Review Vacancy
AgencyPeople With Developmental Disabilities, Office for
TitleRehabilitation Counselor 2
Occupational CategoryOther Professional Careers
Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)
Salary RangeFrom $59671 to $75785 Annually
Appointment Type Contingent Permanent
Minimum Qualifications • Current permanent, competitive NY state employee in the title of Rehabilitation Counselor 2, grade 19
OR
• Current permanent, competitive NY state employee eligible for 70.1 transfer by way of current status in a title deemed comparable to Rehabilitation Counselor 2 by the Department of Civil Service.
Duties Description POSITION DESCRIPTION:
The NYS OPWDD Senior Companion Program (SCP), under the authorization of the federal Corporation for National and Community Service, provides an opportunity for limited income people, age 55 and older, to provide assistance and friendship to adults with developmental disabilities. Senior Companions (SC’s) are volunteers who spend from 15 to 40 hours a week helping adult individuals live as independently as possible. In return (SC’s) receive a tax-free stipend, meal or reimbursement while on duty, travel reimbursement, vacation, sick, personal and holiday paid leave, but most importantly they experience the personal satisfaction of knowing that they are making a difference in the lives of the folks they serve as well as their own.
PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Coordinate the Senior Companion Program local component
Coordinate the (SCP) local component in accordance with OPWDD and Federal (CNCS) regulations and requirements.
• Office Work
o Voucher preparation and entry for SC stipends, travel and meals.
o Senior Companion Program System (SCPS) information entered, updated, and kept current.
o Record keeping and recording.
o Telephone, filing, copying, meetings, etc.
o Execute and Update Memorandums of Understanding/Agreement.
• Site Visits and Contacts
o Visit all sites at least 4 times a year.
o Frequent telephone contact with Site Liaisons.
o Attend site functions.
• Training
o Conduct orientation training for new SC’s.
o Conduct or arrange for sites to provide an average of 4 hours a month in-service training to the SC’s.
o Train Site Liaisons and SC’s in Programming for Impact and data collection.
o Arrange for SC’s to receive the federal required 24 hour training yearly.
• Recruiting/New Site Development
o Develop and implement recruiting campaigns.
o Establish new community based sites within Sunmount’s 6-county catchment area.
o New Site Development Form and Memorandum of Understanding/ Agreement developed and sent for approval by SCP Project Director and Administration.
o Maintain present sites, fill vacancies or expand number of SC’s at the site, as allocated by project director.
• Volunteer Coordinator
o Recruit volunteers from the community to support individuals and programs.
o Community Education Program-works with school districts to raise awareness about people with disabilities; supervise and assist the Public Education Specialist with scheduling and classroom work as needed
• Recognition
o Plan and implement one formal recognition event yearly.
o Informal site recognitions.
• Advocacy and Counseling
o Advocate for the rights and needs of SC’s as elderly low income individuals.
o Provide counseling and guidance to SC’s to help resolve both on the job and personal problems.
• Other Duties as Assigned.
Additional Comments ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
• If you are employed by state government you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments have been made under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. For more information on PSLF, please visit www.studentAid.gov/publicservice.
• Employees on long term leave can bid on positions but must be able to report to work within fourteen (14) days and be able to perform the essential functions of their positions with or without reasonable accommodation (RA). If an employee believes that he or she needs a reasonable accommodation, they should contact the NYS OPWDD Workforce and Talent Management Central Office (518) 473-9689 or Email at accommodationrequests@opwdd.ny.gov to obtain information and RA forms.
• For CSEA positions: Local Bidding Agreements will be honored.
• Preference will be given to OPWDD employees impacted by closures. If you are being impacted by closure, please indicate this on your resume/cover letter.
• In order to be eligible for appointment and to maintain employment, you cannot be listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of the Federal and/or State Medicaid and Medicare exclusion lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program). If you are appointed and subsequently listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of these lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program), you may be terminated from your employment.
• OPWDD is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Interested candidates should submit a cover letter detailing how you meet the minimum qualifications and should fax a current resume to the Capital District DDSO Human Resources Office. Please provide your social security number for service certification and transfer eligibility determination process. Please be sure to include the vacancy number on this announcement on your resume:
Capital District DDSO
Human Resources Office
Building 1
500 Balltown Road
Schenectady, New York 12304
Phone: 518-388-0838
Fax: 518-370-7536
Email: odh.personnel@opwdd.ny.gov
Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.