Assistant BIS - Nassau County

YAI•Westbury, NY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

YAI is hiring an Assistant Behavior Intervention Specialist (ABIS) for its Residential Services program in Nassau County. The ABIS performs Direct Support Professional duties and provides clinical support for the habilitative, behavioral, and psychiatric needs of people supported, under the direction and supervision of a Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS). The role educates and guides direct care staff and program leadership on habilitative and Behavior Support Plans, supports assessments and interventions, promotes consistent data collection, and provides direct feedback. The ABIS also leads staff on shift when a Program Supervisor or Assistant Supervisor is absent. The position combines direct care, community inclusion planning, staff training, implementation of individualized plans, data collection and documentation, and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams. ABIS staff may lead evening or weekend shifts and help maintain safe, person-centered program operations. Experienced ABIS staff may be assigned to the BIS Department to support multiple programs across a region, with varying assignments and schedules. This is a full-time position with evening schedules: Sunday through Thursday or Tuesday through Saturday. Some flexibility may be required. The compensation is $23.60 per hour.

Requirements

Meet one of the following qualification pathways: a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or a closely related human services discipline and at least six months of relevant experience; formal training including college coursework in a relevant subject and at least two years of relevant experience; or at least four years of direct-care experience in good standing in a YAI program. A satisfactory equivalent combination of education, experience, and training may also qualify.
Relevant experience includes working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and/or supporting adults or children with complex social-emotional, mental health, or behavior-support needs in a group or individual setting.
Be at least 18 years old if newly hired.
Have working knowledge of behavioral and psychiatric conditions, including the interaction between I/DD and other conditions, and be able to gather, document, and communicate related information accurately.
Have strong written and oral communication skills, including professional and objective documentation and progress summaries, and the ability to communicate with staff, clinical teams, external providers, and circles of support.
Be able and willing to lead, direct, and teach others technical skills and knowledge on the job and in formal individual or group training.
Hold and maintain foundational certifications applicable to the service setting: SCIP-R, CPR issued by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association, and YAI-issued AMAP certification for residential assignments or Day Services Model Mentorship Training for day assignments.
Current YAI employees changing settings must obtain the relevant AMAP or Day Services Model Mentorship Training certification and other assignment-specific certifications within three months of appointment.
New hires must obtain and maintain required YAI certifications based on setting and program within six months of appointment.
Maintain foundational and any required program-specific certifications.
Meet the position’s physical demands, including frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling, reaching, and handling objects, tools, or controls; assist with lifting or moving individuals, including with mechanical lifts or other equipment, and push individuals in wheelchairs; lift or move up to 25 pounds on occasion; and be physically able to implement emergency interventions as required by Behavior Support Plans.
Be willing and able to assist with activities of daily living and other supports, including regular exposure to and handling of bodily fluids in accordance with documented plans.
Have strong clinical skills, including the ability to assess and analyze information, draw appropriate conclusions, communicate clinical rationales, compile and compare data, and interpret information.
Remain calm, act assertively, and exercise professional competence and judgment in stressful situations, including challenging behaviors, and work in a fast-paced environment.
Be proficient with computers and electronic systems, including email and Workday and/or related systems such as DA.
Be able to work full-time, including at least one regularly scheduled weekend day, work beyond scheduled hours or shifts, and report as scheduled on holidays, in inclement weather, or during emergencies when needed for program coverage, unless otherwise authorized.
Travel to regional trainings or meetings at designated YAI locations and occasionally within the NYC metropolitan area.
For assignments involving transportation, hold or obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license and Van certification appropriate to the position, location, and program.
For BIS Department assignments, have three years of experience in the I/DD field, including at least one year as an Assistant BIS in a YAI program in good standing.
For BIS Department assignments, be able to travel regularly among programs in the assigned region, work varying schedules or shifts as needed, build productive working relationships quickly, address team challenges, and work effectively with different teams.

Nice To Haves

Active pursuit of a master’s degree in a clinical or treatment field such as psychology, social work, school psychology, or applied psychology.
Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or a closely related human services discipline.
Two or more years of experience working in the I/DD field.

Responsibilities

Perform Direct Support Professional duties and provide for the supervision, protection, care, and person-centered support of individuals in the program.
Identify, facilitate, and schedule community inclusion activities based on the needs and feedback of people supported; coordinate resources, secure funds, and document activities.
Support appropriate supervision levels by communicating updates to staff, documenting changes, and, when needed, running shift meetings, assigning duties, and completing shift sheets.
Use specialized clinical knowledge of individual needs and medical or mental health conditions to provide effective support, identify concerns, and inform staff training and activities.
Stay current on the diagnoses, needs, issues, and supervision levels of people supported, under BIS supervision.
Work with the BIS to identify habilitative, behavioral, and psychiatric needs and ensure programming and clinical interventions are implemented consistently with individualized plans.
Guide program staff by modeling appropriate counseling skills, person-centered practices, and standards of care.
Implement Behavior Support Plans using person-centered approaches, understanding behavior as communication and working to prevent escalation.
Train direct care staff individually, on the floor, and in groups using the EMOE training system; observe staff, provide feedback, communicate clinical rationales, and reinforce appropriate data collection.
Serve as lead trainer for weekend staff and support new staff in developing OPWDD Core Competencies.
Participate in treatment-plan development, including individualized habilitative plans, in collaboration with the BIS.
Assist the BIS with collecting information and data for behavioral and habilitative assessments through observations and input from staff and other relevant sources.
Monitor data collection for habilitative and behavioral goals, ensure data sheets are available, review documentation, retrain staff, and follow up on accuracy and consistency; assist with data-system design as needed.
Complete and maintain required documentation, including data summaries, monthly progress reports, person-centered materials, and psychiatric or therapy anecdotals; assist staff with documentation as needed.
Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and provide feedback on supports, operations, data management, assessments, and programming.
Participate in life-plan, regional assistant, and clinical team meetings; contribute information and complete resulting tasks as directed.
Lead evening, weekend, or other assigned shifts; monitor daily operations and support staff when supervisors or the BIS are absent.
Monitor program operations, staff performance, and the wellness of people supported; address or escalate concerns in coordination with the leadership team.
Maintain required trainings and certifications and apply or teach relevant skills in compliance with YAI policies and applicable regulations.
Comply with Federal, State, Local, and other applicable requirements, including HIPAA.
Operate a YAI vehicle to transport individuals when required by the assignment and when appropriately credentialed.
Perform other duties as assigned.
For BIS Department assignments, provide ABIS coverage across multiple programs and integrate into program teams with flexibility to meet each program’s needs.
For BIS Department assignments, train new staff on behavioral and clinical systems and communicate clinical information to interdisciplinary teams and families as directed by the BIS; track and complete follow-ups across programs.

Benefits

DailyPay access.
Tuition reimbursement.
Medical insurance, with family and expanded-plan options for full-time positions.
Dental insurance.
Vision coverage for full-time positions.
Paid vacation, holiday, and sick time, depending on employment type.
403(b) retirement plan with employer matching contributions.
Life insurance.
Long-term disability coverage.
Discounts on travel, entertainment, wireless services, shopping, and other purchases.