Occ. Code 8341100

REHABILITATION FACILITIES SPECIALIST, GRADE 22

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

NATURE OF WORK

Incumbents of these positions consult with and advise the managers and supervisors of rehabilitation facilities and workshops in order to inform them of accepted practices and standards of operation. They also attempt to influence the managers and supervisors to undertake or modify programs serving the severely disabled in order to promote utilization of resources and effective delivery of services.  Rehabilitation Facilities Specialists are found in the State Education Department, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.

CLASSIFICATION CRITERIA AND DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Rehabilitation Facilities Specialists regularly call upon the executive managers of rehabilitation facilities and the supervisors of rehabilitation workshops within an assigned geographic area. The positions are characterized by the incumbents' assignment to meet and deal with managers and supervisors, on a professional peer basis, to answer their questions regarding accepted administrative practices and required standards of operation, and to attempt to influence them to undertake or modify programs in service to vocationally disabled New Yorkers.

These assignments distinguish Rehabilitation Facilities Specialist from a number of other classes involved in influencing people to insure the delivery of services to the vocationally disabled. For example, positions which plan, direct and guide the rehabilitation of disabled persons by interviewing clients and arranging for appropriate therapy and training are classified as Rehabilitation Counselor.  Positions which consult with the supervisors of workshops providing rehabilitation services for the blind on the development, maintenance and improvement of such programs are classified as Workshop Specialist.  Positions which consult with local authorities on the development and improvement of community services for the blind are classified as Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor.

TYPICAL ACTIVITIES, TASKS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Advises the executive management and supervisors of rehabilitation facilities and workshops on the acceptability of administrative practices, grant required standards of operation, professional staff qualification requirements, anticipated problems and other matters in order to convey information essential to the effective operation of facilities and workshops. Uses knowledge of Federal and State legislation affecting rehabilitation programs.

Confers with the appropriate supervisor, concerning problems encountered in the development and maintenance of standards of operation at facilities and workshops regarding such factors as building safety and health standards, qualifications of professional staff, wage and hour standards, etc. in order to assist in finding solutions and to reach consensus on appropriate course of action.

Advises the professional staff in a district office of the types and quality of services available to clients and of the nature of any new project, equipment and staff in order to provide them with information useful in maximizing the utilization of facility resources.

Compares qualifications of professional staff of facilities and workshops with existing qualification standards in order to verify that they meet such standards.

Reviews and evaluates the applications of public and private rehabilitation agencies for grant funds using knowledge of relevant laws concerning the purpose and coverage of grants in order to determine whether such proposals meet established Federal and State guidelines and if proposed objectives meet the needs of the severely disabled.

Consults with facility and workshop managers regarding the development of staff, purchase of equipment and other items needed by the facility and project proposals including acquisition alternatives and construction in order to assist these managers in the preparation of grant proposals.

Monitors and evaluates facility's and workshop's utilization at Federal/State and 100% State funded grants with regard to compliance with State agency regulations and with basic grant objectives in order to determine the degree of appropriate utilization and implications for future operations.

Promotes in meetings with concerned community groups and with facility directors and managers utilization of available grant funds, the expansion of existing facility and workshop programs and the institution of new programs in order to arrange sponsorship of programs in service to State agency clients in an assigned geographic region.

Surveys indicators of the needs of clients for rehabilitation facility and workshop services and the capabilities of existing agencies to provide for these needs in order to compile information useful in establishing priorities for available grant funds.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS

Rehabilitation Facilities Specialists regularly meet with and deal with managers of rehabilitation facilities and the supervisors of rehabilitation workshops both to advise them on standards, regulations and requirements and to persuade them to undertake programs on behalf of OVR clients. In addition, they advise professional staff of OVR regional office on the availability of services for particular clients and group of clients. They may also speak to various concerned community groups in order to inform these groups of laymen of procedures for setting up OVR supported rehabilitation programs.

NATURE OF SUPERVISION

Rehabilitation Facilities Specialists work under the general administrative supervision of the Supervising Rehabilitation Facilities Specialist; i.e., they confer with the supervising specialist on problems involved with the development, maintenance and revision of standards operation for rehabilitation facilities and make recommendations to the supervising specialist concerning the disposition of grant applications and the continuation of OVR regulated funding.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

§ Good knowledge of practices of supervision.

§ Good knowledge of principles of organization and management.

§ Working knowledge of techniques of administrative analysis.

§ Working knowledge of techniques of program planning and evaluation.

§ Good knowledge of methods of rehabilitation of the severely disabled, rehabilitation programs content and types of equipment used in rehabilitation programs.

§ Comprehensive knowledge of standards for facility and workshop operation set forth in Federal and State law including OSHA, various vocational and rehabilitation acts, wage and hour laws and related regulations.

§ Good knowledge of existing standards for facility design and construction.

§ Good knowledge of diagnostic groups, their characteristics and needs.

§ Good knowledge of types and levels of rehabilitation services available in the geographic area where assigned.

§ Good knowledge of qualifications for professional vocational rehabilitation service jobs.

§ Ability to establish meaningful relationships with others.

§ Ability to present ideas clearly and effectively in oral communication.

§ Ability to prepare written material including grant proposals.

§ Ability to understand and interpret narrative written materials.

§ Ability to understand and interpret tabular and graphic material of limited size and complexity.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates must possess a Bachelor's Degree from a regionally accredited college or university and two years of experience as follows: as an administrator or supervisor of a rehabilitation facility or workshop; or as a supervisor of a vocational rehabilitation counseling unit from which a significant number of clients were assigned to rehabilitation facilities; or as a specialist in some phase of a program which involved review of rehabilitation facility operations or the development of such facilities.

Reviewed:  7/03

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.