Developmental Interventionist, EI

The Arc’s Early Intervention Program, funded by the NJ Department of Health, is open to any child from birth to age 3, who has a developmental delay or disability, or who is at risk for developing a delay or disability. Following a comprehensive evaluation of a child’s needs, the Early Intervention Team develops a coordinated approach to the provision of developmental intervention services, which includes physical, occupational and/or speech therapy, behavior intervention, and social work services. All services are provided within the child’s natural environment.

This position provides services to children ages 0-3 with developmental needs and their families in-home and/or community settings throughout Union County. This role requires a compassionate professional who is dedicated to making a significant impact on a child’s ability to learn new skills and help overcome challenges to increase success in school and life. This role requires a patient skilled professional who encourages and inspires our clients to work toward greater independence while meeting their developmental milestones. 

Early Intervention is a family-training model. This position provides a unique approach to best support our clients and families’ individual needs. As a Developmental Interventionist, this staff along with our collective Early Intervention team takes a person-centered approach and focuses on the child's strengths and individual differences, while developing an intervention plan that addresses his or her unique profile. The incumbent will be responsible for providing home and based early intervention services to infants and toddlers who have or are at risk for developmental delays and their families. The incumbent will partner with parents/caregivers to ensure service delivery is individualized, meaningful for the family, and grounded in evidence-based practice. 

This position is to both educate and coach families on effective strategies to help their child reach developmental milestones and improve daily routines. Assist the family in understanding the special needs and development of their child. Perform Family Training with the family, caregiver and child in their home or daycare setting. Provide professional and responsible Service Coordination to meet the needs of the child and the family. Thos job assignment requires the practitioner to make home visits to train parents and caregivers in helping to improve developmental skills; us specific interventions based on the child’s (birth to three) individual needs; acts as a role model for parents in the natural home environment; act as a liaison between professional licensed staff, parents, and agencies. Make verbal and written recommendations to parents, caregivers, staff, agencies for the purpose of assisting infants/toddlers towards successful implementation and management of in-home training.

Note: All completed NJEIS authorization logs, progress notes and accompanying bills for services are due to the agency no later than the 1^st working day of each new month. All dates on the authorization must include the day, month and year. Each authorization should reflect the services provided to a single child and must include a valid parent verification, i.e., a dated signature attesting that the type and amount of services delivered on the given date. Authorizations must reflect only the current month in which services have been delivered and must be signed by the family at EACH session. 

Scope and Limits of Authority:

This position is responsible for acting in compliance with a child’s IFSP and in accordance with NJEIS requirements. This position does not have staff reporting responsibilities and functions under direct supervision and instruction from the Sr. Director, Early Intervention Services. Receives structured project direction and assignments from the Director, Early Intervention Services. Incumbents work within a framework of established goals and objectives. Incumbents in this classification are not authorized to assign, coordinate, supervise and or evaluate the work of others.

Employees are not authorized to solicit and provide services to any family outside of scheduled hours as issued and assigned to the employee by the agency.

Work Hours:

Developmental Interventionist is a per diem position and work hours will vary.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in early childhood, Special Education, or related child studies field; at minimum of 6 months of experience working with children under the age of 5; Valid Driver's License.

Skills and Competencies: 

The incumbent must be able to problem solve and be flexible to respond to environmental changes to best support our individuals. Must be able to handle multiple tasks in an efficient and effective manner within a fast-paced environment. Excellent computer skills, superior interpersonal skills, and oral and written communication skills a must. A minimum of one (1) year experience utilizing principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) or One (1) year professional classroom experience with birth-three population or 6 college credits in special/early childhood education.

                                                                           Position Responsibilities

Operations

• Develop Plan of Treatment for each child/family based on initial and ongoing evaluations including short- and long-term goals, collaboration demands of other team members, and required child and caregiver involvement.
• Implement Plan of Treatment on a consistent schedule and adjust this schedule and plan according to child’s progress.
• Document child’s progress according to the IFSP document and NJEIS requirements.
• Evaluate mobility, strength, and current level of child’s function, while setting goals to improve in these areas that are scaled to child’s abilities and realistically attainable.
• Report child progress to parent or caregiver involved in ongoing care of child.
• Coordinate updates with service coordinators with an IFSP plan for children every 6 months or sooner as designated within the individual plan with appropriate in-home care services.

Maintain professional and technical knowledge through attending educational workshops.

• Demonstrate effective teaching skills with children/family members/caregivers and maintains safety and care of the child during treatment sessions.
• Responsible for maintaining required training as deemed necessary by the Agency.
• Responsible to provide documentation related to services rendered to include daily session notes into EIMS showing documentation per session, NJEIS authorization logs stating date/time of session with parent signature, consultation/evaluation reports and maintaining adequate and current records.

Leadership 

Alignment with the demand of the organizations reporting requirement: ability to use resourceful means to create an advantageous position to channel the energy and activities of others in support of the entire demand of the organization’s goals.

Follows and models agency policy, procedures and compliance and supports day-to-day operations and services to include the performance of job tasks of staff.

Develops and maintains communications with relevant stakeholders and developing and maintaining an understanding of their needs, objectives, and constraints so that long-term, mutually beneficial solutions and conflict resolution practices can be created for all parties.

Models’ responsible leadership of the principals of good business practices. 

Works professionally and collaboratively with Operations, families and community supports. 

Knowledgeable of agency policy and can manage his/her individual requests for vacation, sick leave, and other excused periods away from work so that it does not impact agency operations.

Complies with agency rules and policies regarding employee conduct.

Maintains an environment of open professional communications with colleagues.

Focuses on customer needs and customer satisfaction, projects a positive customer service environment to both internal and external customers and promotes and encourages an attitude of exemplary customer service and high integrity to all staff within the Early Intervention Services.

Has excellent command of communication, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving skills. 

Has demonstrated ability to make logical informed decisions. 

Administrative Duties

Write monthly progress reports within a proper timeline as mandated by the agency and state regulations.

Quality Control

• Review and revise reports and assessments as needed.

• Sign all documentation under your supervision as required on a daily/weekly basis.

Client Relations

• Assist under the direction of assigned therapists to schedule, coordinate and/or assist with the facilitation of individual or group meetings with parents related to specific topics or areas of interest.

Reporting/Analysis

Ability to report on status of specific duties and activities of the Early Intervention Services as required or requested.

Required Training

Adult and Infant/Child CPR                                        

State mandated training    

Continued education through courses that support learning in social services.

COVID-19                                                        

HIPAA

Agency Orientation/Diversity/Harassment

Other agency sponsored training as required to include maintaining agility with MSOffice software.

Required Licenses and or Certifications:

(ADA) Mental/Physical Effort and Working Conditions:

The Arc of Union County will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability so that they can perform the essential functions of a job unless doing so causes a direct threat to these individuals or others in the workplace and the threat cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation or if the accommodation creates an undue hardship for The Arc of Union County. 
 

(Physical Demands) 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: 

• ability to operate a motor vehicle and drive to and from local and remote locations as needed.
• ability to verbally communicate and converse with employees. 
• maintain a stationary position standing 80%, sitting 20%
• move/traverse, kneel, bend, and reach with hands and arms for extended periods of time, 90% up to 100% depending on the job type.
• lift to an average of 35 lbs. To effectively perform the essential functions of this role.
• work as described to include ability to hear and repeat information, take notes, read documents.
• carry necessary field equipment by hand or cart weighing up to 40 lbs. on occasion; and other physical duties as directed by your supervisor.
• agility with wrist and finger dexterity to access, key and sort electronic information or to file documents. 

(EEO statement)  

The Arc of Union County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. 
 (Work Environment)

The agency offers safety training such as Universal Precautions/Infectious diseases, COVID-19 Education and Safety Practices among others to promote a safe environment for all employees and service recipients including visitors. Personal Protective Equipment and necessary supplies such as disinfectants are supplied to all employees free of charge. Each employee is responsible for completing the offered training and implementing the health and safety protocols and mitigation practices consistently. 

Each employee must fully comply with all requests to participate in investigations and inspections.

Employees who may encounter individuals served shall be subject to and comply with the requirements for random drug testing for controlled dangerous substances. Criminal history record background checks will be conducted at least once every two years for agency’s employees. Any employee who is required to undergo a criminal history record background check and refuses to consent to, or cooperate in, the securing of a criminal history record background check shall be immediately removed from the person’s position and the person's employment shall be terminated.

This position is classified as a core to the agency operations and will require the incumbent to provide the agency with a minimum of (4) weeks’ notice prior to vacating this role.