Behavioral Specialist - 40 Hours, Days - Autism Inpatient Unit

Hospital for Special Care • New Britain, CT

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Under the oversight of the Clinical Nurse Manager and daily monitoring by the Behavior Specialist Supervisor, this role is responsible for the implementation of the therapeutic treatment plan, assuring the safety of assigned patients. As a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, the Behavioral Specialist is responsible for collecting data for the purpose of functional assessment, observation and data collection on patient responses to intervention, and documentation of this program under the direction of a registered nurse and BCBA. Provides care to assigned patients under the direction of the RN.

Requirements

• Baccalaureate in a Human Service field with Six months to one year of direct childcare work with children diagnosed with Autism Spectral Disorder.
• OR Associate's degree in a Human Service field with 2 years of experience with children diagnosed with Autism Spectral Disorder.
• OR 5 years of experience with children diagnosed with Autism Spectral Disorder.
• Employees in this position must be able to participate in the physical management of patients which can include, but is not limited to, awareness and demonstration of safe body positioning at all times, awareness and coordination to block and deflect possible aggression, and the ability to physically hold struggling patients, using approved methods only, to maintain safety for extended periods of time.
• Specifically, such employees must be able to lift up to fifty pounds; reach with their hands and arms; grasp and hold with their hands; bend/squat/kneel without limitation, and physically escort patients who may become combative for short distances.
• Position requires occasional running for short distances, and frequent standing, walking and sitting.
• Job allows for the application of learned knowledge and basic follow through on easily identifiable steps.
• Reference materials are available.
• Limited inference is necessary.
• Some selective attention is necessary to complete task.
• Job requires legibility, spelling accuracy and logical sentence and paragraph organization.
• A working knowledge and familiarity with professional medical terminology and definitions is required.
• Job requires a high level of communication skill including expression of abstract/complex ideas, use of negotiation and active listening and an ability to dialogue with multiple parties.
• Job requires an ability to comprehend lengthy and complex messages or paragraphs and to follow multistage and 3 step commands.
• Job requires flexibility of thought, reasoning, organizational skills, and ability to function in behavioral and physical care situation.
• Employees in this position work in a behavioral management setting under stressful conditions associated with care of impaired, aggressive and sometimes self-injurious individuals.
• Employees are expected to utilize de-escalation techniques taught by the Hospital to minimize need for physical intervention.
• They must have the ability to remain calm during a crisis situation as evidenced by the ability to make quick rational decisions and prioritize immediate patient care needs to maintain a therapeutic environment and ensure safety.
• Employees in this role may be required to float to other patient care units or departments based on operational and patient care needs, provided they possess the required competencies and qualifications for the assignment.

Nice To Haves

• Preference for individuals with experience implementing Applied Behavior Analysis procedures with children and/or adolescents including data collection, reinforcement and instructional procedures.

Responsibilities

• Maintains a safe and therapeutic environment, intervening in destructive behaviors, aggression and expressions of self-harm providing timely therapeutic interventions as designated in individualized behavior plans.
• Maintains the documented level of patient observation as ordered by the physician/Board Certified Behavioral Analyst/Charge RN each shift.
• Supervises assigned patients in daily routines and actively assists with activities of daily living and basic hygiene needs per their individual needs.
• Identifies, reports, and resolves potential/actual problems on the unit.
• Demonstrates appropriate critical incident follow-up skills by timely verbal reporting to charge RN and documentation in medical record.
• Completes other documentation, i.e. incident reports, seclusion and restraint forms, as applicable.
• Participates in debriefings.
• Under the direction of the BS supervisor, greets new admissions, escorting them onto the unit.
• Reviews assigned patient behavior intervention plans at the start of each shift.
• Collaborates with the behavior leadership team to suggest revisions based on observations.
• Actively participates in hand-off shift report.
• Engages patients in organized group-based activities.
• Actively participates in the activities with assigned patients, modifying the task to meet the developmental needs of the patient.
• Demonstrates ability to set consistent and supportive therapeutic limits within guidelines of hospital, unit and department standards.
• Participates in teaching visits/family and parent training as assigned.
• Handles crisis situations in a safe, effective manner, utilizing the least restrictive, safe patient care alternative.
• Anticipates and de-escalates patient distress situations prior to patients’ loss of control as indicated in the behavior intervention plan.
• Performs other related duties as required, assigned or directed by charge nurse.

Benefits

• employer-subsidized medical and dental
• vision insurance
• a 403(b) retirement savings plan with an employer match of up to 6%
• paid time off
• employer-paid life insurance
• short-term and long-term disability insurance
• a Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
• voluntary benefits, including pet insurance
• employee wellness programs with access to our onsite fitness and aquatics center
• an employee referral bonus program
• meaningful employee recognition and appreciation initiatives

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree