Behavioral Support Specialist

The Behavioral Support Specialist (BSS) primary responsibilities include all aspects of care for WellHouse Child residents, meeting basic and short-term needs, organization, and supporting each residents’ personal goals to succeed.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assist the Social Service/Clinical team with planning in accordance with the mission of TWH and coordinates the delivery of services among different program activities to increase success, effectiveness, and efficiency.
• Work in collaboration with Home Coordinators, Social Service/Clinical team and PD.
• Establishes the caretaker relationship with residents when they enter WH
• Regularly works with resident to overcome obstacles that hinder progress as guided by Social Service/Clinical Team.
• Meets weekly with other staff to include Therapist and PD to strategize on issues related to residents.
• Ensure case management and program activities operate within the policies and procedures of TWH.
• Maintain Data Entry of all activities and incidents in a timely manner.
• Communicate with residents and others to gain support for the program and solicit input to improve the program with guidance from the Social Service/Clinical team.
• Work with other administrative staff to ensure the effective and efficient program delivery.
• Collaborate with the Clinical team for the successful and smooth operation of resident activities, chores, and off-site appointments/activities as directed by Social Service/Clinical Team.
• Provides direct care to residents in WHC. BSS’s have the primary responsibility for ensuring the resident’s safety in our care utilizing a therapeutic approach to all tasks to include challenging behaviors, daily activities and other duties as assigned by the Social Service/Clinical Team, PD or CPO.
• Routine walk-through of the entire facility.
• Always ensure the physical location/safety of each resident.
• Ensure calendar activities and appointments are scheduled and on perspective calendars.
• Guide Home Coordinators in providing direction to each resident; assists in meetings with resident’s relative to issues within the homes.
• Assist with the coordination of the provision of healthy, nutritious meals with the PD and HC.
• Assist with the coordination of the provision of stylish, properly fitted, clean, good quality clothing and shoes, while allowing the resident input, via WC provisions of such.
• Assist with corrective discipline and ensure it is handled as outlined in the resident handbook.
• Assist with the coordination of daily chores and weekly work assignments with PD and HC.
• May perform minor maintenance and cleaning and maintain organization and functionality in the homes.
• Coordinate supervision of residents during activities off site as requested by PD.
• As needed, dispense and log medication for residents in accordance with TWH/WC policy.
• Provides and/or coordinates transportation as needed.
• Perform other related duties as requested by the PD and CPO.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Facilitate weekly debrief to multidisciplinary team
• Initiate daily check-in with House Manager
• Complete daily assessment into database before ending each shift
• Ongoing follow-up with Social Service/Clinical team is required
• Complete the Reasonable and Prudent Parenting Standard training annually
• Obtain and maintain CPR training
• Participate in a 30-hour training within 180 days of hire
• Attend all other training as required
• After one year of employment, participate in a minimum of 15 hours of in-service training
• Reports concerns to the PD

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Strong judgment and critical thinking skills.

2. Ability to maintain professional boundaries with rescues, residents, volunteers, stakeholders, donors, guests, and other WellHouse staff.

3. Must possess effective reading comprehension skills.

4. Must possess strong customer service skills (courteous, friendly, etc.). Requires the ability to identify and solve problems in a calm, logical manner. Problem solving will include cooperative efforts with the rescues, residents, volunteers, stakeholders, donors, guests, and other WellHouse Child staff.

5. Demonstrated organizational skills, with the ability to manage crisis, deescalate individuals, foster teamwork; multi-task; adapt quickly to change; and the ability to integrate the organization’s mission with required tasks, residents and rescues.

6. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to write and speak clearly and effectively, and to listen attentively.

7. Highly motivated, organized, and display mature judgement.

8. Demonstrated ability to comply with policies and procedures; uses proven sound judgement and discretion with sensitive information.

9. Ability to work independently.

10. Must be ethical (honest, responsible, accountable, demonstrates integrity).

11. Ability to work respectfully, non-judgmentally, and professionally with diverse groups of people and various populations in a culturally competent manner. This includes internal and external interactions.

12. Must be adaptable (open to feedback, change, new ideas) and be flexible in job tasks within a team format.

13. Ability to be flexible in working hours to address emergency situations, shift coverage, meetings, and various organizational priorities.

14. Must maintain eligibility requirements for The WellHouse vehicle insurance coverage. Requires a current and valid unencumbered driver’s license.

15. Must respect and advance The WellHouse mission.

Requirements :

1. Bachelor’s Degree in the field of social work, psychology, administration, or a related field from a college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting associations of the United States preferred. Will consider if graduating within six months of application.

2. Human Services field or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience is required.

3. Applicants with at least 2 years of specialized experience in trauma informed services are preferred.

4. Detailed and organized with strong documentation skills.

5. Able to safely monitor residents and perform physical management techniques and crisis intervention (training available upon hire)

6. Experience in a residential mental/behavioral health setting strongly preferred.

7. Successfully pass background screen (includes criminal history, Child Abuse and Neglect Registry, and ABI/FVI fingerprint check) and drug testing.

8. Required - training or experience in child development issues

9. Required - physical health adequate to participate, when appropriate, in the activities of children, as documented by the required medical examination.

10. Required - minimum age of 19 years old.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT

To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to travel independently and to talk or hear and to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to sit and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or transport up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The company will comply with all requirements of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

DISCLAIMER

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria considered necessary to successfully perform the job. Management reserves the right to revise the position or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change (e.g., emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, rush jobs requiring non-regular work hours or technological developments).