Job Purpose/Summary

The IDD Program Specialist oversees the creation, implementation, and maintenance of Individual Service Plans (ISPs) for residential group homes in the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) program. While working with consumers to ensure services are delivered in a manner reflecting their preferences, the incumbent ensures that all Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are properly trained to effectively meet the health and safety needs of consumers as per their ISPs. The position ensures quality and continuity of care and facilitates the integration of services to improve IDD consumers’ quality of life.

Minimum Qualifications

Education/Experience:

• Associate’s degree in social work, psychology, or a related field and 4 years of experience in social services

OR

• Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or a related field and 2 years of experience in social services

OR

• Master's degree in social work, psychology, or a related field and 1 year of experience in social services

• Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST) training required upon hire, based on the availability of the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP)

Licenses, Certifications & Clearances:

• Act 33/34 Clearances
• FBI Clearance
• Valid State of PA Class 1 Drivers License
• Access to properly insured motor vehicle for client transportation and fieldwork and a safe driving record

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Exhibits ethical business behavior and maintains confidentiality of information and compliance as required by WFS policy.
• Ability to exhibit cultural sensitivity and to contribute to a work environment where diversity is welcomed and supported.
• Commitment to empowering others to solve their own problems and conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change.
• Commitment to valuing a nurturing family as the ideal environment.
• Ability to establish a respectful relationship with consumers served to help them gain skills and confidence.
• Capacity to maintain a helping role and to intervene appropriately to meet service goals.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other personnel and/or service providers or professionals and the ability to get along with people.
• Ability to set appropriate limits.
• Ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Ability to provide emotional/physical support to consumers with developmental disabilities and co-occurring disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorders and mental health disorders as identified by the DSM V.
• Ability to comprehend training and relate it to work assignments.
• Knowledge of basic first aid practices.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Participates in the IDD on-call rotation for the continuity of the overall health and well-being of the residents.

• Maintains current and up-to-date training as Health Risk Rater and implements ISP ratings.

• Ensures the delivery of quality services by developing and accomplishing goals and objectives, as well as continually evaluating to ensure that services as are delivered in an effective and culturally competent manner as outlined in the ISPs.

• Directs efficient operations by designing and improving processes that continuously improve service, auditing records and other documents for accuracy and timely completion to meet requirements, preparing information and reports for internal management and control using a management information system, and assists management in completion of pre-licensing and COA procedures to ensure compliance.

• Addresses all issues of fraud, waste, and/or abuse as they arise and proactively looks for ways to prevent instances of fraud, waste, and abuse in the service delivery system and work systems of the agency as described in the agency compliance plan.

• Provides IDD technical assistance in electronic medical record (EMR) system.

• Develops standards for units of service and costs per unit in collaboration with the Supports Coordinator for the ISPs.

• Promotes an effective integrated service delivery by developing and communicating knowledge of the agency’s services, providing relevant information and training to assigned staff, and establishing and working on the cross functional mission, vision, philosophy (MVP) teams. Encourages the appropriate use of agency services through interagency referrals and active participation in collaborative service efforts. May propose innovations that strengthen the agency’s services.

• Enhances continuous improvement by reading, attending appropriate conferences, and taking the initiative to be informed of developments and changes in the field, results of recent studies, national standards, and activities of similar organizations. Develops and oversees protocol for ISP processes to ensure compliance with ongoing chapter 51/55 regulatory changes, as well as ensures consistency in policies and procedures for the EMR system for 6400 and 51 regulations.

• Coordinates and assists in completing assessments, including the need for supervision.

• Creates and reviews ISP with consumer at the ISP meeting, offering the option to adjust, change, or decline outcomes, as necessary, to ensure that the consumer directs the individual plan process to the fullest extent possible. Ensures that ISPs are culturally appropriate and include the consumer’s likes and dislikes, a health risk screening, a method for the consumer to request updates to their ISP, and guidelines for solving disagreements among ISP team members. Ensures that consumers have a Community Life Plan and Social Emotional Environmental Plan, which include participation in age appropriate activities at home and in the community, as well as communication and involvement with family and friends. Oversees and facilitates regular ISP reviews, updates, and revisions.

• Attends and actively participates in critical revision meetings.

• Serves as an ISP team lead, implements ISPs as written or delegating to residential program Supervisor to ensure implementation, reports ISP discrepancies to the Supports Coordinator and other team members, and trains residential staff, as needed, to ensure ISP objectives can be effectively implemented while maintaining the health and safety of consumers.

• Reviews monthly documents of consumer’s participation and progress towards ISP outcomes (e.g., through summary shift notes) and provides copies of quarterly reviews to ISC.

• Obtains documentation and oversees appropriate distribution of ISPs, notes, and 3 month reviews to team members. Obtains appropriate team member and consumer signatures on all related ISP information. 

• Follows up on and finalizes incident management for reportable incidents.

Education/Experience:
· Associate’s degree in social work, psychology, or a related field and 4 years of experience in social services

OR

· Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or a related field and 2 years of experience in social services

OR

· Master's degree in social work, psychology, or a related field and 1 year of experience in social services

· Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST) training required upon hire, based on the availability of the Office of Developmental Programs (ODP)

Pay: $45,000.00 - $49,000.00 per year

Pittsburgh, PA

Benefits for Full Time Employees:

Medical, Dental, and Visions plans effective the 1st of month after 30 days
Flexible Work Schedule
15 paid days off 1st year, 20 Paid days off 2nd year, then continues to increase
Tuition Reimbursement
Discounted Tuition for several local colleges/universities
11 Paid Holidays
Pet Insurance
Employer Paid Short Term and Long Term Disability
401k Plan - Employer match available!
Employer paid life insurance
Critical Illness Diagnosis & Accident Insurance
Yearly performance reviews with merit increase eligibility
FREE Licensure Supervision!!