State of Maryland

A Residential Child and Youth Care Practitioner (RCYCP) is the full performance level of work providing guidance to deaf and hard of hearing students by serving as a mentor and role model, offering advice and assistance with everyday life skills and providing referrals to other staff at the Maryland School for the Deaf.  Employees in this classification who are assigned to perform direct care responsibilities related to activities of daily living, self-help, and socialization skills in a residential child care program licensed by the Department of Human Services or the Maryland Department of Health are required to become certified as a Residential Child and Youth Care Practitioner (RCYCP).  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Residential Child and Youth Care Practitioner-Supervisor, or from a designated administrator.  Employees may be required to travel to various locations for events such as field trips, workshops, seminars and recreational activities.  Employees may be required to work evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.  Employees may be subject to call-in based on staffing needs.  Employees need to meet the minimum qualifications for the RCYCP Certification or they will be required to pass the State Standard Examination.

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 RCYCP is differentiated from the RCYCP Provisional are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The RCYCP is certified as a RCYCP and performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision while the RCYCP Provisional is provisionally certified and learns to perform duties under close supervision.  The RCYCP is differentiated from the RCYCP Supervisor in that the RCYCP Supervisor has supervisory responsibility for lower-level RCYCPs and residential program employees.

Communicates with students to discuss their problems and offer them guidance, and serves as a mentor and role model for their assimilation into the deaf culture;

Monitors students and assists them in complying with daily and weekly schedules of attending classes, completing homework, sleeping, eating and performing personal hygiene;

Observes and interacts with students to prevent conflicts and minimize disturbances;

Implements, helps to evaluate and recommends modifications to student Individual Education Plans (IEPs) in areas such as proper etiquette, and interpersonal relations, and student behavioral modification plans;

Devises and dispenses rewards and punishments within specified guidelines to ensure students comply with Maryland School for the Deaf rules and policies;

Documents and reports student problems to the Student Life Counselor Supervisor;

Informs parents of student development through telephone calls, letters and meetings with the Parent, Teacher, and Counselor;

Assesses emergency and crisis situations, makes appropriate contacts and referrals, and provides interim emergency medical and other assistance until specialized assistance is available;

May supplement classroom instruction by tutoring students in academic subjects;

May serve as a coach for extra-curricular activities such as football, basketball, wrestling and cheerleading;

May participate in the development of educational programs and workshops;

May plan, raise funds for and oversee off-campus field trips and recreational activities;

May transport students to off-campus activities;

May make periodic safety checks of doors and windows of student residences;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the child and adolescent developmental process;

Knowledge of the physical, emotional and social aspects of deafness;

Knowledge of Life Skills Development and Standards of Health and Safety Understanding of Legal and Ethical Issues in Residential Care;

Skill in American Sign Language sufficient to permit fluent and accurate communication with students and parents;

Skill in written English sufficient to permit fluent and accurate communication with students and parents who are not proficient in American Sign Language;

Ability to learn emergency medical procedures;

Ability to implement student behavior modification and education plans;

Ability to organize and maintain a dormitory environment conducive to positive student development;

Ability to plan, coordinate and oversee educational and recreational student activities; 

Ability to work harmoniously with students and with other employees.

Education:  Must be either 21 years old with graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

                                                                    OR

At least 18 years old with possession of an Associate of Arts degree or a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

Experience: One year of experience providing guidance to deaf and hard of hearing youth and assisting them with everyday life skills in a student life setting.

Note: Candidates may substitute additional education from an accredited college or university at the rate of sixty credit hours for the required experience.

1. Employees in this classification will be required to obtain and maintain RCYCP certification.

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 in this classification will be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first-aid training leading to certification. These certifications must be kept current as a requirement of residential childcare licensure by the Maryland Department of Human Services.

1. Employees in this classification are required to be proficient in American Sign Language and in written English.

2. Employees in this classification will be required to pass a medical examination and an annual screening for tuberculosis as a requirement of residential child care licensure by the Maryland Department of Human Services.

3. 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.

4. Employees in this classification will be required to apply for a criminal background check as a requirement of the Family Law Article, Section 5-551, Annotated Code of Maryland.

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 Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional 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 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.