Residential Program Specialist 1
Address: 501 N 24th St, Phoenix, AZ 85008
Salary: $19.6397
Grade: 15
As an active member of the Sexually Violent Persons Unit, this position provides the care, custody, and control of the residents on the assigned unit. This position works under the direction of a Residential Program Specialist Ill and completes program assignments in a timely and productive manner; interacts on a one-to-one basis or as a group with residents in a helping role in accordance with goals and objectives of unit guidelines; provides activities for residents; assists resident in orientation to the milieu; observes residents for unusual or significant behavior; documents information pertaining to behavioral changes, moods, conversations, reports of physical illness, and objective observations: documents legibly and accurately; writes incident reports in prescribed format; participates in Implementation of crisis intervention and behavior management procedures when a resident is violent, suicidal, or has behavior difficulties; responds to wide variety of incidents; provides for the care of residents through guidance on and assistance as needed with activities of daily living (ADLs) including assisting residents with personal hygiene; environmental hygiene including cleaning of rooms, changing of bedding and washing of linens as needed; assists infirm residents in walking/transferring; assists non-ambulatory and handicapped residents with hygiene needs (showering, changing) as needed, assists handicapped residents with feeding as directed; lift and reposition residents as needed; attends trainings, reads, and studies trainings to increase and expand skillset; utilizes Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) techniques to restrain violent residents as needed, consults with clinical/professional staffing the management of residents; carries out specific security/safety duties to maintain order and discipline in residential area; receives requests from residents to make personal telephone calls and have visits from family and friends; reviews rules and policies with residents; consults with other unit leads and managers, and notifies residents of decisions; operates electronic communication and security equipment and systems in the unit; inspects resident's rooms for cleanliness, order, and compliance with facility policies; searches resident rooms and person for contraband; provides resident escorts inside and outside the facility and into the community when necessary; encourages and assists residents in group or individual recreational, social, and related activities; participates in games, sports, and other recreational activities with residents; participates in unit shift meetings. Required to perform and work at/attend meetings at alternate locations and/or travel when necessary.
-Performs entry level guidance, consultation, and related program assignments in a timely and productive manner, documents case files and records according to prescribed format, serves as program coordinator of residents' treatment programs under the guidance of the Residential Program Specialist II and/or III and/or other clinical and professional staff.
-Interviews residents, complies information, prepares records and documents case files and submits for review.
-Assists in interactions involving discipline and classification of residents; provides crisis intervention and advice as required; discusses with residents the current situation, offers suggestions, helps with perception, self-realization or orientation according to program plan.
-Participates in games, sports, and other recreational activities as part of interaction in accordance with program plan.
-Receives requests from residents to make personal telephone calls and have visits from family and friends; reviews rules with residents and consults with superiors and notifies residents of decisions.
-Attends staff meetings regarding resident activities and progress; participates in discussions and problem-solving processes with clinical and/or other professional staff.
-Attends meetings and contributes as an active member of the interdisciplinary team; confers with clinical and professional staff to agree on decisions and resolve common problems.
-Documents case files and writes incident reports in proper format according to established procedures.
-Provides for the care of residents through guidance on and assistance as needed with activities of daily living (ADLs) including assisting residents with personal hygiene, other duties as assigned as related to the position
| Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs): |
KNOWLEDGE OF:
-Principles and practices of interpersonal communications, dynamics of human behaviors and crisis intervention.
-Compiling and documenting resident files.
-Security, order, and discipline systems and programs.
-Methods of individual and group facilitation and evaluation.
-Institutional work settings.
-Federal, State, and agency laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures governing high security risk residents.
-Policies and procedures of facility objectives of behavioral interventions.
-Methods and techniques of security enforcement.
-Management of difficult populations.
-Performance Management (PM), and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Lean methodologies.
SKILLS IN:
-Methods and techniques of interpersonal communications, crisis intervention, and offender classification systems.
-Methods and techniques of compiling and documenting resident behavioral health records.
-Methods and techniques of security, order, and discipline programs of an institution.
-Coordinating incentive and treatment programs.
-Following Federal, State, and agency laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures governing offenders.
-Oral and written communication as required by the work activities in a residential setting for residents.
ABILITIES TO:
-Observe, learn, and interpret habits and attitudes and behaviors of persons with psychiatric diagnosis and criminal histories, and provide basic care to these individuals.
-Assist in the implementation of treatment plans.
-Follow written and verbal directives as provided by supervisory and/or clinical professional staff.
-Carry out safety and security duties to maintain order and discipline.
-Compile and document resident behavior in prescribed format in the case file.
-Able to rapidly respond to emergency situations and be able to use non-violent crisis intervention techniques, including the application of approved physical interventions when necessary.
-Support a diverse multi-cultural workforce that reflects the community, promotes equal opportunity at all levels of public employment, and creates an inclusive work
environment that enables all individuals to perform to their fullest potential free from discrimination.
ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS:
-Completes all hospital required mandatory education and training requirements;
-Attends and participates in professional workshops, seminars and meetings to all state employment laws and rules
-Adheres to all agency/departmental/hospital policies and procedures
-Participates in the Employee Health Program
-Ensures currency and validity of any required driver or professional license, certification or registration and immediately reports any change of status
-Complies with existing state and hospital fingerprinting requirements and immediately reports all arrests and convictions.
– The ideal candidate will possess previous work experience in the care of psychiatric patients, residents or inmates in a behavioral management program, forensic mental health setting or correctional mental health program
| Pre-Employment Requirements: |
− Requires HSD or GED
- A State Hospital employee must be able to obtain a valid Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1758.07.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain CPR and NVCI certification
- Driving is required for State Business.
- Employees who drive on state business require possession of and the ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver’s license appropriate to the assignment. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete any driver training (See Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.11).
If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.
All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).
The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:
− Affordable medical and dental insurance plans
− Paid vacation and sick time
− 10 paid holidays per year
− Wellness program and plans
− Life insurance
− Short/long-term disability insurance
− Defined retirement plan
− Award winning Infant at Work program
− Credit union membership
− Transit subsidy
− ADHS Student Assistance Pilot Program
This position is eligible for a $5,000 hiring incentive.
Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page
To help you build a financially secure future, the State makes monthly contributions to finance your retirement benefit. The State will make a contribution to the ASRS in an amount equal to your contribution. In other words, you and the State will each pay 50% of the total cost of the benefit. New State employees have a 27 week wait period for contributions to begin.
The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (602) 542-1085. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation. DHS is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All newly hired employees will be subject to E-Verify Employment Eligibility Verification.