Behavioral Support Specialist(PRSA)

Pressley Ridge Career • Pittsburgh, PA

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Behavior Support Specialist will provide behavior management instruction to teachers and classroom staff for students who exhibit challenging behaviors. The Behavior Support Specialist will provide direct interventions for students and serve as a resource to the classroom staff with regards to behavior management. He/she will conduct functional behavior assessments, develop positive behavior support plans, recommend, teach, and evaluate evidence based strategies, and help to implement data collection. He/she will help to ensure that the needs of each child in the program are met through positive behavioral support plans derived from data collection and functional behavior assessments. He/she will also conduct weekly social skills group activities for his/her assigned classroom.

Requirements

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, education or other childcare field.
• Requires a valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and current auto insurance.
• Requires two (2) years of experience working with students who have various levels of autism, preferably in a school-related setting developing behavior support plans and conducting functional behavior assessments.
• Requires familiarity with multiple types of data collection instruments.
• State Police Clearances
• FBI Clearances
• Child Abuse Clearances
• Mandated Reporter-Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse training certificate and/or statement

Nice To Haves

• ASL proficiency (for positions in the School for the Deaf)

Responsibilities

• Participate in team meetings to develop and/or present behavior support plans to address difficult behavior.
• Collaborate with classroom staff on effective positive behavior support practices.
• Work with the Home Community Educator to assist the family with implementing behavior intervention techniques in the home and providing families with resources and support.
• Clinical team collaboration regarding behavioral programming.
• Monitor data gathered from functional behavior assessments to assist in the development or modification of appropriate behavior support plans.
• Create a classroom environment that supports behavioral management.
• Develop, recommend, and maintain data collection tools for his/her use, or for the classroom assistants or teachers to use.
• Utilize technology to navigate systems to track data and create new interventions.
• Understand and recognize cultural differences.
• Identify themes and trends within various demographics of populations served.
• Write and implement appropriate positive behavior support plans for students based on data collection.
• Deliver behavior management instruction and interventions within the classroom for assigned students.
• Use reinforcement surveys, preference assessments, and reinforcement assessments to develop token economy systems and reinforcement schedules that are appropriate to the student’s needs.
• Provide direct consultation to classroom teachers and classroom aides with regards to children with autism who have difficult behaviors.
• Complete Social Emotional Learning (SEL) lesson plans weekly and provide progress on social interactions.
• Provide Special Education Teacher (SET) with behavioral data weekly.
• Maintain consistent communication with families regarding student behavior and progress.
• Communicate regularly with classroom team regarding interventions.
• Provides external agencies with information regarding transitional skills.
• Provide an overview of funds requested to support the program.
• Receive supervision from and actively communicate with supervisor on an ongoing basis throughout the week by phone, email, written message and when possible, in person regarding program matters.
• Supports colleagues in a mentorship capacity to assist with daily programming.
• Provide training to classroom teams on the use of various data collection tools.
• Maintains a professional image when supporting students in the community.
• Prepares and is present in meetings with families and outside stakeholders.
• Actively participates in boosting morale within the program through recognition.
• Track mandated data for behavior interventions that involve physical restraint.
• Track data regarding Individual Education Program (IEP) goals.
• Complete Internal Records (IRs) for critical incidents.
• Follow designated program policy regarding the documentation of critical incidents.
• Follow procedures for all physical contact with students.
• Follow procedures for student illness and injury, including arranging necessary medical care, accordingly, informing appropriate persons of the situation, and documenting the injury/illness and actions taken.
• Assist other staff, as needed, in interventions (TCI, Ukeru) to protect students and staff from injury.
• Detect and remediate any potentially dangerous environmental conditions (e.g. broken glass) accordingly.
• When transporting students, maintain safe driving procedures.

Benefits

• Medical coverage available with a Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer match
• Prescription coverage
• Dental and vision plans
• Patient advocate and Medicare specialists available at no cost
• Dependent Care Flexible Savings Account
• Wellness incentive (up to $250)
• 403b with up to 9% employer give/match
• Free life insurance and AD&D
• Paid sick time (up to 15 days)
• Paid holidays including a birthday holiday
• Tuition reimbursement (if applicable)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

What This Job Offers

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