State of Maryland

A Resident Associate Supervisor SETT is the supervisory level of work providing care, custody, treatment and guidance for court-ordered developmentally disabled residents in the Secure Evaluation and Therapeutic Treatment Unit (SETT) within the Maryland Department of Health (MDH).  Employees in this classification are responsible for interacting with and controlling these individuals during everyday life activities by monitoring behaviors and advising them of appropriate alternatives.  Employees in this classification supervise lower-level Resident Associates SETT and provide advice and guidance to other lower-level health care workers.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a designated health care administrator.  Employees may be assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts which may include holidays and weekends.  Employees may be subject to call-in and overtime based on staffing needs.  Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and the spread of disease.  Employees may be required to physically restrain individuals displaying violent and aggressive behavior and lift and move individuals and equipment.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Resident Associate Supervisor SETT is differentiated from the Resident Associate Lead SETT in that the Resident Associate Supervisor SETT has supervisory responsibility for lower-level Resident Associates SETT while the Resident Associate Lead SETT assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains lower-level Resident Associates SETT.

Plans, coordinates, supervises and evaluates the work of lower-level Resident Associates SETT and other health care workers;

Provides care, custody and guidance for developmentally disabled court-ordered individuals in SETT who may also have co-occurring mental disorders;

Escorts developmentally disabled individuals to and from daily activities at the facility and monitors their conduct during interactions with others;

Assesses individuals’ skills and abilities to determine appropriate behavior modification techniques and establish goals in coordination with a team of clinical professionals assigned to the facility;

Plans and implements daily programs and activities aimed at developing individuals’ intellectual and emotional capabilities;

Observes and assesses individual and group behaviors and determines when intervention or guidance is needed;

Intervenes in situations involving agitated or overwrought individuals to prevent fights and to de-escalate potentially harmful behaviors, and suggests alternative ways of reacting to problems;

Authorizes appropriate implementation of individuals’ restrictions or restraints as necessary during emergency or crisis situations;

Promotes a unit environment conducive to learning helpful alternative behaviors by encouraging communication among individuals and staff, guiding and critiquing group discussions, and offering advice at appropriate junctures;

Attends meetings with clinical health care team to provide progress updates on individuals’ behavior and treatment, training, consultation, and recommendations for changes to processes and procedures;

Inspects residential areas for safety, security and cleanliness;

Attends training on topics, such as aggressive behavior, self harm and/or injury, and intellectual and developmental disabilities;

May accompany individuals to appointments off grounds, such as medical appointments and court proceedings and monitors and controls behaviors during these outings;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of developmental disabilities and the limitations, capabilities and rights of developmentally disabled individuals;

Knowledge of the federal and State procedures and guidelines on the care and treatment of the developmentally disabled;

Knowledge of the methods and disciplines used to treat developmentally disabled individuals;

Knowledge of the symptoms associated with medications administered to developmentally disabled individuals;

Skill in observing, motivating, directing and controlling the behavior of developmentally disabled individuals to assist in the achievement of treatment goals;

Skill in interacting with agitated or overwrought developmentally disabled clients in a calm manner to de-escalate combative behavior;

Skill in assessing and addressing potentially harmful or destructive behavior by developmentally disabled individuals and offering alternative responses;

Ability to work as an effective member of a team of health care providers;

Ability to plan and schedule the various activities associated with an individual treatment plan;

Ability to carry out emergency and routine procedures for the protection and safety of individuals, staff and the public.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.  

Experience: Three years of experience in work assisting in the care, custody and guidance of court-ordered developmentally disabled individuals in treatment facilities or community based programs.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute additional experience assisting in the care, treatment habilitation or rehabilitation of developmentally disabled, mentally ill, physically ill or aged individuals in treatment facilities or community based programs on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute education from an accredited college or university with coursework specializing in health or human services, behavioral sciences, or criminal justice at a rate of 30 credit hours for one year of the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Hospital Corpsman classifications or Health Care Specialist and Medical Services specialty codes in the health related field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Employees in this classification may be required to successfully complete training and maintain current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

2. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

3. Employees may be required to operate vans which require a specific motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

1. Employees in this classification are subject to call-in 24 hours a day, and, therefore, will be required to provide the employing agency with a telephone number where they can be reached.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit as indicated by the designation of S (supervisor), M (manager), T (agency head), U (Board or Commission member), W (student), X (Used by agency or excluded by executive order),  or Z (confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and therefore, all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.