Behavior Specialist Res

The Behavioral Specialist serves as a keystone position amongst a multi-disciplinary team, serving as the lead for behavioral intervention design and application of behavioral supports. The behavioral specialist drives the functional behavior assessment process to identify key targets for the Positive Behavioral Support plan. The behavior specialist embodies, models, and emphasizes person-centered supports and supporting the Every Day Lives principles.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

• Utilizes positive approaches in every interaction with all direct support professionals, program specialists, behavior specialists, managers, directors, external stakeholders, and people supported.
• Ensures that the wishes, hopes, dreams, and fears of each person supported are respected, and that their rights are honored across all settings.
• Performs all job duties with the understanding that their highest priority is what is most important to the person supported.
• Communicates as needed with all team members [i.e., person supported, direct support professionals, family members, advocates, support coordinators, therapists, and other providers] to ensure quality services and collaboration.
• Acts as a positive role model and demonstrates professionalism, dignity, and respect towards the people supported, co-workers, management, and other associates both within and outside the organization.
• Provides ongoing clinical consultation, training, and guidance to the direct support professionals. Ensures all team members are working towards the person's vision of a meaningful and everyday life.
• Carries out all planning, development, prevention, and intervention strategies using a restraint free and least restrictive methodology.

Licensing and Contractual Compliance :

Administrative :

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES :

This position has no direct or indirect reports. The position may contribute to the overall performance evaluation of direct support professionals as it pertains to the clinical aspect of an employee's job responsibilities.

EDUCATION and / or EXPERIENCE :

A Master's Degree or higher in Psychology, Special Education, Counseling, Social Work, Education, Applied Behavior Analysis or Gerontology from an accredited college or university and work experience working directly with persons with intellectual and / or developmental disabilities. Highly preferred to have two years of work experience working with people with intellectual and / or developmental disabilities.

Direct experience writing behavioral support plans, which include social, emotional, environment, to address medical, health, safety, psychiatric, behavioral, social, and vocational outcomes strongly preferred. Leadership or cross functional teamwork experience is strongly preferred. Knowledge of the general workings of federal, state, and county social services networks and funding sources preferable. The incumbent must have a working knowledge of positive and person-centered approaches and embrace the right of all people to have full and meaningful lives.

Other Requirements :

PHYSICAL DEMANDS :

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is required to stand and walk. The employee is also required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and / or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.

All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills, and / or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform any job-related function as directed by their supervisor.