Behavior Intervention Specialist - Watertown, NY

Position Type/Expected Hours Of Work - 40 hours per week. Flexible to the needs of the program to include visits to the Community Residence, IRA’s, school settings and Supportive Apartments during programming hours. Contact time for site visits shall be determined by the supervisor based on the current need of a site. If a site has individuals with behavior support programs, the site will be visited a minimum of once per month in per person or approved alternative.

Qualifications - Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Work or Behavior Analysis or closely related field. The ability to obtain BCBA required. Training and/or or experience developing functional behavior assessments, and behavior support programs. At least one year working with developmentally disabled individuals preferred. In addition, this candidate will have five years from the date of hire to obtain the BCBA credential. This includes supervision, coursework and taking the appropriate exams.

Work Authorization/Security Clearance - Authorized to work in the United States and pass all background clearances.

Summary/Objective - Responsible for the development, implementation and supervision of support programs and medication monitoring plans for Day Habilitation, Community Residence, IRA’s, Preschool, Workshop Program(s) and other vocational experiences. Responsible for the development, supervision, implementation and evaluation of all training curricula in the areas of behavior modification/management. Provide adequate oversight to the people we support and staff at varied programs to ensure consistency and adequate training is being provided. When required, the ability to go into a school setting and work with teachers and aids in that setting. Be a strong advocate for person centered services in the least restrictive setting for the people that we serve.

Essential Functions - Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Responsible for the development of support programs in conformance with OPWDD guidelines. Program development shall include direct observation in both day and/or residential environments, consultation with involved staff, and if appropriate, consultation with the people we support to ensure baseline data is obtained. In addition, collect and analyze data on an ongoing basis, utilizing the data to make program modifications.
2. Provide goal-based plan (BSP) that address areas of concern. Written methodology shall indicate the behaviors to be addressed using the least intrusive approach, positive techniques, and will include a specific criterion for specified interventions and the discontinuation of those interventions.
3. The Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS), in conjunction with the Support Team, will monitor and ensure that medications used for controlling or modifying a challenging behavior and treatment of psychiatric conditions will be monitored by the collection of data and will be shared with the team and providers. The BIS will write medication monitoring plans to explain the connection between psychiatric symptoms and overt behaviors that is proactive in nature and is directed specifically toward the reduction and eventual elimination of behaviors and/or the medications are prescribed for. The BIS will attend or give recommendations for psychiatric appointments (including graphed data) of the individuals and suggest behavioral alternatives.
4. Ensure the Behavior Support Plan and data on behaviors on all behavior support programs and medication monitoring plans are done on a monthly basis either personally, or through a designee. Ensure the preparation of reports on support programs and monitoring plans to be submitted at a Person We Support’s Annual Review and complete functional behavior assessments (FBA) on those individuals with programs initially and as needed.
5. Complete functional behavior assessments (FBA) on any new admissions to Day Habilitation, residential sites or school admissions to inform proactive supports, referrals, or the development of support programs or medication monitoring plans.
6. Participate directly, or through a designee, in support team meetings and staff meetings involving the People We Support who experience significant behavior problems, or for whom support programs and psychiatric monitoring plans have been written, as well as for the people we support where the support team requires assistance with programming. In addition, attend IEP meetings in the school for students that we have been contracted to support.
7. Provide professional input any circumstance where behavior change procedures and/or environmental manipulations are warranted. Interpret and provide graphed behavior data to support the best possible behavioral interventions.
8. Participate in or supervise crisis intervention and the recording and analysis of behavior incidents. Complete accident and/or incident reports as necessary.
9. Meet as indicated with the Clinical Psychologist to review programs and give recommendations, based on data of the individuals and suggest behavioral alternatives
10. Assist in the site-specific orientation and training of all support staff related to the people we support with significant behavior problems and other in-services as designated appropriate.
11. Assist in training support staff in at least, but not limited to, behavior management techniques, behavior modification, crisis intervention, psychiatric and developmental disabilities, and the use and supervision of SCIP-R interventions.
12. Review and participate in follow-up of all incidents relating to behavior per the directive of the appropriate program administrator.
13. Attend/Present behavior programs to the Behavior Review Committee. Review any programs that contain aversive components and make appropriate recommendations to fade and/or withdraw components.
14. Complete reports, as requested, for the Human Rights committee on all rights restrictive programming generated by this unit. Attend Human Rights Committee meetings as a non-voting member when instructed.
15. Will adhere to Agency policy and procedure guidelines; adhere to the Agency Code of Conduct; and will assist in facilitating a safe working environment by adhering to Agency safety guidelines and reporting potential health and safety issues to supervisors in a timely manner.
16. Any other duties as assigned by Program or Assistant Program Director, Coordinator of Behavior/Clinical Services, and/or CEO/Executive Director.

Competencies -

1. Computer skills are required (Office, etc)
2. Excellent oral and written skills and Good organizational and time management skills
3. Ability to read, comprehend, and write behavior treatment plans.
4. Ability to document data and understand progress with graphs.
5. Ability to effectively communicate with various socio-economic and culturally diverse backgrounds in behavior modification and use of appropriate terminology in the field.
6. Good supervisory skills.
7. Willingness to continue education and become BCBA or BCABA.
8. Ability to implement and perform crisis intervention.
9. Understand and embrace person-centered services

Supervisory Responsibility - Supervision to potential BCBA’s, RBT’s

Travel - This job requires traveling to various programmed sites, and occasionally for training destinations. Travel will be approved by supervisor and reimbursed in accordance with agency policy.

Work Environment - This job operates in a professional office environment and other work locations as described. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines

Physical Demands - The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee may be required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Work may require lifting, pushing, or pulling in excess of 30 pounds. Individual should have no existing conditions that would preclude involvement with individuals served.

Other Duties - This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. I have read and received a copy of the above job description and understand the responsibilities fully. I understand that the preceding job description will be reviewed/updated at least annually; more frequent updates will depend on contract needs.

Wage Range - $26.34-$30.03/Hour, Based on education and experience