Assistant Behavior Intervention Specialist

YAI • Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Behavior Intervention Specialist (ABIS) plays a crucial role in supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and complex behavioral needs. This position involves performing direct support duties, leading community inclusion activities, providing clinical support, training staff, and contributing to treatment plan development. The ABIS works under the supervision of a Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS) to ensure the overall supervision, protection, and care of individuals, maximizing their strengths and facilitating community connections. Experienced ABIS may also support multiple programs across a region.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or closely related Human Services discipline and at least six (6) months of experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and/or supporting adults or children with complex social-emotional, mental health and/or behavior support needs in a group or individual setting (home program, day treatment center, school, ABA environment, etc.)
• OR Formal training, including college coursework in psychology, sociology, human behavior, mental health, special education and/or I/DD and at least two (2) years of experience as described above
• OR At least four (4) years of experience in a direct care role (e.g. DSP) in a YAI program in good standing
• Working knowledge of behavioral/psychiatric conditions, including the interplay between I/DD and other conditions and ability to effectively gather, document and accurately communicate related information to staff, clinical team and/or external providers
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills including the ability to professionally, coherently and objectively document services provided and summarize progress for billing and tracking purposes and to effectively convey information regarding individuals supported across various levels and with external providers or circles of support
• Ability and willingness to lead, direct and teach others technical skills and/or knowledge, both on-the-job and through formal training in group or individual settings
• Must hold foundational certifications for current service setting: Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention – Revised (SCIP-R), CPR (issued by American Red Cross or American Heart Association) and YAI-issued Approved Medication Administration Personnel (AMAP) certification for residential assignments or Day Services Model Mentorship Training for day assignments.
• Current YAI employees changing settings must obtain AMAP (for new residential assignment) or Day Services Model Mentorship Training (for new day assignment) and any additional certifications as required by program assignment and persons supported within three (3) months of appointment
• Newly hired employees must obtain (and maintain) required YAI certifications based on setting and program within six (6) months of appointment
• Must maintain foundational certifications (as described above) and any required program-specific certifications
• OR Satisfactory equivalent combination of education, experience and/or training; however, all newly hired employees must be at least 18 years old.
• Ability to meet essential physical demands of position including frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling and reaching with hands and arms; use hands to handle, finger or feel objects, tools or controls; assisting with lifting/moving individuals of any weight with assistance of mechanical lifts or other equipment and/or pushing individuals in wheelchairs; lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds on occasion; having the physical capacity to work with and implement emergency interventions as per the person’s Behavior Support Plan if/as needed, including lifting/moving individuals of any weight with or without assistance of equipment and/or other staff.
• Ability and willingness to assist with a variety of supports and ADLs, including regular exposure to and handling of various bodily fluids with limited direction and in accordance with documented plans.
• Strong clinical skills including the ability to assess and analyze information or draw appropriate conclusions, communicate clinical rationales, effectively compile, compare and aggregate data/information; and interpret information.
• Ability to remain calm, act assertively and display professional competence and good judgment in stressful situations, including with challenging individuals or behaviors and work in a high energy, fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with computers and electronic systems including email, utilizing Workday and/or related systems (DA, etc.) to complete tasks.
• Ability to work on a full-time basis, including at least one regularly scheduled weekend day and to work beyond regularly scheduled hours/shift and/or to report to work as scheduled on holidays, in inclement weather or during other emergencies to maintain minimum coverage requirements of program, unless otherwise authorized.
• Ability to travel to regional trainings or meetings at designated YAI locations within assigned region and to locations within NYC metro area on occasion.
• For assignments that require transporting persons supported by vehicle, must hold or obtain and maintain valid Driver’s License and Van certification (based on position/location/program).
• Three (3) years of experience working within I/DD field, including at least one (1) year as an Assistant BIS in a YAI program in good standing (for BIS Department assignments)
• Ability to regularly travel to several programs within assigned region and work varying schedules/shifts, as needed (for BIS Department assignments)
• Ability to quickly develop productive working relationships, address team challenges and work effectively with various teams (for BIS Department assignments)

Nice To Haves

• Active pursuit of a Master’s degree in clinical or treatment field of psychology, social work, school psychology or applied psychology
• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work or closely related Human Services discipline
• Two (2) or more years of experience working within the field of I/DD

Responsibilities

• Performs all duties of a Direct Support Professional (DSP 1 – 3) and ABIS duties to ensure the supervision, protection, and care of individuals, assisting in maximizing their strengths, interests, and abilities while upholding their personal rights and facilitating community connections.
• Leads the identification, facilitation, and scheduling of community inclusion activities for assigned programs based on feedback and needs of persons supported, coordinating resources, securing funds, and ensuring documentation.
• Supports the provision of appropriate, therapeutically documented levels of supervision to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of individuals, communicating updates and changes to staff and documenting appropriately. May run shift meetings, assign duties, complete shift sheets, and make recommendations to ensure staff are qualified.
• Uses specialized clinical knowledge of person-specific needs and signs/symptoms of ailments/conditions to provide effective supports, identify and escalate concerns to leadership, and inform activities, training, or specialized education for staff.
• Stays up-to-date with current issues, diagnoses, needs, and levels of supervision for persons supported in the assigned program under the supervision of BIS.
• Works with BIS to identify habilitative, behavioral, and psychiatric needs and ensures programming and activities related to clinical interventions are implemented consistently, in accordance with individualized plans.
• Provides guidance to program staff, setting the appropriate tone, ensuring standards of care are followed by modeling excellent counseling skills, and using person-centered philosophy and tools.
• Implements Behavior Support Plans, demonstrating understanding of behavior as communication and employing person-centered thinking to support positive interactions and prevent escalation.
• Trains direct care staff individually, on the floor, and/or in groups using the EMOE training system to support effective implementation of habilitative and behavioral programming through observations, feedback, communicating clinical rationales, and ensuring appropriate data collection.
• Serves as lead trainer for weekend staff and supports new staff in developing and demonstrating OPWDD Core Competencies.
• Participates in the development of treatment plans, including individualized habilitative plans, collaborating with BIS to write services, goals, outcomes, and/or supports in accordance with agency philosophy.
• Assists BIS with gathering and collecting data for formal and informal behavioral and habilitative assessments by conducting observations and/or soliciting information from other staff, circles of support, or other sources.
• Monitors the collection of data used to assess progress toward habilitative and behavioral goals, ensuring data sheets are accessible, staff are consistently and accurately collecting data, and reviewing documentation, retraining staff, and following up as needed. May assist with designing data collection systems.
• Completes and maintains all required paperwork and documentation for persons supported, including compiling, totaling, and summarizing data, writing monthly progress reports, and completing person-centered materials. Reviews and ensures psychiatric/therapy anecdotals are complete and assists other staff with documentation.
• Attends and actively participates in team meetings as a member of the interdisciplinary team (IDT), consulting to ensure streamlined care and providing feedback to improve supports and program operations.
• Regularly participates in life plan and other meetings for persons supported and in regional assistant or other clinical team meetings, providing information, contributing to agendas, and completing tasks as directed.
• Serves as lead on weekend and evening shifts or when otherwise requested, monitoring day-to-day program operations and providing support to staff in the absence of Program Supervisor, Assistant Supervisor, and/or BIS.
• Maintains awareness of program operations, staff performance, and the condition/wellness of persons supported through regular interactions and observations, working with the leadership team to address, resolve, or escalate concerns.
• Completes and maintains all necessary trainings and certifications, including specialized trainings, to ensure compliance with YAI policies and regulations.
• Complies with all Federal, State, Local, and other relevant regulatory agency requirements, including HIPAA.
• May be required to operate a YAI motor vehicle to transport individuals.
• Performs all other duties, as assigned.
• Provides support and coverage by performing ABIS tasks for multiple programs across assigned region, with assignments of varying length, frequency, and schedule.
• Integrates into assigned program teams, demonstrating flexibility and providing training on behavioral/clinical systems to new staff.
• Obtains and effectively communicates behavioral/clinical information to interdisciplinary teams and families as directed by the BIS and ensures tracking and completion of follow-ups across multiple programs.

Benefits

• DailyPay available - Work today, get paid today!
• Tuition reimbursement
• Medical and dental insurance (with options for family and more extensive medical plans, as well as vision)
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick time
• 403(b) retirement with employer match
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Discounts on travel, entertainment, wireless services, shopping, and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level