Behavioral Specialist

We accept applications for open positions. We are an equal opportunity employer.

Empowering People's Independence (EPI), provides support for people with
developmental disabilities, epilepsy, and brain injury through progressive, tailored
care to improve their health, wellbeing, independence, and social inclusion.

Job Purpose:
Oversee mental health/mental illness, emotional, and behavioral needs of individuals assigned to caseload.

Essential Functions:

• Write behavior support plans, guidelines, and monitoring plans to outline the use of proactive approaches, SCIP-R personal interventions, restrictions, and/or psychotropic medications used to address behavioral concerns.
• Write Risk Management Plans as needed for individuals assigned to caseload as needed and present them to Risk Management Committee.
• Act as a liaison between psychiatrists, counselors, or other mental health professionals and residential/work or day hab team.
• Update all assigned paperwork as needed; obtain necessary signatures for approval, including parent/guardian and human rights committee when applicable.
• Obtain certification to teach SCIP-R class and Positive Approaches, as assigned.
• Attend psychiatry appointments with individuals assigned to caseload as needed.
• Prepare and bring behavior data and relevant information to psychiatry appointments.
• Maintain contact with mental health counselors for individuals assigned to caseload through regular emails and/or phone calls.
• Write a behavioral summary of behavior documentation and relevant information for individuals assigned to caseload.
• Review all behavior support plans and document no less frequently than semi-annually. Include a review and analysis of the frequency, duration, and/or intensity of use of restrictive/intrusive interventions and/or limitations on a person’s rights included in the behavior support plan.
• Compile behavior data, medication forms, and other required forms to submit to Human Rights Committee as necessary for individuals assigned to caseload.
• Serve on Human Rights Committee, Informed Consent Committee, as applicable
• Attend ISP/Life Plan meetings.
• Attend weekly behavior team meetings, monthly clinical and staff meetings.
• Attend admission and pre-admission meetings as assigned.
• In-service behavior support plans as needed at staff meetings.
• Complete residential and day hab visits/observations as needed to gather information for behavior support plans and to provide recommendations for staff.
• Provide consultations for individuals not fully supported on a caseload, in order to give recommendations to residential/day hab teams regarding staff supports, individual supports, referrals, or other suggestions.
• Maintain communication and collaboration with individuals, parents/guardians, residential and work/day hab teams, care coordinators, nurses, and other relevant clinicians and supports.
• Provide on-call support to direct support staff.
• Administer assessments/evaluations of mental health status or behavioral concerns; for example, Vineland Behavior Scale, Motivation Assessment Scale, Credibility Assessment, Functional Behavioral Assessment, etc. as needed.
• Develop and maintain professional competency through attending conferences, seminars, and/or continuing education.
• Provide all behavior support plans which incorporate a restrictive/intrusive intervention and/or limitation on a person’s rights for review by supervising licensed psychologist.

Non-Essential Functions:

• Ensure all monthly paperwork is completed and filed.
• Participate on various committees as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned within scope of practice.

Compliance:

• Must maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion concerning all business-related matters, including but not limited to board/vendors/donors’ names, investigations, finance, operations, and employee relations matters.
• Must be willing to complete specific company required trainings as mandated by our governing agency, Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), at time of hire and annually thereafter.
• Must adhere to all departmental /company policies & procedures at all times.

Education and Experience:
Master’s degree in social work, a clinical or treatment field of psychology, applied psychology, or school psychology; OR a National Board certification in behavior analysis (BCBA) and a master’s degree in behavior analysis, or a field closely related to clinical, or community psychology preferred; OR NYS license in Mental Health Counseling

Computer Skills:

• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft programs to include Email, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Zoom, Webex.
• Experience with programs such as Medisked and Evero preferred.

Qualifications:

• Must possess and maintain a valid NYS Driver’s License-a vehicle is required for business travel.
• Maintain current certifications with all required trainings including but not limited to SCIP-R and CPR & First Aid at time of hire and annually thereafter.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret policies, and a variety of instructions. procedures, regulations, clinical plans, and individual service plans.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, procedure manuals, and other required communications.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to groups of individuals of EPI serves, their families, employees, representatives of oversight agencies, other service providers, and the general public.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of options in situations where only limited instructions exist.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a multi-disciplinary cross functional team.
• Ability to empower teams in plan implementation through education, modeling, and coaching.
• Ability to assist in solution building when challenges to recommendation implementation become apparent.
• Possesses strong assessment skills as demonstrated by utilization of evidenced based methods
• Appropriate selection of intervention methodologies based on assessment. Effective use of clinical and administrative supervision aimed at continual clinical development.

Physical Demands:
The physical demands described below are representative of those that are required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Individuals with disabilities, which impact their ability to perform the essential functions, will need to review reasonable accommodations with Human Resources.

• Must be able to talk, hear, stand, walk, and/or sit for extended periods of time; may have to twist, bend, use hand to finger, stretch with hands and arms.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• May be exposed to strong odors from time to time.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Physical agility and ability to react to emergency situations, including maintaining Strategies for Crisis Intervention and Prevention (SCIP-R) Curriculum certification as per OPWDD regulations

Benefits:

• 403(b) with discretionary match
• Dental & Vision insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance with HSA and employer match
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Generous PTO bank
• Parental leave
• Referral program

While performing the duties of this position, the employee travels by automobile and/or Agency Van and will be exposed to changing weather conditions
Pay Range $60,000 - $65,000
#INDHP

Empowering People's Independence(EPI)

1650 South Avenue
Rochester, N.Y. 14620
Call or Text us at (585)204-0896
recruiter@epiny.org

Salary : $60,000 - $65,000