Autism Assistant | IDD/ADD Services

Valley Behavioral Health; Parkman (ME); On-site; USD 20,173 - 28,731; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On‑Demand Pay

15 days PTO + holidays + wellness days

Health & Insurance Benefits

HSA with company match

401(k) Retirement Plan

Professional Development

Tuition/licensure reimbursement

Job summary

Valley Behavioral Health at Pingree Center seeks an Autism Assistant to support children and adolescents with autism in educational settings. You will work closely with the Autism Specialist to design and implement treatment programs and learning materials that foster essential life, communication, and social skills.

You will assist in delivering comprehensive care, collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, and help create meaningful, growth‑oriented experiences in home and community

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Three months of autism or direct client care experience.
• Agency Provided Certifications, CPR, Valley de-escalation certification may be required.

Responsibilities

• Develop individualized programs focusing on social, communication, and behavioral skills.
• Lead the classroom when the Autism Specialist is unavailable to maintain a structured learning environment.
• Assist clients with participation in classroom and skills groups.
• Support the treatment team with academic structure and behavioral techniques.
• Implement interventions to promote self-management, communication, and social skills.
• Assist with client wellbeing and hygiene as needed.
• De-escalate clients safely and appropriately.
• Follow documentation policies for assessments, care plans, transitions and discharge.
• Collaborate with internal and external multidisciplinary teams on clinical aspects of treatment.

Skills

Communication

Collaboration

Behavioral techniques

Classroom management

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Description

Empower Children Through Compassionate Care

At Pingree Center, you'll play an important role in supporting children and adolescents with autism as they develop essential life, communication, and social skills. Through compassionate, hands‑on support and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, you'll help create meaningful learning experiences that encourage growth and independence.

Pay

Range starts at $17.75/hour (pay is calculated based on years of related experience)

Schedule

Monday – Friday | 8:00am – 5:00pm

Benefits Highlights

• Compensation Our compensation program includes tenure‑based service increases and performance bonuses that recognize and reward high‑performing team members.
• On‑Demand Pay gives you access to a portion of your earned wages before your scheduled payday.
• Time Off We offer 15 days of accrued paid time off annually (increasing by one day with each year of service), 10 paid holidays, 2 wellness days, and paid parental leave.
• Health & Insurance Benefits Full‑time and part‑time team members working 30+ hours per week are eligible for medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, as well as voluntary options including accident, hospital indemnity, critical illness, financial protection, and pet insurance. Valley also provides Basic Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, and Long‑Term Disability Insurance at no cost to eligible team members.
• Health Savings & Reimbursement Out‑of‑pocket medical expenses may be eligible for reimbursement through our Garner HRA — up to $2,000 for individuals and $4,000 for families. Depending on your medical plan selection, you may also contribute pre‑tax dollars to a Health Savings Account (HSA), with a company match of up to $900 for individuals and $1,800 for families.
• Retirement Our 401(k) plan accepts both pre‑tax and Roth (post‑tax) contributions and includes a company match of up to 6% of your annual salary.
• Professional Development We invest in our team members' growth through tuition reimbursement, new licensure reimbursement, paid training and conference attendance, continuing education reimbursement, and paid time for continuing education.

Why Valley?

Since 1984, Valley Behavioral Health has helped thousands of adults, children, and families access high‑quality behavioral health care. As the largest non‑profit community behavioral health provider in the Intermountain Region, Valley offers a comprehensive range of services to ensure each individual receives the personalized care they need to heal and grow. You will belong in a community where you can be yourself, grow your career, and embrace new opportunities. Valley is committed to being an organization that promotes authenticity and encourages opportunities for success.

Job Summary

The Autism Assistant assists in the delivery of comprehensive educational and developmental support to children and adolescents with autism in a classroom setting. The Assistant works closely with the Autism Specialist and contributes to the design and implementation of treatment programs and education materials. The Assistant supports clients in acquiring essential skills and behaviors necessary for success in their home and community environments.

Essential Functions

• Assists the Autism Specialist in developing individualized programs for children and adolescents with autism; focuses on enhancing social, communication, and behavioral skills
• Assumes leadership responsibilities in the classroom when the Autism Specialist is unavailable; ensures a structured and productive learning environment for students
• Assists clients with participation in the classroom, skills groups, and educational support as assigned
• Supports the treatment team in providing academic structure through the application of behavioral techniques and procedures
• Implements therapeutic and behavioral interventions to encourage and support self‑management, communication, and social skills
• Ensures client wellbeing by assisting with hygiene responsibilities as required
• De‑escalates clients appropriately and safely
• Follows agency documentation policies for all phases of treatment, including assessments, care plans, treatment transitions and discharge plans, and client care
• Collaboration with internal and external multidisciplinary teams regarding clinical aspects of treatment
• Adheres to ethical and legal standards set by licensing boards and state regulations
• Meets direct care expectations
• Participates in ongoing professional development activities to meet licensure, certification, and/or other agency requirements

Requirements

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent
• Experience: Three months of autism or direct client care experience
• Licenses/Certificates:
  • Agency Provided Certifications
  • CPR certification
  • Valley de‑escalation certification
  • Driving positions require a minimum age of 21 and a current driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications

• None