Therapeutic Coach - START

YAI•San Jose, CA

About The Position

The Therapeutic Coach supports individuals across assigned regions who are temporarily accessing crisis or planned services. The role implements person-centered therapeutic interventions in individuals’ homes and community settings, including schools, hospitals, and group homes, and works with caregivers and circles of support to implement strategies that mitigate crises or de-escalate behaviors while maintaining professional boundaries and following applicable guidelines. The coach conducts regular coaching visits and observational assessments, shares feedback with the START team about factors affecting current functioning and intervention outcomes, and helps develop creative interventions focused on positive psychology, stabilization, and the individual’s strengths, skills, and interests. Coaching sessions may include structured social and leisure activities that support positive relationships, stress reduction, health and wellness, communication, adaptive skills, and daily living. The role also provides consultation and hands-on education about therapeutic interventions and crisis prevention, supports daily activities and personal care, maintains recreational supplies, and contributes to crisis prevention and intervention plans. The coach communicates with individuals, caregivers, community partners, and providers; participates in START meetings and outreach; and completes required documentation, data entry, incident reporting, and training in accordance with YAI, START/NCSS, HIPAA, and applicable regulatory requirements. The position requires regular travel across assigned regions for in-person sessions and visits, and may include evenings or weekends for assignments in New York. Pay rate is $31.25 per hour.

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 or an appropriate state regulatory agency.
Highly flexible and creative, with the ability to incorporate individuals’ interests, skills, and strengths into engaging therapeutic activities or strategies.
Ability to collaborate with the START team and people at all organizational levels, 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 sessions and visits, including visits to facilitate discharges; assignments in New York may require weekends and/or evenings.
Valid driver’s license required for California and New Jersey assignments and strongly preferred for New York assignments, especially where public transportation is limited.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including handling 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 a crisis intervention plan if needed, which may include running.
Ability to work in varied environmental settings.

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.
Valid driver’s license for assignments in New York, particularly in areas with limited public transportation.

Responsibilities

Support individuals accessing crisis or planned services by implementing person-centered therapeutic interventions in homes and community settings.
Work with primary caregivers and circles of support to implement strategies that mitigate crises or de-escalate behaviors.
Conduct regular coaching visits and observational assessments, and provide feedback to the START team on biopsychosocial factors, interventions, and coaching outcomes.
Help identify and develop individualized therapeutic interventions and strategies focused on positive psychology, stabilization, strengths, skills, and interests.
Plan and facilitate social and leisure activities that build skills in positive supports, stress reduction, health and wellness, communication, adaptive functioning, and daily living.
Assist individuals with daily activities, personal care, behavioral health needs, and health, wellness, and leisure activities at home or in the community.
Provide consultation and hands-on education to individuals and their circles of support about therapeutic interventions, crisis stabilization, and prevention.
Secure, maintain, schedule, and transport recreational supplies needed for therapeutic interventions.
Participate in developing and implementing Cross-Systems Crisis Prevention and Intervention Plans, and communicate intervention responses to support 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, community partners, providers, and other external parties to share information, receive updates, and enhance services and linkages.
Complete and maintain required documentation, paperwork, records, concern resolutions, and incident reports for the assigned caseload.
Enter required data accurately and promptly into the START Information Reporting System and other required systems.
Respond to individual safety needs, report significant behavioral or health changes, and escalate concerns to the clinical team or START leadership when needed.
Conduct regular outreach to community partners to maintain relationships and service linkages.
Complete required training and comply with YAI policies, NCSS requirements, applicable state regulations, and other relevant laws and regulations, including HIPAA.
Perform other duties as assigned.