BSS - Cost Pool Team 4

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises•Bethpage, NY

19d•Onsite

About The Position

The Behavior Support Specialist (BSS) implements and evaluates behavior support services for the people they support under the supervision of the Director(s) of Behavior Support. The role includes collecting and reviewing behavioral data, training employees, providing crisis intervention and counseling, participating in case reviews and interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, and consulting with team members. The BSS collaborates with the Director of Behavior Support, each person supported, and their circle of support to provide clinical services aligned with the agency’s mission and vision and the philosophy of the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL). The BSS helps evaluate behavioral data and potential functions of maladaptive behavior, supports the development and implementation of formal behavior modification programs, trains employees, observes implementation and progress, and communicates relevant information to the applicable Director of Behavior Support. The role also provides consultation and crisis support, contributes to required documentation and reports, participates in clinical and educational meetings, and supports alternate locations and caseloads as assigned. This is an in-person, on-site position involving travel between residential and day habilitation programs, hospitals, agency locations, and community locations. The schedule is flexible according to program needs, with varying shift start and end times, two evening days per week, and two weekend days per month. Physical requirements include prolonged sitting, walking, and standing; use of standard office equipment; reaching, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or standing on a stool as needed; and lifting up to 50 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be provided unless they cause undue hardship.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in psychology, human services, sociology, or another related field.
At least one year of experience providing services and supports to individuals with disabilities or in another related human services field.
Valid driver’s license and ability to satisfy agency criteria to be a driver.
Ability to work a flexible schedule based on program needs, including varying shift start and end times, two evening days per week, and two weekend days per month.
Ability to understand and communicate verbally with staff and the individuals served.
Excellent writing, computer, organizational, interpersonal, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
Ability to maintain a calm demeanor when responding to crises.
Ability to identify behavioral crises and situations and escalate them to BIS or DBS as needed.
Ability to meet safety, confidentiality, ethical, documentation, and compliance requirements.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of behavioral principles.

Responsibilities

Assist with reviewing and evaluating behavioral data for target maladaptive behaviors and help the Director of Behavior Support develop and implement formal Behavior Modification Programs.
Assist in analyzing potential functions of maladaptive behavior using baseline procedures and consideration of existing, unplanned, and planned contingencies.
Conduct direct observations of behavior and review records, behavioral data, and verbal or written input from team members, including direct support employees when needed.
Train employees on formal Behavior Modification Programs, including Behavior Support Plans, Behavior Support Staff Action, Behavior Support Symptom Management Plans, and Behavior Support Desensitization Plans.
Observe and assist with monitoring individuals’ progress and team members’ implementation of Behavior Support Plans; communicate relevant information to the applicable Director of Behavior Support to support timely plan revisions.
Assist with staff observations and provide program staff feedback on implementation of Behavior Support Plans.
Instruct staff in specific, proactive, active, reactive, and data-collection procedures that emphasize proactive interventions and adaptive skills.
Provide consultation as needed on crisis intervention, behavior modification programs, diagnostics, and teaching or training programs.
Assist with paperwork for Human Rights Committee meetings and with obtaining informed consent for behaviorally indicated restrictions.
Assist with written and verbal reports to individuals’ psychiatrists and other consultant clinicians when requested.
Provide crisis support to help individuals cope with psychological stressors.
Attend interdisciplinary treatment team, clinical supervision, Behavior Support Department, and other Clinical Services meetings as requested by the direct supervisor.
Attend in-service training, clinical and academic conferences, workshops, and other educational presentations as requested or directed.
Respond to emergencies according to established policies and procedures and communicate about them in a timely manner.
Recommend and facilitate referrals to clinics and private psychologists for individual, conjoint, family, or group therapy when indicated.
Provide team members and collateral providers with accurate, complete, and concise information about individuals’ cognitive and adaptive functioning, needs, evaluation results, and progress on behavior support plans when applicable.
Support alternate locations and caseloads as assigned.
Complete and process required paper and electronic documentation appropriately, promptly, and in accordance with quality and compliance thresholds.
Communicate respectfully with people supported, supervisors, team members, and community members; comply with confidentiality, safety, ethical, and other agency requirements; and participate in required events, meetings, reviews, and committees, including those outside standard working hours.
Perform other duties as assigned.