State of Maryland

A Qualified Developmental Disabilities Professional, Supervisor is the supervisory level of work for the overall twenty-four hours a day operation of a cottage or living unit in a residential facility for the developmentally disabled and is designated responsibility for ensuring that individual treatment plans for each client residing in the assigned cottage or living unit are developed and implemented to comply with Health Care Financing Administration regulations.  Employees in this classification supervise Developmental Disabilities Associates and Direct Care Assistants.  Employees in this classification also administrative supervisory responsibility for Psychologists, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists and professionals of other health care disciplines 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 aggressive behavior.  The work may require the lifting and positioning of non-ambulatory clients and the lifting of wheelchairs and other heavy 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 Supervisor is differentiated from the Developmental Disabilities Associate in that the Qualified Developmental Disabilities Professional Supervisor has primary responsibility for ensuring that the individual treatment plans for assigned clients are carried out in compliance with Health Care Financing Administration regulations and has supervisory responsibility for  Developmental Disabilities Associates and Direct Care Assistants assigned to the cottage or living unit while the Developmental Disabilities Associate assigns, reviews and approves the work of and trains 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;

Coordinates the provision of services for assigned residents on all shifts;

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

Coordinates staff orientation and on-the-job training to address assigned clients’ individual treatment plans;

Supervises a staff of Developmental Disabilities Associates and Direct Care Assistants assigned to the cottage or living unit;

Reviews and approves staffing schedule to ensure adequate cottage or unit coverage for day, evening and night shifts;

Ensures the safety and cleanliness of the cottage or living unit;

Authorizes expenditures for supplies;

Authorizes withdrawals from clients’ personal funds;

Oversees transportation arrangements for clients’ off-grounds trips;

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 administrative, personnel, and supervisory procedures;

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 relationship with professional and subordinate staff in order to maintain an orderly, secure, and therapeutic environment and to ensure adherence to standards and regulations regarding clients’ treatment;

Ability to plan, review, and evaluate the work of others.

Education:   A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in one of the following fields: counseling, education, nursing, occupational or 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 Code of Maryland Regulations, Title 10- Maryland  Department of Health, Subtitle 09.26.01.B(28).

1. Some positions in this classification are assigned duties which will require the individual to be examined by a physician. After an offer of employment, applicants for such positions will be given a medical examination to certify the ability to perform essential job functions.

2. 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.

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 collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.