Direct Care Specialist III

Positions in this job family are involved in providing direct care and supervision to clients with developmental or other disabilities.  This includes basic health care and assistance with health care needs, assisting clients with life skills, including living, vocational, recreational, and educational skills, reviewing treatment plans for appropriateness, and supervising implementation of care and treatment plans.  Other positions are assigned responsibilities involving paraprofessional guidance and instructional work in an institution, shelter, group home, or school.  

The Direct Care Specialist job family consists of five levels, which are distinguished by the complexity of assignments, the level of expertise required to perform the duties assigned, and the responsibility assigned for providing leadership to others.

Level III:  
This is the leadership level of this job family, where employees are assigned responsibility for supervising the direct care specialists assigned to a designated shift or unit within a facility.  This includes ensuring appropriate staffing levels, attending interdisciplinary team evaluation, planning, and review meetings, and ensuring implementation of training and habilitation programs assigned to staff. It also includes reviewing residents/clients progress, treatment, and education plans and making recommendations concerning the development and implementation of treatment plans for individuals.  Positions provide direct supervision including the supervision of the preparation of behavior, progress, and incident reports, assigning and reviewing work; providing training and evaluating performance, approving leave, and initiating disciplinary actions.

Level III:   
Education and Experience requirements at this level consist of two years of experience working with children or adults in a treatment facility for disabled individuals or working with children or adults in a residential or school setting.