State of Maryland

A Qualified Development Disabilities Professional is the full performance level of work in developing, coordinating and monitoring individual treatment plans for a cottage or living unit in a residential facility for the developmentally disabled and is the designated employee responsible for ensuring that individual treatment plans comply with Health Care Financing Administration regulations.  Employees in this classification have administrative supervisory responsibility for Psychologists, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists and professionals of other health care disciplines who are involved in implementing certain aspects of individual treatment plans for clients assigned to the cottage or living unit.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a program administrator.  Employees usually work during the day shift but are subject to call-in and overtime during any shift and on weekends and holidays.  Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and spread of disease.  Employees may be required to physically restrain clients displaying violent and aggressive behavior.  The work may require the lifting and positioning of non-ambulatory clients and the lifting of wheelchairs and other 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 Qualified Developmental Disabilities Professional is differentiated from the Developmental Disabilities Associate in that the Qualified Developmental Disabilities Professional performs the full range of primary responsibility for ensuring that the individual treatment plans for assigned clients are carried out in compliance with Health Care Financing Administration regulations under general supervision while the Developmental Disabilities Associate assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains of Direct Care Assistants in an assigned cottage or living unit during the day, evening or night shift.

Convenes and chairs interdisciplinary team meetings to develop individual treatment plans for assigned clients, reviews plan objectives, modifies existing plans and documents client’s progress;

Monitors services provided to clients by professional health care staff in order to ensure compliance with the individual treatment plan and Health Care Financing Administration regulations;

Identifies any deficiencies in delivery of service to assigned clients and monitors for needed corrections and ensures that needed training is provided to staff;

Reviews documentation regarding implementation of individual treatment plans for accuracy and adequacy;

Consults with other agencies to integrate delivery of services for assigned residents;

Provides orientation to cottage staff to address needs of specific individual treatment plans;

Ensures that individual treatment plan documentation is completed and distributed in accordance with facility policy;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the concepts, principles and practices for treatment of the developmentally disabled;

Knowledge of interdisciplinary treatment concepts, principles and practices;

Knowledge of treatment planning and behavior modification concepts and techniques;

Knowledge of regulations regarding developmentally disabled clients;

Knowledge of the medications commonly administered to developmentally disabled clients;

Skill in making accurate observations of the behavior of developmentally disabled clients in order to assess their physical, emotional, and intellectual states;

Skill in analyzing case information and making appropriate treatment recommendations;

Skill in preparing comprehensive reports;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with professional in order to maintain an orderly, secure, and therapeutic environment and to ensure adherence to standards and regulations regarding clients’ treatment.

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in one of the following fields: counseling, education, nursing, occupational physical therapy, psychology, social work, sociology, speech pathology or audiology, therapeutic recreation or a related human services field.

Experience: One year of experience providing professional services to the developmentally disabled.

Note: Education and experience requirements are established in the Code of Maryland Regulations Title 10 Maryland Department of Health, Subtitle 09.26.01.B(28).

1. Candidates may be given a medical examination and may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform the work required of the position prior to appointment.

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

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 assigned to Bargaining Unit E- Health Care Professionals classes.  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 all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.