Disability Specialist

Job Announcement

This position works as part of our Assisted Community Residential Services (ACRS) Division. You‘ll be a part of a team of diverse professionals who provide 24/7 residential services to adults diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). ACRS uses community-based and person-centered models of care to support individuals with varying behavioral presentations and co-occurring psychological and medical diagnoses. ACRS is committed to supporting the individuals we serve in achieving personalized goals as well as the highest level of independence possible. The primary responsibility is to provide supports to include education, training, role modeling, and physical assistance to enable individuals to perform activities of daily living, enhance communication and socialization skills, learn community awareness and safety, and monitor and attend to health and mobility issues. This position will be involved in the implementation of the individual‘s service plan (ISP), protocols, and behavioral intervention plans as applicable. Supports individuals in learning to participate as fully as possible in their daily routines with staff providing skill-building and assistance-based support as needed. Also helps to manage the operations of the group home which include meal planning and preparation, cleaning, shopping, managing accounts, and other duties as assigned. Work schedules and/or site assignments may change temporarily or permanently by management based on operational needs.

The CSB strives to create a work environment that facilitates professional growth by broadening your skill base with extensive training and development, modeling best practices in employee relations, employee recognition programs and advancement opportunities along with providing a highly competitive wage and benefits package. Since 1969, the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board has served individuals of all ages who have mental illness, substance use disorders, serious emotional and/or developmental disabilities. Our vision, aligned with the goals of One Fairfax, is that everyone in our community has the support needed to live a healthy, fulfilling life. Fairfax County is a dynamic and diverse community spanning over 400 square miles. With over 1.2 million residents, Fairfax County is the most populous jurisdiction in Virginia. Operating as part of Fairfax County government‘s human services system, the CSB provides a wide array of services offering opportunities for career growth and advancement.

More information about CSB Services may be found at Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board Community Services Board (fairfaxcounty.gov).

Additional benefits of working with the CSB include:

• The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and CSB recognizes that staff competence speaking a variety of languages is necessary to meet client needs. We encourage candidate‘s bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply. A foreign language skills stipend of up to $1,300/year (full-time) may be given for qualified bi-lingual employees.
• The CSB provides clinical supervision for employees who are registered as licensed eligible mental health in one of the following areas: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist.
• To find out more about the benefits of working with Fairfax County Government, please visit the CSB Careers Page.

Note: To learn more about careers that make a difference, watch our video ‘CSB Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Providing Care.‘
Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

For positions in CSB residential services:

• Performs direct support work of individuals with an intellectual and/or developmental disability in their place of supported residence;
• Conducts or co-leads recreational, instructional or social skills groups;
• Maintains protocols pertaining to work shifts, medical care plans, and financial controls;
• Provides liaison with assigned individual‘s physicians or therapists;
• Ensures that program participants are assisted in personal financial management;
• Performs the functions of a Certified Medication Handler Disburses medication under proper medical supervision.
• Participates in the implementation and review of individual service plans;
• Participates in meetings related to services and needs;
• Provides or coordinates individual transportation to appointments, meetings, and community activities;
• Provides crisis intervention in emergency situations and collaborates with supervisor regarding the need for intervention by external sources, as necessary;
• Links clients with appropriate community resources;
• Organizes and maintains individual files and other confidential records, including state plan option and non-Medicaid case records;
• Provides continuous review and evaluation of individual‘s progress towards established goals;
• Represents program in the community;
• Maintains ongoing communication with families, county programs and agencies, and state agencies.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Knowledge of principles, practices, methods, and techniques related to treatment of individuals with an intellectual disability or other developmental disabilities;
• Knowledge of psychiatric, psychological, and/or sociological terminology and concepts;
• Knowledge of counseling and interviewing techniques;
• Knowledge of case management principles;
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and regulations, as well as issues relevant to human rights, mandated reporting, and skill in applying this knowledge to a variety of situations;
• Knowledge of program services;
• Knowledge of community resources, including relevant public and private organizations;
• Ability to successfully participate and/or facilitate interdisciplinary team meetings;
• Ability to recommend alternatives to allow for individual choice in services
• Ability to recognize external behavioral symptoms of developmentally disabled individuals who may concurrently exhibit signs of mental illness or substance abuse;
• Ability to maintain records and prepare reports;
• Ability to establish rapport and maintain effective relationships with individuals;
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and the general public;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies.)
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor‘s degree in psychology, social work, or a related field.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Valid motor vehicle driver‘s license with fewer than six demerit points (or equivalent in another state) maintained throughout employment with CSB.
• MANDT certification, First Aid & CPR, and Medication Administration Assistance certifications (within 3 months of hire and annually thereafter)
• Qualified Intellectual Disability Residential Specialist (QIDRS) (within 1 month of hire)

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services Registry check, a driving record check, and sanction screening to the satisfaction of the employer. A TB screening upon hire and annually thereafter.

This position is emergency/essential services personnel. (Required to report for duty during inclement weather and/or other emergencies).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor‘s degree in related human service field.
• Clinical experience working in a behavioral health setting.
• Experience working with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD).
• Experience with Microsoft Office and electronic health record systems.
• Experience working in a residential setting.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to navigate multi-level residences using stairs and drive a county vehicle to transport individuals to various destinations. Ability to provide personal care and assistance including physically assisting large adults in hygiene. Ability to physically manage and support ambulatory and non-ambulatory individuals based on their physical management needs to include, but not limited to, transferring, positioning and proper use of physical management
equipment. Ability to take vital signs (blood pressure, weight, abdominal girth, temperature, pulse, blood sugar finger sticks), administer medications. Assistance with and/or observance of activities of daily living may also be required. Ability to sit, walk, stand, bend and write as needed; use keyboard to enter data in electronic health record and review data on computer monitor. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include a practical exercise.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact for assistance. TTY . . EEO/AA/TTY.

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