Behavioral Intervention Specialist

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Key/Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Provides day-to-day supervision of Behavior Intervention Specialists (BISs) for an assigned region, maintaining regular communication and ensuring understanding of job expectations, policies and procedures and conducting observations and evaluations of performance to ensure that staff are successfully supporting the behavioral and psychiatric needs of persons supported.

• Regularly performs all clinical duties of OPWDD BIS 2 as indicated in Behavior Intervention Specialist – OPWDD BIS 2 job description including assessments, evaluations, development and implementation of person-centered interventions and behavior support plans, training of program staff, effective data collection and completion of documentation for assigned caseload.

• Directs and assists assigned BIS staff with conducting functional behavior assessments (FBAs) and other assessments of behavior, implementing, monitoring and otherwise updating behavior support plans and interventions through regular support, feedback and coaching.

• Participates in the hiring process, interviewing and assessing candidates for behavior intervention roles and ensures appropriate staffing and coverage for regional needs.

• Initiates, reviews or approves staff status, work hour, promotions, demotions, transfers and/or other adjustments for staff, ensuring changes are appropriately submitted in Workday in a timely manner.

• Ensures timekeeping records and approvals are completed through Workday accurately and on a timely basis to support payroll processing; identifies concerns with attendance, work hours and/or time tracking, resolving with staff or coordinating resolutions with leadership, when needed.

• Regularly travels to programs across assigned region to conduct assessments, implement plans, collect data, facilitate training sessions, attend meetings and/or to observe staff to ensure appropriate implementation and monitoring of behavior support plans; travels to local headquarters or other regions, as directed.

• Serves as the primary resource for behavioral and psychiatric needs of the people we support across assigned region, providing leadership and clinical support to program staff and regional leadership and regularly attends regional leadership meetings to remain informed of progress, concerns or issues and makes recommendations regarding initiatives to address new or changing behavior and clinical needs.

• Collaborates with regional program leadership, program staff and BIS team to identify, address and/or coordinate clinical training needs, supports, data collection and related plans, and provides feedback regarding program staff and people supported, as applicable.

• Plans and facilitates regional direct care leadership and/or other clinical team meetings to engage, train and assess Assistant BIS and other direct care staff as applicable, providing support, guidance, mentorship and feedback through regular updates, information and discussions.

• Provides support to the agency as a whole, participating in various program and behavior-focused initiatives and committees and/or supporting additional programs or regions, as requested.

• Effectively interprets behavior as communication and assesses learning capabilities to ensure successful interventions and learning techniques are implemented; actively seeks external resources and makes referrals for additional supports, as appropriate. 

• Facilitates informal and formal training sessions both on-site and/or in classroom or web instructor-led formats, including but not limited to BIS School, SCIP-R, Ukeru and other clinical trainings across assigned region or agencywide; participates in clinical training curriculum development.

• Remains current with developments and new interventions, technologies or ideas relating to behavior intervention and specific clinical areas (evidence-based approaches, specific diagnoses or illnesses, etc.) through research and/or continuing, professional or other educational opportunities, including conferences, trainings or workshops.

• Provides supervision for and evaluation of student interns completing degree requirements or other staff pursuing development opportunities in related clinical areas, as authorized.

• May provide clinical supervision if authorized by State of New York, which includes providing and appropriately documenting supervision for individual staff pursuing clinical hours required for NYS licensure.

• Performs all other duties, as assigned.

Minimum Qualification Requirements including education, experience, licensure/certification, etc. and essential physical capabilities (e.g. lifting, assisting lifting, standing, etc.)

• Master’s degree in clinical or treatment field of psychology, social work, school psychology or applied psychology as it relates to human development and clinical interventions, and documented training in assessment techniques and behavior support plan development; or

• National Board certification in behavior analysis (Board Certified Behavior Analyst [BCBA]) and a master’s degree in behavior analysis or a field closely related to clinical or community psychology approved by OPWDD; or

• Current license and registration in Mental Health Counseling issued by the New York State Department of Education (NYSED); and

• At least three (3) years' experience working directly with individuals with developmental disabilities, including the development, implementation, and monitoring of behavior support plans and/or providing supervision and training to others in the implementation of behavior support plans; and

• Successfully complete BIS School (or authorized equivalent training) through YAI within one (1) year of appointment (if not previously completed).

• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evening and/or weekend hours and to travel regularly to programs across assigned region(s) and to other regions or local headquarters on occasion, as requested.

• Must hold or obtain and maintain certification in Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention – Revised (SCIP-R) or SCIP-R Restrictive and CPR if required for assigned program(s) within six (6) months of hire; may be required to obtain additional certifications based on assigned programs.

• Demonstrates high level of expertise and/or has specialized training or education in one or more of the following areas: testing and assessments, evidenced based approaches, positive psychology, ABA, CBT, DBT or other related areas.

• Knowledge of hierarchy of restrictive/intrusive interventions.

• Strong dedication to enhancing quality care, incorporating strategies and techniques and person-centered, team-based care.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to engage, build relationships and work collaboratively with others and to communicate clinical matters appropriately to individuals at all levels.

• Exceptional supervisory and leadership skills, including the ability to effectively direct, coach and support BISs and program staff across multiple sites through hands-on support by adapting leadership style to address a variety of team and/or individual challenges.

• Strong understanding of and ability to train others on expected/therapeutic effects of psychotropic medications.

• Well-organized and flexible with ability to effectively manage multiple priorities to meet deadlines and appropriately address a variety of person-centered needs.

• Proficiency with computers and using electronic systems including email, Microsoft Office Suite, electronic health record (e.g. DA) and/or Workday to appropriately document services and progress in accordance with requirements and complete tasks.

• Ability to meet essential physical demands of position including frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling and reaching with hands and arms; use hands to handle, finger or feel objects, tools or controls; assisting with lifting/moving individuals of any weight with assistance of mechanical lifts or other equipment  and/or pushing individuals in wheelchairs; lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds on occasion; having the physical capacity to work with and implement emergency interventions as per the person’s Behavior Support Plan if/as needed, including lifting/moving individuals of any weight with or without assistance of equipment and/or other staff.

Preferred Qualification Requirements (desired requirements beyond MQRs above)

• Previous supervisory experience in the I/DD or mental health field

Compensation

• Salary is up to 75000 USD annually

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam or disabled veteran. YAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.