HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM SPECIALIST - 67072585 APD/ PATHWAYS

Requisition No: 839146 

Agency: Agency for Persons with Disabilities

Working Title: HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM SPECIALIST - 67072585 APD/ PATHWAYS

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 67072585 

Salary:  $1,391.49- $1,777.41 Biweekly 

Posting Closing Date: 11/01/2024 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

AGENCY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

 POSITION: Human Services Program Specialist- Pathways- Career Service

POSITION NUMBER: 67072585

OPEN COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITY

SALARY RANGE: $1,391.49- $1,777.41 Biweekly. Pay will be determined based on skills/experience for position. 

This posting may close before the posted closing date.

CANDIDATE POOL: Future vacancies may be filled from this advertisement for a period of up to six months.

The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida

Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State’s total compensation package for eligible employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits, including:

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits.
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year.
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options.
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please click www.myfrs.com).
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Tuition waivers.
• And more! For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave.
• https://compcalculator.myflorida.com/

The Agency seeks team members who demonstrate the qualities of being humble, hungry, and smart and lead others to embody the same. This entails lacking excessive ego, sharing credit, being self-motivated, and exercising good judgment and intuition regarding the subtleties of group dynamics. 

This position with APD will serve staff and management across the Agency. Your work will impact the workplace culture, our community, and the population we serve as we continuously strive to achieve the Agency’s mission.

Program Overview

The Developmental Disabilities Defendant Program operates on the campus of Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee and at Sunland in Marianna under the auspices of The State of Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD). The Developmental Disabilities Defendant Program (DDDP) is dedicated to empowering persons with developmental disabilities charged with a felony crime to:

1.         Acquire the skills and supports that will prepare them for success in their future environments.

2.         Acquire the skills needed to become competent to stand trial.

Position Summary

• The incumbent assigned to this position is responsible for research, development and implementation of core curriculum designed to complement and reinforce competency training as well as foster and advance skill acquisition to prepare residents to live, learn and work in the community. Individuals assigned to this position are responsible and accountable for the health, safety, security, and well-being of residents assigned under their respective supervision and will function as a role model for residents to reinforce the behavioral and social skills required to be successful when integrating into community and/or residential environments.  Scope of work and major duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following tasks:
• Under the directive of the HSP Administrator. research, develop, and deploy therapeutic and recreational activities; ensure residents are engaged in structured and planned activities to reinforce training curriculum, minimize behaviors, and increase resident satisfaction. Coordinate rehab and recreational master schedules. Serve as the lead employee to organize, manage, and direct leisure and recreational activities, special activities, and events for residents. This includes but is not limited to creating, planning, and implementing an annual event calendar, updating class rosters weekly, updating Resident schedule changes when needed, ordering supplies for events, and communicating with appropriate staff (security, Managers, Administration, etc.) regarding events. Work in partnership with direct care and other professional staff to ensure that respective leisure and educational opportunities are timely and effectively deployed and properly staffed. Consult with (Supervisor Title) to resolve any conflicts or needs within the Rehab Department.
• Maintain comprehensive records and data collection systems associated with Rehab, Trial Comp, or recreational programs, tracking number of residents served in each class, hours of offered classes, hours attended each day, behavioral data, etc., and provide a monthly report to supervisor. Serve as the designated Rehab representative for all meetings including Support Team meetings (admission, 30-day, 6-month, annual, etc.) by reporting provided progress or lack thereof, rehabilitation assessments, referrals, scheduling, discharge summaries, and support plans. Assist supervisor with analyzing data to evaluate program success or deficiencies.
• Ensure there is adequate coverage for rehab classes by identifying coverage issues, coordinating with other departments to ensure coverage for classes, activities, and other events. Provide coverage for Rehab and recreation classes when necessary. Escort residents as appropriate to ensure their security, safety, and well-being are not compromised.
• Complete and review all appropriate documentation ensuring it is accurate and filled out in accordance with policy and procedure. Audit Rehab Therapists progress notes and other documentation for accuracy, timeliness, and content monthly; submit audit report to Supervisor. Coordinate and conduct routine inventories ensuring all supplies are documented and accounted for. Order and restock supplies in accordance with departmental and budget needs.
• Completes all required training, maintaining agency approved crisis prevention and intervention program certification and CPR certification as required. Maintain timesheet, ensuring accuracy and submit timely in accordance with policy and procedure.
• Other duties as assigned.

The Work You Will Do 

Pathways is a 34-bed all male forensic facility working with individuals with disabilities in a secure setting.  These individuals have been adjudicated by the courts as incompetent to proceed to trial and have significant behavioral and psychiatric issues.  Pathways provides rehabilitative, vocational, and daily living skills training to the individuals served which allows for a smooth transition back into a non-secure residential or community setting.  

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of one of the allied health field disciplines or one of the rehabilitative sciences.
• Knowledge of interviewing techniques.
• Ability to interview clients to identify needs.
• Ability to plan and conduct rehabilitation therapy programs.
• Ability to prepare reports.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to write evaluation and progress reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to maintain the required Prevention and Safety Strategies certification.

Minimum Qualifications

•           A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a focus on one of the behavioral, rehabilitative, or social sciences, allied health, education, music therapy, music education, or music, special education, leisure studies with course work in therapeutic recreation, or horticulture therapy and one year of professional or nonprofessional experience with individuals with disabilities.

•           A master’s degree from an accredited college or university can substitute for one year of the required experience.

•           Based on the duties and essential functions of this position, incumbents will perform duties which involves direct contact with residents in a secure forensic facility. This position requires lifting, pulling and squatting.

•           Employees of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities are required to demonstrate total commitment to outstanding customer service. This includes, but is not limited to, acting in a responsive, professional, courteous manner with the employees, customers and public we serve at all times.

•           Based on the duties and essential functions of this position, incumbents will be required to spend a minimum of 75% of work time performing duties which involves direct contact with residents in a secure forensic facility.  This position requires lifting, pulling and squatting.

•           To support the goal of establishing APD as the most sought-after place to work in Florida, the employee will create an environment that cultivates people and transforms teams by increasing transparency and providing opportunities for professional development. The employee actively works to demonstrate the qualities of being humble, hungry, and smart and leads others to embody the same. The team member lacks excessive ego, shares credit, is self-motivating and exercises good judgement and intuition around the subtitles of group dynamics.

Additional Information

We are dedicated to empowering persons with developmental disabilities charged with a felony crime to acquire the skills needed to become competent to stand trial, and to acquire the skills and supports that will prepare them for success in their future environments.

Recruiting Contact:      

Jodi NeSmith      

Recruitment Manager- Developmental Disabilities Defendant Program & Pathways  

Agency for Persons with Disabilities      

Telephone: (850) 793-7075

Email: jodi.nesmith@apdcares.org

Profile Completion

Applicants must complete all fields in the Candidate Profile, including their work history within the month and year, to qualify for this position. 

Responses to Qualifying Questions must be verifiable in the Candidate Profile, and “see resume” will not be considered an acceptable response.

Resumes and other documentation can be attached to provide additional information, but this will not replace the required completed Candidate Profile.

Retiree Notice

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you will be required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

Direct Deposit Program

As a condition of employment, a person appointed to a position in the State Personnel System is required to participate in the Direct Deposit Program.  Rather than receiving a paper paycheck, your funds will be deposited directly into your account at your financial institution. This will be accomplished by Electronic Funds Transfer. Banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions are eligible to accept such deposits. Retirement funds are also required to be in the Direct Deposit Program.

Background Screening Requirement

It is the policy of the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities that applicants for employment undergo Level 2 employment screening in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, Florida Statutes, as a condition of employment or being permitted to serve as a volunteer.

No applicant for a designated position will be employed or permitted to volunteer until the Level 2 screening results are received, reviewed, and approved by the Agency.
Level 2 background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for Statewide criminal and juvenile records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Federal criminal records checks through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and may include local criminal records checks through local law enforcement agencies.

Pursuant to S. 110.1127(1), Florida Statutes, this position requires a background investigation, including fingerprinting.

APD only hires U.S. citizens, and those lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. APD participates in the U.S. government’s employment eligibility verification program (E-verify). E-verify is a program that electronically confirms an employee’s eligibility to work in the U.S. after completing the employment eligibility verification form (I-9).

All applicants should complete the online application process.  If assistance is needed to apply for this position, please call the people first service center at 1-877-562-7287. 

Responses to the qualifying questions are required to be considered for this position. Answers to the qualifying questions must be verifiable based on your submitted application.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS’ PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.