Job Description – Developmental Specialist II

Under general direction of the Clinical Supervisor, the Developmental Specialist II plans, implements, and evaluates prescriptive developmental programs for individuals with developmental disabilities and/or delays; provides functional supervision over developmental technicians; assists in training developmental technicians to conduct developmental programs; performs other duties as required. Provision of developmental services is the Developmental Specialist’s II primary job responsibility.

Individual Related Programming

  • Individual Training: Participates in the development and implementation of training programs to insure that both frequency and quality are adequate; conducts individual, group, and community therapy sessions.
  • Program Evaluation: Monitors and evaluates the progress or the lack thereof, of individuals and recommends treatment plan adjustments.
  • Program Preparations: Identifies and prepares necessary resources and materials needed to facilitate treatment goals.
  • Data Collection: Participates in the data collection process; trains staff in data collections procedures; ensures that data is collected as specified; helps resolve data collection problems/concerns; participates in and oversees data analysis.

Individual Supervision

Supervision of daily routines of individuals involved in treatment activities to ensure that daily schedules, training procedures and safety procedures are followed.

Ensures that any changes in medical status are immediately reported to senior staff; takes necessary emergency action when necessary.

Support Services

Work with individuals to develop independence in household chores by assisting with lunch preparation and everyday cleaning activities.

Record Keeping: Ensures that necessary program documentation is completed in a timely and complete manner.

Ensure maintenance of facility.

Communication

  • Staff Meetings: Attends general staff meetings as requested.
  • Logs/Documentation: Oversee and train staff in appropriate use of Logs/Written Documentation. Uses information in logs/written documentation to communicate with staff as necessary.
  • Developmental Program Training: Demonstrates specific therapy techniques related to the long and short–term objectives; participates in staff training procedures; makes special needs known to senior staff.

Service Related Programming

  • Center, Home and Community–Based Developmental Therapy: Under supervisory direction, initiates, develops, implement, coordinate, and integrate daily living skills therapy to individuals with developmental and learning disabilities into the residential and community setting; and incorporate each individual’s therapeutic treatment modality into Individual Program Plan (IPP) system to encourage development in affective development, communication, and sensory motor areas; ensure that the prescriptive developmental program is efficient, dynamic, and promotes health, comfort, and safety of the individual.
  • Special Services Developmental Program: Under supervisory direction, initiates, develops, implement, and coordinate daily living skills therapy to school–age individuals with developmental and learning disabilities; incorporate each child’s Individual Educational Plan (IEP) and integrate it into Individual Program Plan (IPP) system to encourage development in affective development, communication, and sensory motor areas; ensure that the prescriptive developmental program is efficient, dynamic, and promotes health, comfort, and safety of the individual.
  • Knowledge of: The purpose and administration of developmental and standardized assessment instruments; human growth and developmental patterns; developmental disabilities such as intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and autism; various remediation and treatment programs; individual and group developmental therapy techniques; methods of maximizing development through habilitative and rehabilitative techniques; the contributions of allied health fields; and the principles and practices of supervision.

Minimal Qualifications

  • Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Special Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Speech and Language Pathology, Psychology, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Social Work or Therapeutic Recreation.

– OR –

  • Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in an area not listed above AND completion of a competency course jointly approved by the Department of Health and Welfare and the Idaho Association of Developmental Disabilities Agencies that relates to the job requirements of a Developmental Specialist.
  • Must have a minimum of two hundred forty (240) hours of professionally supervised experience with individuals with disabilities.

Promoting Developmental Specialist I to Developmental Specialist II Position

At least 2,080 hours of GSDC work experience as a Developmental Specialist with individuals with developmental disabilities.