Developmental Specialist 1 (40 Hour)
About The Position
The State of Connecticut, Department of Developmental Services (DDS) – South Region – is accepting applications for a Developmental Specialist 1 position assigned to DDS Public Programs in Wallingford, CT. DDS is seeking a dedicated and compassionate professional to join our team and play a critical role in promoting the health, safety, well-being, and quality of life of the individuals we support. In this position, you will have the opportunity to apply your expertise in behavioral and developmental services while working as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team. As a Developmental Specialist 1, you will develop and implement behavioral programs and individual treatment plans, observe and assess individual behavior, collect and analyze behavioral and environmental data, and train direct care staff in the effective implementation of treatment strategies. You will collaborate with families, direct care staff, allied professionals, and community partners to develop individualized approaches that support positive outcomes and meaningful participation in the community. You will also contribute to behavioral analysis, rehabilitation, program development and evaluation, educational and vocational assessment, research, and community outreach. Your responsibilities may include providing individual and group therapy and family counseling, conducting and interpreting assessments, preparing comprehensive reports and progress notes, participating in clinical and interdisciplinary case conferences, and providing consultation based on your specialized expertise. You may also have the opportunity to serve as a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP). If you are looking for a rewarding career where your knowledge, compassion, and dedication can make a lasting difference in the lives of others, we encourage you to apply today and become part of the DDS team!
Requirements
- 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
- One (1) year of experience in treating and/or working with the individuals in the appropriate specialty serviced by the agency
- Knowledge of general psychological theory and its application to treatment, rehabilitation and research programs
- Knowledge of statistics, data interpretation and experimental design
- Knowledge of diagnostic procedures and their use in developing treatment plans
- Considerable interpersonal skills
- Oral and written communication skills
- Ability to develop treatment plans
- Ability to conduct individual and group psychotherapy
- Ability to provide consultation and training services
- Ability to utilize computer software
Nice To Haves
- Experience working with adults with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) and/or Developmental disorders
- Experience providing clinical behavior support for individuals living in supported settings in the community
- Experience writing behavioral guidelines and Positive Behavior Support Plans
- Experience collecting behavioral data to guide interventions and treatment
- Experience with complex clinical needs of individuals with significant mental health struggles and forensic involvement
- Experience 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
Responsibilities
- 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
Benefits
- Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities
- A healthy work-life balance
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
