Developmental Services Worker Dds Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Introduction

\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDo you have experience providing professional services to individuals with an intellectual disability OR delivering special education in an accredited school system? If so, we welcome you to consider the Developmental Services Transition Advisor position below!\r\nTheState of Connecticut, Developmental Services (DDS) - West Region - is accepting applications for one (1) full-time Developmental Services Transition Advisor position in Stratford, CT.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe Developmental Services Transition Advisor plays a critical role in supporting individuals with developmental disabilities as they prepare for and navigate the transition from school-based services to adult life. This position provides expert consultation, guidance, and advocacy to individuals, families, legal guardians, educational teams, and service providers to promote successful, person-centered outcomes.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWorking collaboratively with schools, community partners, families, and Department of Developmental Services (DDS) staff, the Transition Advisor applies principles of self-advocacy, self-determination, self-direction, employment readiness, person-centered planning, peer support, and assistive technology to help individuals achieve their goals and maximize independence. The position assists with transition planning, eligibility determination, service coordination, and resource navigation while ensuring access to appropriate educational, community, health, and employment supports.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe Transition Advisor participates in interdisciplinary planning meetings, evaluates transition services and supports, analyzes data and trends affecting program eligibility and service delivery, develops educational materials and training opportunities, and contributes to individualized budget development. Through collaboration, consultation, and advocacy, this role helps ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families are equipped with the knowledge, resources, and support necessary to achieve meaningful and successful transitions into adulthood.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nPosition Highlights: PCN 15714 \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Location: Stratford, CT\r\n Full-time | 1st Shift | 37.5 hours per week\r\n Monday - Friday | 8:30 am - 4:30 pm\r\n Regular Days Off | Saturday and Sunday\r\n However, must be flexible to meet the needs of the agency.\r\n Will be required to travel and transport individuals between multiple locations to various CT-based groups, meetings, officers, presentations, special events, etc.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhat we can offer you:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n View our State Employee Benefits Overview page!\r\n Professional growth and paid professional development opportunities.\r\n A healthywork-life balance to all employees!\r\n The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click here for more information.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDDS Mission Statement:\r\nThe mission of the Department of Developmental Servicers is to partner with the individuals we support and their families, to support lifelong planning and to join with others to create and promote meaningful opportunities for individuals to fully participate as valued members of their communities.\r\n\r\n\r\n

Selection Plan

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must be a current State of CT employee, who has worked for the state for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.\r\nFOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:\r\nCheck out our Applicant Tips on How to Apply! Need more resources? Visit our Applicant Reference Library for additional support throughout the recruitment process.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBEFORE YOU APPLY:\r\n\r\n\r\n Meet Minimum Qualifications: Ensure you meet the Minimum Qualifications listed on the job opening by the job closing date. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements listed must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. \r\n Educational Credits: List your earned credits and degrees from accredited institutions accurately on your application. To receive educational credits towards qualification, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the contact listed below. \r\n Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69, resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.\r\n Preferred Shift/Location:Select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.\r\n Timely Submission: All application materials must be received by the job posting deadline. You will be unable to make revisions once you officially submit your application to the State. Late submissions are rarely accepted, with exceptions only for documented events that incapacitate individuals during the entire duration of the job posting. Request exceptions by emailing DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.\r\n Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.\r\n Note: The only way to apply to this posting is via the 'Apply' or 'Apply Online' buttons on the official State of Connecticut Online Employment Center job posting.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAFTER YOU APPLY:\r\n\r\n\r\n Referral Questions: This posting may require completion of additional Referral Questions (RQs), which must be completed by the questionnaire's expiration date. If requested, RQs can be accessed via an email sent to you after the job close date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section).\r\n Prepare For An Interview: Interviews are limited to those whose experience and training are most aligned with the role. To prepare, review this helpful Interview Preparation Guide to make the best impression!\r\n Stay connected! Log in daily to your JobAps Personal Status Board to track your status and check email (including spam/junk folders) for updates and tasks.\r\n The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.\r\n Note: This position will be filled in accordance with contractual language, reemployment, SEBAC, transfer, promotion and merit employment rules. Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State employees, available at www.ct.gov/ethics. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nQUESTIONS? WE'RE HERE TO HELP:\r\nDue to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Rocky Young at Rocky.Young@ct.gov\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIf you require an accommodation to participate fully and fairly under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Edward Magnano, EEO Manager at (860) 418 - 6148 orEdward.Magnano@ct.gov\r\n

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Developmental Services this class is accountable for independently providing consultation and assistance to individuals with an intellectual disability, and their families and legal guardians, to understand the individual's educational rights and opportunities and to plan, prepare and achieve a successful transition from secondary school to adult life and/or to plan, prepare for and achieve a successful transition into meaningful employment.\r\n

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

\r\n\r\n Guides individuals and their families or guardians in the formulation of a transition plan;\r\n Provides information about the department to the individuals, families education and other team members in the school system and state and private agencies;\r\n Assists individuals and their families to identify, navigate, obtain and coordinate needed health, community education, or employment services;\r\n Consults and assists in the completion of the Level of Need (LON) assessment for individuals in conjunction with schools and families to determine eligibility for department programs and state and federal resources as needed;\r\n Attends and participates in the school district interdisciplinary Planning and Placement Team (PPT) or Department of Developmental Services Individual Planning (IP) meetings for individual transition planning purposes;\r\n Provides consultation to the PPT/IP regarding individual profile information and recommends needed testing (not limited to behavioral, adaptive, physical/occupational therapy, sensory, vocational), accommodations or modifications to further plan and develop for a successful transition;\r\n Evaluates education and services provided by the school or department in support of the transition plan;\r\n Gathers, interprets and analyzes data to determine trends impacting agency eligibility and program services;\r\n Develops transition educational materials and provides related in-service training;\r\n Prepares case notes, prepares reports summarizing consultation services provided and maintains relevant documentation;\r\n Assists the department Case Manager in the development of individualized budgets;\r\n Performs related duties as required.\r\n\r\n\r\n

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

\r\n Considerable knowledge of\r\n \r\n relevant agency policies and procedures;\r\n intellectual disabilities, individual-centered planning and Individual Education Plans and Individual Plans;\r\n developmental, educational and employment milestones;\r\n and ability to apply the principles of self-determination and the department's Employment Initiative;\r\n \r\n \r\n Knowledge of\r\n \r\n relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;\r\n educational school systems, educational assessments and teaching practices;\r\n businesses and community resources;\r\n cultural competencies;\r\n \r\n \r\n Considerable\r\n \r\n interpersonal skills;\r\n oral and written communications skills;\r\n \r\n \r\n Ability to\r\n \r\n counsel individuals and design and implement family interventions;\r\n utilize computer software.\r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

A Bachelor's degree in education, educational counseling, social work, special education, vocational rehabilitation or a closely related field from an accredited college or university and two (2) years of professional experience in one of the following:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Providing professional services to individuals with an intellectual disability.\r\n\r\nOR\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Delivering special education services in an accredited school system.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

A Master's degree in education, educational counseling, social work, special education, vocational rehabilitation or a closely related field and one (1) year of the professional experience noted above may be substituted for the General Experience.\r\n

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

\r\n Experience working with school systems, education assessments, Person -Centered Planning, LifeCourse Tools, and educational teaching practices.\r\n Experience with the application of best practice in educational and vocational planning for transition-aged individuals.\r\n Experience working with businesses, community resources, and community partners.\r\n Experience with State and Federal benefit programs.\r\n Experience with Peer to Peer Supports and mentor support models.\r\n Experience with disability rights, disability laws, voting and self-advocacy.\r\n Experience presenting at transition/informational events/conferences for various stakeholders (Youth, Families, Educational Professionals, etc.)\r\n Experience leading, advising, and mentoring Self-Advocates and Self-Advocacy groups on a variety of advocacy-based focus areas.\r\n Public Speaking and group facilitation for providers, staff, and partner agencies. (Large and small virtual and in-person presentations.)\r\n Experience with the application of diversity, inclusion, and cultural competencies as they relate to individuals, students, families, and providers.\r\n Experience with data collection, electronic notation and managed output through multiple databases/spreadsheets/platforms within quality information sources to measure progress and efficacy.\r\n Experience with Microsoft Office and products, including Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, Publisher, and Video Editing Software.\r\n\r\n

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

\r\n\r\n Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.\r\n Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER\r\nThe State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.\r\n

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.\r\n