

·       Provides technical assistance to lower level staff regarding program and service requirements, site development, environmental modifications, and regulatory requirements.

·       Analyzes Statements of Deficiencies (SOD) issued to assigned agencies in order to identify trends in site non-compliance and to propose new policies and procedures to upper level staff to address deficiencies.

·       Reviews preliminary incident reports for suspected cases of abuse and neglect, providing verbal and written feedback to upper level staff, and monitors the identification, investigation, review, and correction of suspected cases of abuse or neglect at local sites.

·       Analyzes performance reports for community-based programs and/or services in order to assist upper level staff in the development of new local programs and services to address unmet program and/or service needs.

·       Reviews program and service suggestions proposed by individuals with developmental disabilities and other groups in order to recommend new programs and services to address unmet service needs.

·       Serves as a point person to address programmatic or operational inquiries that arise in the delivery of programs or services for a variety of groups.

          DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PROGRAM SPECIALIST 4

Developmental Disabilities Program Specialists 4 directly oversee program support and/or program operation functions for multiple programs and/or services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Program Operations:

·       Directly supervises multiple, Developmental Disabilities Program Specialists 2 and other staff involved in the provision of support operations for programs and/or services provided to individuals with developmental disabilities.

·       Reviews program reports from lower level staff; in order to develop, implement, and monitor new policies and procedures to ensure consistent quality and delivery of service across multiple programs and/or services.

·       Responds to external inquiries concerning a range of topics, including Freedom of Information requests.

·       Analyzes efficiency reports from lower level staff, in order to develop, implement, monitor, and revise new and existing policies and procedures, in order to ensure consistent quality of service for assigned areas.

·       Reviews all incident reports for suspected cases of abuse and neglect, providing formal recommendations to the appropriate upper level staff.

·       Oversees the remediation of problems identified in Statements of Deficiency, in order to develop, implement, and monitor new policies, procedures, and systems that address deficiencies that may jeopardize site certification.

·       Represents OPWDDs policy and program interests at State and federal events, and at interdepartmental meetings.

·       Develops program and/or service placement plans in line with OPWDD census projections for submission to Main Office.

·       Serves as an expert technical advisor to lower level staff, local agencies, and external stakeholders concerning program operation functions, program support functions, regulatory compliance, staffing plans, budgets, and contracts related to local programs and/or services.

·       Coordinates the delivery of statewide programs and services with local management, management from other DDSOs, and Main Office, to ensure consistent delivery of programs and/or services.

·       Serves on and contributes to executive-level DDSO committees, including eligibility and incident review boards.

·       Establishes and maintains cooperative relationships with developmental disability advocacy groups, attorneys, State and local officials, and local provider agencies, in order to improve the quality of services provided by the DDSO.

Program Support:

·       Directly supervises multiple Treatment Team Leaders in the provision of clinical support services for assigned community-based residential, day, and family programs and/or services.

·       Develops, implements, monitors, and revises all administrative policies and procedures for clinical, supervisory, service coordination, crisis intervention, eligibility, and placement support programs and/or services.

·       Identifies service gaps across multiple program and/or service areas, and ensures appropriate programs, policies, and/or services are developed to meet unmet needs for individuals with developmental disabilities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

          Developmental Disabilities Program Specialist 1

Promotion: one year of service in a position at Grade 16 or above within OPWDD.

          Developmental Disabilities Program Specialist 2

Promotion: one year of experience as a Developmental Disabilities Program Specialist 1.

          Developmental Disabilities Program Specialist 4

Promotion: one year of experience as a Developmental Disabilities Program Specialist 2, Treatment Team Leader (Developmental Disabilities), Community Development Specialist 2, or Mental Hygiene Nursing Program Coordinator.

Date:  8/15

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.