Behavior Support Specialist

State of Nebraska • Lincoln, NE

2d • $19

About The Position

Are you looking for a meaningful and rewarding career? A career that challenges you? A career that you look forward to going to work? The Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) contributes to the lives and health of Nebraskans every day. Our mission, “Helping people live better lives," provides the motivation to make a difference and that starts right here. Every individual within DHHS makes an impact; we want to elevate, engage, and empower those that choose to spend their energy making the world a little brighter. We recognize that our teammates bring tremendous value to the State of Nebraska and that their vital work helps fulfill our mission. We support our staff by offering fantastic benefits, training and development opportunities for personal and professional growth, and a positive, team-oriented atmosphere. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who wants to make a difference as a Behavior Support Specialist. In this position you will be an integral part of our Children and Family Services Division. You have the passion, we have the opportunities - let's make a difference for Nebraskans! The Behavior Support Specialist is a critical position to the continued success of YRTC-L and improvement of services provided to the youth who are receiving treatment in the congregate care setting. The Behavior Support Specialist provides guidance regarding implementation of interventions to the behavior modification model. They provide coaching and training to staff who work directly with the youth. They work closely with the staff by completing direct assessments with the support staff. The Behavior Support Specialist position is responsible for data entry and analysis, with great attention to detail. They are responsible for reporting observations of youth/staff interactions and behaviors to provide the best instructions and support to provide stabilization to the youth served. This position will be Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a human services field such as psychology, sociology, special education, counseling, human development, education or speech communication or closely related field AND experience with behavior support plans and habilitation programs for persons with intellectual or other developmental disabilities and/or mental illness
• Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• Must have a valid drivers license.
• Knowledge of: the aspects of intellectual or other developmental disabilities and/or mental illness and their associated emotional/behavioral disorders; behavioral intervention/management principles, processes and/or procedures; behavioral assessment techniques; the principles and practices of active treatment concepts; the rights of individuals served; modern Applied Behavior Analysis principles and practices; in-service provision techniques; group behavior and dynamics; various behavioral assessment tools; human behavior and performance – individual differences in ability, personality, and interests, learning and motivation; professional ethics; statistics; problem solving and planning techniques; the principles of English composition including grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Skill in: coaching and demonstrating training techniques to co-workers and individuals served; identifying and assessing individual strengths and needs; problem solving; critical thinking; time management and organization of work; communicating information so others will understand; listening to and understanding information received from others.
• Ability to: train, model and coach direct support staff in implementing behavior support plans; learn and apply applicable state, federal and Medicaid standards, policies and procedures; interact and communicate with staff members, family members, guardians, federal surveyors, other regulatory bodies and others in person via telephone, electronically, and written correspondence to exchange information and to respond to information requests; support and guide direct support staff in crisis mode; de-escalate situations and work to prevent future crises; foster and maintain working relationships; work independently and with minimal supervision; participate on an interdisciplinary team; be open to direction by BCBAs; gather and analyze assessment information such as environmental, psychological, and social; read and interpret instructions, manuals, documents, and other literature; assist in the writing and completion of reports; assist in the development, implementation, and monitoring of behavior support plans using effective behavioral strategies; assist in the evaluation of progress of behavior support plans; calculate solutions to arithmetic problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals and percentages; monitor and analyze documents; utilize and demonstrate the use of effective behavioral intervention techniques and procedures; help create and deliver preventive and proactive interventions; learn and implement a multi-modal functional behavior approach.

Responsibilities

• Provides guidance regarding implementation of interventions to the behavior modification model.
• Provides coaching and training to staff who work directly with the youth.
• Works closely with the staff by completing direct assessments with the support staff.
• Responsible for data entry and analysis, with great attention to detail.
• Responsible for reporting observations of youth/staff interactions and behaviors to provide the best instructions and support to provide stabilization to the youth served.

Benefits

• We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life.
• Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status.
• For more information on benefits, please visit: https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits

What This Job Offers

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