BEHAVIOR SUPPORT SPECIALIST (4650)

The House of The Good Shepherd • Utica, NY

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Behavior Support Specialist will be responsible for providing services to children with serious emotional disturbance. This role requires a commitment to the Seven Commitments of the Sanctuary Model and involves working with children to promote their growth and development. The specialist will need to understand the basic needs and developmental issues of children, ask age and developmentally appropriate questions, actively listen to their responses, and develop warm, positive, and nurturing relationships. Responsibilities include following mandated reporting requirements for child abuse and neglect, practicing infection control, and using knowledge of developmental milestones to assist children. The specialist will interact with children during meals, promoting appropriate social behavior, and apply knowledge of child development to plan and implement developmentally appropriate activities and environments. Adapting activities and environments to meet individual needs and identifying developmentally appropriate behavior are key aspects of this role. Observation will be used to understand children's interests and developmental levels.

Requirements

• Master's degree in a human services field OR Bachelor's degree in Occupation Therapy with two years' experience in providing services to children with serious emotional disturbance.
• Bachelor's degree in a human services field OR certification as an Occupational Therapy Assistant with four years accepted as a substitute for the above requirement.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Organized and efficient.
• Working knowledge of relevant regulatory and accreditation standards and requirements.
• Willingness and ability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends consistent with restraint utilization patterns.
• Understanding of basic needs and developmental issues of children.
• Asks age and developmentally appropriate questions and actively listens to children's responses.
• Develops a warm, positive, nurturing relationship with each child.
• Follows mandated reporting requirements regarding child abuse and neglect.
• Practices infection control, including appropriate hand washing procedures.
• Uses knowledge of developmental milestones, assists children in participating at their individual level of interest and ability.
• Interacts with children during meal and snack times, promoting appropriate social behavior.
• Applies knowledge of child development to plan and implement developmentally appropriate activities and environments.
• Adapts activities and environments to meet the special needs and situations of individual children.
• Identifies developmentally appropriate behavior and reasonable expectations for children's behavior.
• Uses observation as a way to 'get to know' children — their interests and developmental levels.
• Valid New York State driver's license.

Nice To Haves

• Computer proficiency including word processing, spread sheet and data base management preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide services to children with serious emotional disturbance.
• Embrace the Seven Commitments of the Sanctuary Model.
• Understand the basic needs and developmental issues of children.
• Ask age and developmentally appropriate questions and actively listen to children's responses.
• Develop a warm, positive, nurturing relationship with each child.
• Follow mandated reporting requirements regarding child abuse and neglect.
• Practice infection control, including appropriate hand washing procedures.
• Use knowledge of developmental milestones to assist children in participating at their individual level of interest and ability.
• Interact with children during meal and snack times, promoting appropriate social behavior.
• Apply knowledge of child development to plan and implement developmentally appropriate activities and environments.
• Adapt activities and environments to meet the special needs and situations of individual children.
• Identify developmentally appropriate behavior and reasonable expectations for children's behavior.
• Use observation as a way to 'get to know' children — their interests and developmental levels.

What This Job Offers

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