Psychology Associate

Description

Experience

Minimum of 2 years experience desirable in training on behavior plan implementation or relevant formal educational training in applied behavioral analysis

Skills

Must possess strong written and oral communication skills, interpersonal skills, as well as good organizational and coordination ability. Computer proficiency in standard office software applications required.

Scope of Work

The psychology associate will be under the supervision of a licensed psychologist and is responsible to the individuals receiving behavioral support for developing and monitoring progress on individualized behavioral and instructional plans that support them in being able to live, work, and recreate safely in the community.

Qualifications:

Education: Masters degree in Psychology, and Maryland state certification

Responsibilities Include:

1. Provide systematically scheduled psychological consultation with staff and team members. Under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.
2. Provide ongoing consultation with other CSS staff members regarding specific individuals.
3. Recommend changes to the BMPs to the psychologist as appropriate.
4. Coordinate services with Behavioral Support Specialist/Mentor by providing feedback and instruction regarding training needs of staff and plan implementation as needed.
5. Provide ongoing monitoring of efficacy of behavioral strategies by regularly reviewing behavior specialist notes, incidents, data and follow up with issues or concerns noted.
6. Provide behavioral training to direct support and supervisory staff members.
7. Participate as a member of the interdisciplinary team to develop suggested person centered IP goals, taking into account the interests and abilities of the individual.
8. Oversee individual plans to ensure that best practice strategies, including behavioral strategies, instructional procedures, community inclusion, individual choice and individual rights are implemented.
9. Training appropriate staff concerning how to effectively implement a behavior management plan. This includes verbally reviewing the problem and the behavioral interventions, modeling the program, observing staff while they implement the program, providing feedback to and training staff as necessary, and completing behavioral proficiency scales on trained staff to enhance the effectiveness of training.
10. Creating and updating behavior plans, as assigned.
11. Completion of functional assessments as assigned:

1. Interview staff, individual/family, supervisor and others who know the individual as needed.
2. Provide standardized assessment measures
3. Analyze data, write functional assessment.
4. All functional assessments should meet DDA requirements.

1. If assigned, provide psychology consultations. Meet with assigned staff on assigned caseloads at least monthly.
2. Review previous consults, ABCs, medication changes, data, reliability notes, information from parents/supervisors/team members and any other information as needed.
3. Provide recommendations to changes to behavior support plan based on on-going functional assessment.
4. Aid psychologist in developing and implementing behavioral training.
5. Creating and updating behavior plans, as needed.
6. Advanced instructional guidelines and plans for individuals.
7. Completion of observations and reliabilities:

1. Schedule and observe each staff member implement the behavior plan once a month.
2. Psychology Associate should make sure to observe a thorough implementation of the behavior plan during their scheduled time. Observing at specific sites, checking on the data and monitoring the ongoing implementation of behavior management and instructional programs.
3. Review most recent Psychology Consult notes for information from monthly consults with either the psychologist or psychology associate. Inform and train staff on the updates, as needed.
4. Provide write-up of observation of staff. Accurately document, on rely notes, deviations from BMP procedures as outlined in the behavior support plan. Document behaviors of concern the individual demonstrated during the observation and staff response.
5. Check safety and supervision guidelines. Ensure appropriate follow through if safety or supervision guidelines are not followed.
6. Provide thorough, concise, and thoughtful feedback to staff members on observations of behavior management plan implementation.
7. Communicate with supervisors and directors and others as needed when assessing individual or staff difficulties.

1. Timely completion of notes, schedules, and other paperwork. All paperwork should follow the CSS template.
2. Other duties as assigned.
3. Adhering to all agency policies and procedures, all applicable regulations and Accreditation Council standards.
4. Comply with CSS policy, standards, and applicable state and federal regulations.

The Psychology Associate reports directly to the supervising psychologist.