Developmental Specialist 1 (40 Hour)

State of Connecticut - DDS West Region; Waterbury (CT); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Connecticut - DDS West Region in Waterbury, CT is seeking a Developmental Specialist 1 for a full-time, first shift role. The position supports clinical, behavioral, and regulatory needs for individuals in Community Companion Homes.

The vacancy may be used for future openings; strong preference for candidates with advanced psychology training and experience in behavioral health settings.

Qualifications

• Master's or Doctorate degree in psychology or related field.
• One year of experience in treating and/or working with individuals in the appropriate specialty.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement behavioral programs and train direct care staff.
• Observe and assess individual behavior and collect data.
• Consult with families, staff, and professionals on treatment planning.
• Prepare case notes, progress notes, and reports.
• Provide individual and group therapy and support planning and evaluation.

Education

Master's or Doctorate in psychology

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Department of Developmental Services (DDS) - West Region, is recruiting a full-time, fist shift, Developmental Specialist 1, located in Waterbury, CT.

Position Highlights

• PCN 15509
• Full-time, 40 hours per week
• First (1st) shift
• Monday - Friday
• 8:00am-4:30pm (Regular Days off Saturday and Sunday)
• However, must be flexible in order to meet the needs of the agency

The Role

The Developmental Specialist 1 will be critical for maintaining the clinical, behavioral, and regulatory support required for individuals served in the Community Companion Homes (CCH) program.

The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

About Us

DDS partners with the individuals we support and their families, to support lifelong planning and to join with others to create and promote meaningful opportunities for individuals to fully participate as valued members of their communities.

What’s In It For You

Visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page!

• Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.
• A healthy work-life balance to all employees.
• State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loan forgiveness after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.

Discover the opportunity to

• Engage in a rewarding career
• Assist our employees so they can achieve success
• Make a difference in the public sector
• Work together in a collaborative team environment

Purpose of Job Class (Nature of Work)

In a state health care facility, community based health care program or correctional facility this class is accountable for conducting evaluations and therapy and providing services involving behavior modification, data collection and analysis, educational/vocational assessment and placement and/or program development and evaluation under close supervision.

Examples of Duties

• Under supervision, develops and implements behavioral programs and/or individual treatment plans and trains direct care staff in their implementation;
• Observes individual behavior;
• Collects individual behavioral and environmental data;
• Consults with allied professionals, families, direct care staff and community liaison workers on treatment planning, therapies and/or individual cases;
• Prepares case notes and progress notes;
• Participates in behavior analysis and adjustment, milieu therapy, research, educational/vocational assessment and placement, rehabilitation, data collection and analysis, program development and evaluation, behavioral techniques and community outreach;
• Selects and administers objective and projective psycho-diagnostic tests;
• Interprets test results;
• Assesses individual intellectual status through observation and if individual abilities accommodate, conduct interview;
• Writes reports including profiles on intellectual functioning and personality organization;
• Provides individual and group therapy and family counseling;
• Participates in clinical and interdisciplinary case conferences and staff meetings;
• May provide consultation according to specialized expertise;
• May serve as a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional;
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skill and Ability

• general psychological theory and its application to treatment, rehabilitation and research programs;
• statistics, data interpretation and experimental design;
• diagnostic procedures and their use in developing treatment plans;
• Considerable interpersonal skills;
• oral and written communication skills;
• develop treatment plans;
• conduct individual and group psychotherapy;
• provide consultation and training services;
• utilize computer software.

Minimum Qualifications - General Experience

A Master's or Doctorate degree in psychology, educational psychology, rehabilitative psychology, community psychology, experimental psychology or other related degree from a program accredited by a regional educational board and one (1) year of experience in treating and/or working with the individuals in the appropriate specialty serviced by the agency.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience writing behavioral guidelines and Positive Behavior Support Plans.
• Experience working with children and adults with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) and autism spectrum disorders.
• Experience with complex clinical needs of individuals with significant mental health struggles and forensic involvement.
• Experience collecting behavioral data to guide interventions and treatment.
• Experience providing clinical behavior support for individuals living with families in the community, supported settings, or in their own homes.
• Experience with biopsychosocial interviews, conducting mental status exams, motivational interviewing, and assessing risk.
• Experience working in inpatient/outpatient psychiatric settings and with community mental health resources for individuals/families.
• Experience with clinical assessment, including but not limited to diagnostic criteria using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-VTR).
• Experience with problem solving and independently researching and finding solutions to complex situations.
• Experience working collaboratively with other State Agencies and Programs including Beacon Health, DMHAS, hospitals, and school districts.
• Experience with Microsoft Office, including but not limited to Outlook, Access, Word, Excel, Teams, social media platforms and other data systems.

Special Requirements

• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

Working Conditions

Incumbents in this class may be required to lift and restrain individuals; may have some exposure to communicable/infectious diseases and to risk of injury from individuals.

If you require an accommodation to participate fully and fairly under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Edward Magnano, EEO Manager at [phone] or ([e-mail])

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.