11/01/94 B

This is the fourth class in the Human Services Direct Care series. This class is responsible for developing and conducting activities which support the work of the interdisciplinary team and professional counselors. With professional consultation and/or interdisciplinary team coordination, positions in this class conduct skill assessments, develop and implement activities and/or habilitation or training programs, and conduct social, recreation/leisure, personal care, independent living, or vocational skills programs including activities in the community. This class is distinguished from the Human Services Care Specialist class by its focus on adjunct counseling activities, client assessment, development and coordination of habilitation or training activities or programs, and/or the provision of staff training for individuals or groups regarding treatment plans.

Complexity of Work: Performs work of considerable difficulty. Positions in this class meet with clients regularly to administer tests or make observations to assess skills and guide the interdisciplinary team in designing habilitation or training programs; develop and implement habilitation or training programs; conduct programs and activities or facilitate group discussions to focus on targeted behaviors or social skills and to foster adaptive, independent living skills. May instruct or oversee support staff or volunteers who assist in the delivery of services. Positions may assess clients, develop programs, and make arrangements for out-placement options or alternative hiring arrangements. This class develops components of treatment plans, writes progress notes and evaluates clients, and serves as member of the interdisciplinary treatment team.

Supervision Given: Supervision is not a factor. This class provides direction to support staff, volunteers, and/or student assistants.

Supervision Received: Receives general supervision from a professional counselor, habilitation professional, or facility program manager on issues that would affect an entire program or substantially affect a client's treatment or habilitation plan.

Scope: Plans, develops, and implements behavioral intervention program components for assigned clients to include group and individual activities, programs, and discussions. May have considerable contact outside the facility to coordinate community services.

Impact of Actions: Decisions have serious impact on progress of clients; positions in this class assess program needs and, within the parameters of the individual treatment plan goals, independently develop components of treatment plans.

Personal Contacts: Frequent internal and external contacts with facility clinicians, clients, families, and community services and organizations regarding client care and activities.

Knowledge: Considerable knowledge of physiological or personality development, sociological and psychological theory, learning theory, and behavior modification techniques; of basic treatment modalities for persons with mental illness, mental retardation, physical handicaps, or substance abuse.

Skills: None identified for this class.

Abilities: Demonstrated ability to conduct personal interviews and consultations; to plan and facilitate discussions or activities which will target and reinforce specific behaviors; to interact effectively with interdisciplinary team members and a wide range of client age groups and disabilities; to develop and implement habilitation or training activities for clients having varying skill levels and behaviors; to assess skills and provide findings to interdisciplinary team; to plan and write treatment plan components; to observe behavior, monitor client progress, and write reports.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDE*

License or Certification: None.

Education or Training: High school graduation with college level course work in sociology, psychology, or other human services related areas. Some training in behavior modification principles and techniques.

Level and Type of Experience: Considerable experience working with persons with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and/or substance abuse. Experience in organizing, planning, and conducting/supervising activities and facilitating focused group discussions.

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge and abilities may substitute for this education and experience.

This class was revised as part of the Classification Review/Specification Update Program and is a consolidation of the positions in the Mental Health Worker class (1981), the Mental Health Worker Team Leader class (1981), and some positions in the Training Center Team Leader class (1983), effective November 1, 1994.