State of Maryland

A Habilitation Technician is the full performance level of work providing maintenance programs and services to clients with multiple handicaps within State facilities or community-based programs.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a licensed Qualified Developmental Disability Professional.  Employees are assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts which may include holidays and weekends.  They are also subject to call-in and overtime based on the facility's staffing requirements.  Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and the spread of disease.  Employees may be required to physically restrain clients displaying violent, aggressive behavior.  The work may require lifting clients, wheelchairs and heavy equipment.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

Carries out individual maintenance programs for range of motion exercises and specific position techniques for individual clients;

Monitors and inspects equipment used by individual clients and determines the need to adapt or repair equipment;

Visits day program sites to observe clients and to ensure the proper implementation of therapy maintenance and services programs by other staff members;

Observes reactions of developmentally disabled clients to determine functional symptoms and achievement levels;

Gathers information for documentation of individual client's response to therapy maintenance and services programs;

Reports any negligence in the implementation of the individual client therapy maintenance program to the developmental disabilities professional;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of limitations and capabilities of developmentally disabled clients;

Knowledge of the methods used to treat and habilitate the developmentally disabled;

Knowledge of federal and State procedures and guidelines concerning the care and treatment of the developmentally disabled;

Skill in motivating, positioning and controlling developmentally disabled clients;

Skill in observing the reactions of developmentally disabled clients in order to recognize functional symptoms and achievement levels of treatment goals;

Skill in inspecting the use of wheelchairs and adaptive equipment used in the therapeutic maintenance program;

Ability to determine the appropriate care and maintenance of adaptive equipment used by developmentally disabled individuals;

Ability to carry out emergency procedures for the protection and safety of developmentally disabled individuals;

Ability to learn to perform specific positioning techniques and range of motion exercises for developmentally disabled individuals;

Ability to understand and follow specific directions concerning care and maintenance tasks.

Education:   Completion of 60 credit hours at an accredited college or university with a minimum of 15 credits in health or human services, education or the behavioral sciences.

Experience: One year of experience providing direct client services in a developmental disability or similar therapeutic setting.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute an Associate of Arts or Bachelor's degree that includes specialization specialization in the field of developmental disabilities, mental health, or closely related area and a supervised clinical practicum in a developmental disabilities or similar behavior modification setting for the required education and experience.

2. Candidates may substitute additional experience providing rehabilitation services in a developmental disability setting at the rate of one year of experience for 30 credits of the required education.

1. Applicants for this classification may be given a medical examination, after an offer of employment and prior to appointment, to demonstrate the ability to perform the work required of the position.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to call 24 hours a day and, therefore, will be required to provide the employing agency with a telephone number where they can be reached.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit D- Health and Human Service Nonprofessionals classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.