Behavioral Specialist

Empower, formerly known as Niagara Cerebral Palsy, is a nonprofit agency dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With a commitment to enhancing the lives of our clients and the broader Niagara community, we provide a range of services aimed at fostering independence and inclusion.

• Summary

As a Behavioral Specialist at Empower, you will play a vital role in delivering behavioral therapy and support to children with developmental challenges. Your expertise will contribute significantly to our mission of empowering individuals to achieve their fullest potential within a supportive environment.

• Responsibilities
• Pre-Admission : Review assessments from other providers, observe consumer and complete initial assessment (no sooner than 10 days prior, no later than 3 days) prior to 30 Day Review, highlighting consumers strengths / deficits and recommendations for addressing deficits.
• Completes annual assessments in a timely manner (no sooner than 30 days prior, no later than 7 days prior). Assessments shall clearly list consumers strengths / deficits and recommendations for addressing deficits in order of priority need using standardized assessment format.
• Complete a Functional Behavioral Assessment (utilizing an assessment tool, functional analysis and direct observation, input from staff, and available data) upon referral to behavior support services.
• Attend and participate in ISP and other meetings as necessary for people who exhibit challenging behaviors as well as those who may need periodic behavior supports. Provide information / insights, as needed, throughout the meeting.
• Develop and submit for approval by the department supervisor, behavior support plans and programs with an emphasis on proactive strategies for the management of individuals with challenging behaviors. The plans will incorporate functional analysis of behavior, lifestyle enrichment, environment changes, teaching replacement behaviors, and teaching alternatives.
• Provide regular and routine staff training as indicated in the Behavior Management Policy and Procedures and training materials in order to ensure understanding and support with respect to implementation of behavior plans.
• Solicit information from the individuals psychiatrist and department staff, monitor relevant data and documentation to make necessary changes to the behavior plans on an as needed basis.
• Provide information / training and acts as a resource regarding specific diagnosis for individuals - including treatment strategies and general characteristics associated with the diagnosis in order to assist the staff to work effectively with the consumer. Will utilize various training programs and diagnostic / evaluations tools.
• Provide documentation and a rationale, as needed, in order to obtain informed consent for rights limitations and restrictive / intrusive interventions. Assists the treatment team with quarterly psychotropic medication reviews of individuals in all agency programs.
• Acts a standing member of the Human Rights Committee and Behavior Management Review Committee and submits programs to the committee that involve rights limitations, restrictive / intrusive interventions, and incorporate the use of restrictive SCIP interventions and any prescribed use of psychotropic medications to control behaviors.
• Prepares the agenda and presents to Human Rights Committee and completes the minutes and ensures progress of program objectives for each program is available for Human Rights Committee review on a minimum quarterly basis.
• In conjunction with the supervisor(s), makes recommendations as appropriate to program staff and / or service coordination, to seek outside services such as counseling, social skills training and / or discharge process from psychiatric unit.
• Provide information and support for people whose behavioral issues require hospitalization. Interface with treating practitioners as needed. Provide insight and professional judgement to agency staff during the persons admission and / or discharge process from a psychiatric unit.
• Act as a support / liaison to the persons day or community placement in order to ensure coordinated services as well as a consistent approach to the individuals behavioral needs.
• Attends staff meeting and supervisory meetings as assigned or as needed.
• Provides direct services to individuals.
• Assures confidentiality and sensitivity of information about individuals.
• Completes routine paperwork responsibilities and other duties assigned by the Supervisor.
• Assess challenging behaviors and write positive support plans that address and modify challenging behaviors as well as PRN protocols, medication monitoring plans, and other plans as necessary.
• Attend training as necessary in order to maintain current OPWDD standards
• Develops Programs and Protocols to address specific behavioral needs and written using standardized format(s).
• Ensures any programming that proposes restrictive component(s) is presented to Human Rights Committee for review prior to implementation.
• Ensures informed consent process is followed through / documented prior to program implementation and routinely updated thereafter.
• Ensures programming is reviewed / supervised by Licensed Psychologist.
• Completes 90 Day Progress Reports. Ensures reports include progress / regression of program objectives from collected data; provides recommendations to advance, continue, modify, discontinue programming.
• Participates as a member of Interdisciplinary Treatment Team. Attends ICF Clinical Meetings, Annual Reviews and Quarterly (90 Day) meetings. Ensures review of the clinical, 90 Day and / or Annual meetings if unable to attend. Attends IRA meetings as needed.
• Ensures on-going consultation with attending psychiatrists regarding behavioral status, medication reductions
• Coordinates programming to integrate with consumers day program.
• Completes observations at or exceeding established frequency.
• Completes other duties as assigned.
• III. OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Provides training as indicated by supervisors / Training Coordinator.
• May be required to teach SCIP in conjunction with the Training Coordinator and maintain SCIP Instructor certification based on need of the agency.
• Requirements
• Valid NYS drivers license required and have access to reliable transportation to be able to travel between agency locations
• Masters degree in Behavior Analysis, or a field closely related to clinical or community psychology that is approved by OPWDD review PLUS possess National Board Certification in Behavior Analysis (BCBA)
• OR
• Masters Degree in a clinical or treatment field in psychology, social work, school psychology, or a related human services field, or a New York State license in Mental Health counseling PLUS have / obtained OPWDD- approved specialized training or experience in assessment techniques and behavior support plan development PLUS has provided behavioral services for an agency in the OPWDD system continuously since December 31st, 2012
• OR
• Masters Degree in a clinical treatment field in psychology, social work, school psychology, or a related human services field PLUS function in the Psychologist I or Psychologist II Civil Service titles of NY State
• OR
• Bachelors Degree in a human services field PLUS has provided behavioral services for an agency in the OPWDD system continuously since December 31st, 2012 PLUS actively working towards a Masters Degree in an applied area of psychology, social work, or special education
• OR
• completes at least one graduate-level course in an applied health services area of applied psychology, social work, or special education

If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities, we invite you to apply today and join our dedicated team at Empower!

Job Type : Full-time

Pay : $50,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits :
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Ability to Commute :

• Niagara Falls, NY 14304 (Required)

Ability to Relocate :

• Niagara Falls, NY 14304 : Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location : In person

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