Human Services Practitioner (ITDS Early Steps)

University of South Florida • Tampa, FL

72d

About The Position

A Human Services Practitioner provides direct intervention, action research, training, and consultative services for/to agencies, families, and individuals with various social services programs, developmental disabilities and/or special needs. This position requires a qualified human services professional who will provide direct assistance to clients, or serve as case manager to coordinate the delivery of services to clients.

Nature of Work: This position typically reports to a Program Director, Assistant Program Director, faculty member, or other appropriate administrator in a university department or program. A Human Services Practitioner typically specializes in one area within a broad range of community outreach and human services programs, such as Autism and related disabilities, working with relative caregivers and their families, providing education and counseling to Pediatric HIV individuals/families, providing case management to students for specific disabilities or needs, providing intensive behavioral training/support to educators, families and students, or other areas of social and human services programming. A Human Services Practitioner applies professional education, training, and experience to determine appropriate courses of action for clients, conducts action research in field settings, and provides training to clients, families, schools, communities and other professionals regarding a specific behavioral, social or health problems. This position's requirement for specialized training, along with its assigned duties, must be deemed to meet the requirements for exempt status under the Professional duties exemption of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Work assignments require interaction with clients, including children, adolescents, parents, teachers, and agency staff.

Candidates with the appropriate backgrounds whom would be eligible to earn the ITDS certification through mentorship and other internal trainings.

This position will be located in Polk County

The Human Services Practitioner is responsible for providing multidisciplinary evaluation and direct intervention for children with a diverse range of developmental needs. As part of a multidisciplinary team and as an individual provider, the HSP assists families in meeting IFSP goals by providing early intervention services in the natural environment, in accordance with Part C and Medicaid procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or Master's degree level in Education, Special Education, Psychology, Social Work, or other field appropriate to the program content.
• Bachelor's degree candidates must have at least two years of applicable experience.
• The Master's degree may substitute for the required experience.
• Specific certifications or licensures may be required or preferred for certain program areas.

Responsibilities

• Designs, develops, coordinates, and conducts training and consultation to families, schools and community service agencies regarding a specific need/problem.
• Monitors, documents and evaluates the results of these activities.
• Provides consultation to individuals with disabilities/problems and their families.
• Provides on-site and phone consultation related to behavior support.
• Provides consultation to other professionals and support personnel on specific disabilities/needs.
• Works collaboratively with school district staff, families and outside agency representatives to build capacity for using positive, effective approaches to behavioral intervention.
• Assists district personnel in designing and implementing training activities focused on positive behavior support.
• Develops written action plans to provide technical and problem solving assistance to clients.
• Develops and co-facilitates support groups for families/caregivers; helps link them to local providers of care.
• Delivers in-service training to educator, families, and service providers, such as awareness presentations, topic focused workshops, and comprehensive community based training.
• Presents awareness training and activities to the public, including developing and providing materials.
• Coaches, mentors, and provides consultation to youth/students, assessing individual strengths and weaknesses.
• Develops Individual Service Plan to track student's progress and assist with Post secondary choices.
• Works closely with school administrative staff in recommending solutions and determining appropriate disciplinary actions for students in a program.
• May draft and recommend to the supervisor new policies and procedures to improve program activities and results.
• May complete regular home visits to discuss child's development, complete developmental activity, and discuss unresolved issues. Provides intensive case management to entire family.
• Attends community meetings and events; makes presentations to community partners; serves on appropriate community committees.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees