Therapeutic Coach - START

YAI•San Jose, CA

About The Position

The Therapeutic Coach supports individuals in assigned regions who are temporarily accessing crisis or planned services. The role implements person-centered therapeutic interventions in homes and community settings, such as schools, hospitals, or group homes, while working with caregivers and circles of support to mitigate crises and de-escalate behaviors. The coach conducts visits and observational assessments, contributes to therapeutic strategies and crisis prevention plans, and supports individuals with daily activities, personal care, wellness, communication, and leisure. The role also provides consultation and education to individuals and their support networks, coordinates therapeutic supplies, maintains relationships with community partners, attends team meetings, and completes required documentation and reporting. The position requires regular travel within assigned regions and the ability to meet the stated physical demands.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or another human services field, and at least two years of experience working with the I/DD population and/or behavioral health needs; alternatively, a satisfactory combination of education, experience, and/or training authorized by START/NCSS and/or the appropriate state regulatory agency.
Ability to be flexible and creative and incorporate individuals’ interests, skills, and strengths into engaging therapeutic activities or strategies.
Ability to collaborate with the START team and people at all levels outside the organization, including caregivers and circles of support.
Ability to work independently, stay organized, and take initiative.
Strong time-management skills, including the ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment and meet timelines and caseload needs.
Ability to travel regularly across assigned regions for in-person coaching visits and, as required by caseload or to facilitate discharges, work weekends and/or evenings for assignments in New York.
Valid driver’s license required for California and New Jersey assignments; strongly preferred for New York assignments, particularly where public transportation is limited.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, including handling, fingering, or feeling objects, tools, or controls; walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling, and reaching; lifting, carrying, and transporting items weighing up to 25 pounds; and implementing crisis intervention plans, which may include running.
Compliance with applicable Federal, State, Local, and other regulatory requirements, including HIPAA.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with the START program and services.
Experience working with families and/or social service providers.
Verbal and/or written fluency in Spanish; fluency in other languages may be preferred depending on assigned region and caseload.

Responsibilities

Implement person-centered therapeutic interventions in individuals’ homes and community settings, working with caregivers and circles of support to mitigate crises and de-escalate behaviors.
Conduct regular coaching visits and observational assessments, and provide the START team with feedback about biopsychosocial factors, intervention effects, and coaching outcomes.
Help identify and develop creative therapeutic interventions and strategies based on individual needs, strengths, skills, and interests, with a focus on positive psychology and stabilization.
Plan, structure, and prompt social and leisure activities that build skills related to positive supports, stress reduction, health and wellness, communication, adaptive living, and daily living.
Assist individuals with implementing strategies and completing daily activities, personal care, behavioral health needs, and health, wellness, or leisure activities.
Provide consultation and hands-on education about therapeutic interventions, crisis stabilization, and prevention to individuals and their circles of support.
Secure and maintain recreational supplies for interventions, schedule their use when necessary, and transport supplies to and from coaching sessions.
Participate in developing and implementing Cross-Systems Crisis Prevention and Intervention Plans, communicating coaching responses to support progress evaluation and plan updates.
Participate in recurring consultations, staff meetings, and other meetings with START leadership, the clinical team, and the START Therapeutic Coaching program.
Communicate with individuals, caregivers, circles of support, and external parties to provide information, receive updates, and enhance services and linkages.
Complete and maintain required documentation, paperwork, and records, including resolving concerns and reporting incidents related to the assigned caseload.
Enter required data accurately and promptly into the START Information Reporting System and other applicable systems.
Respond to individuals’ safety needs, report significant behavioral or health changes, and escalate concerns to the clinical team or START leadership when needed.
Conduct regular outreach with community partners to maintain relationships and linkages.
Complete and maintain required trainings to comply with YAI policies, NCSS, and applicable state regulatory requirements.
Comply with applicable federal, state, local, and other regulatory requirements, including HIPAA.
Perform other duties as assigned.