Crisis Prevention Specialist

Hillside•Auburn, NY

22d•$23 - $31

About The Position

The Crisis Prevention Specialist works in conjunction with the behavior analyst, clinical team, unit supervisors, unit manager and/or program manager to ensure effective and ongoing training, mentoring, modeling and monitoring of crisis prevention activities in Residential Programs. This position is focused on achieving a significant reduction in the number and duration of physical holds with the goal of eliminating the use of restraints. This includes working closely with direct care staff to support the development of de-escalation skills and relationship building with youth.

Requirements

Office of Mental Health (OMH): Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services field or a New York State Teacher’s Certificate required
Minimum 4 years of experience providing direct services to children with severe behavioral disturbance required
Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS): High School Diploma or GED required
Minimum 4 years of experience providing direct service to youth required
CPR certification required or obtained within 60 days of hire.
TCI Trainer Certification required to obtain within 120 days of hire.
Specialized training/expertise in trauma informed care and crisis prevention techniques required.
Unrestricted, valid NYS driver’s license for minimum of 1 year with a clean driving record and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards.
Skills of good judgement and a calm demeanor in crisis/emergency situations.
Ability to mentor co-workers.
Ability to utilize conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
Skills in behavior management and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) through formal training and practice.

Responsibilities

Deliver required staff training in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) principles and de-escalation techniques.
Maintain proficiency in Children and Residential Experiences (CARE) principles and support development of CARE practices in direct care staff.
Monitor youth activity in various units and during programs; identify potential or actual risk of escalated problematic behavior and provide support and modeling as needed to teach appropriate de-escalation techniques to direct care staff.
Assist staff in identifying opportunities to employ de-escalation techniques as needed to mediate dysregulated behavior to avoid the use of physical interventions (i.e. holds) whenever possible.
Collect feedback from youth and their families on safety plans and goals and share information with the youth’s treatment team.
Consult on revisions to individualized safety plans as needed.
Analyze restraint trend data such as frequency, duration, individuals involved (i.e. residents and staff), time, location, and precipitating factors, and recommend improvements to policies and practices that improve outcomes for youth.
Continuously improve the incident debriefing process for staff and youth by partnering with supervisors and managers.
Maintain all necessary records, reports, and analyses according to agency/funder standards through the use of established processes and practices.
Contribute in inter-disciplinary treatment team meetings.
Transport youth as assigned.