Behavior Support Specialist - 1666 Brown Ave

Woods Services; Langhorne (Bucks County); On-site; USD 38,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Woods Services is seeking a Behavior Support Specialist for Gentile Drive community home to support adults with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviors in a residential setting. You will implement behavior plans, supervise clients, and help build daily living skills.

Documentation, safety, and teamwork with clinicians are essential. You will participate in multidisciplinary treatment planning, maintain incident reports, and ensure compliance with state regulations.

Qualifications

• Requires High School Diploma or GED or an Associate’s degree with 7 years of residential/behavioral health care experience, including de-escalation.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree preferred with 1 year of related experience.
• Must be able to communicate emergency information in English.
• Must have valid Driver’s License and CPR certification; first aid training as required.

Responsibilities

• Actively participate in therapeutic milieu with behaviorally-based interventions.
• Ensure client safety and supervision per ISP; follow program policies.
• Assist with activities of daily living and independence training.
• Provide community engagement and life skills development for residents.
• Document client progress and incident reports; communicate with shifts.
• Attend mandatory trainings and maintain required licenses.
• Transport clients to activities and appointments; ensure proper supervision.
• Assist in treatment planning and collaboration with interdisciplinary team.
• Maintain confidentiality and professional relationships with clients and families.

Skills

Behavioral health care

De-escalation

Documentation

Data collection

CPR

First Aid

Education

High School Diploma / GED

Associate's degree

Bachelor's or Master’s preferred

Tools

Carelogic

Job description

Overview

Responsible for the treatment, care, and supervision of intellectually disabled adults that exhibit challenging behaviors and/or complex medical issues in a Community-Based Group Home setting. Supports clinical services through active engagement and utilizing the principles of positive reinforcement, life skills and communication skills development to decrease maladaptive behaviors while increasing positive replacement behaviors. Implements, monitors, and reports upon therapeutic strategies and programming. Ensures the provision of a safe and therapeutic atmosphere throughout the residence and community. Reports and documents any and all incidents that occur at the home or in the community, documents daily client progress notes and related behavioral data. Maintain a positive working relationship with supervisory, support, peer and other Woods Community Services employees and conduct themselves in a professional manner while adhering to all Woods Community Services, federal, and state policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Actively participates in and contributes to the therapeutic milieu through the implementation, coordination, and support of behaviorally-based interventions.
• Ensures the clients safety and well-being: actively supervisees clients in accordance with each client’s needs, level of supervision as stipulated in the ISP, treatment goals, program policies and procedures.
• Provide assistance, instructions and guidance toward client independence in such areas as dressing, washing, feeding, personal hygiene, tooth brushing, toileting, social interactions, effective/appropriate communications techniques, etc.
• Provides community engagement opportunities for residents that include but not limited to leisure or recreational activities, communication activities, spiritual activities, cultural activities, vocational pursuits, volunteerism, educational and training activities, development of living and life skills (i.e. banking, shopping, cooking, cleaning, and budgeting), health and wellness promotion, and teaching safety and community awareness
• Participates as a member of the program’s interdisciplinary treatment team, contributes information regarding client progress in relation to the individual’s general well-being; identifies treatment goals and strategies (including individualized protocols), his or her role and functioning within the program milieu, special needs, community and family interactions, and other pertinent information. Documents information as directed.
• Responsible for fulfilling mandatory training requirements at specified times as per 6400 regulations. Must ensure that required licenses and certifications are valid and current, this includes but is not limited to CPR, First Aid, Driver’s License, Fire Safety and Medication Administration.
• Responsible for training in ODP Incident Management Bulletin to recognize and immediately report incidents that require HCSIS submission to on call personnel.
• Assists in the development of individual treatment goals and strategies; implements planned treatment procedures under the supervision of the behavior therapist.
• Implements crisis stabilization procedures as directed by the behavior therapist and in accordance with established policies and procedures. In the event of any emergency, communicates pertinent information to the appropriate person. Prepare incident reports as directed.
• Responsible for housekeeping tasks including but not limited to cleaning kitchens, bathrooms, living/dining rooms, making beds, sorting laundry, organizing clients and maintaining a neat and orderly residential program.
• Assist in shopping for supplies for the clients and the program. Maintaining resident’s funds and petty cash. Submit receipts to supervisor.
• Participate in individual and or group recreational and/or social activities based upon the particular needs of assigned clients.
• Transport clients to and from day program, school, medical/therapy appointments, social and recreational activities. Supervise clients and maintain proper levels of supervision while out in the community or day program.
• Administers emergency first aid treatment (including CPR) and implements fire safety procedures in accordance with Woods’ policies and procedures.
• Receives/provides relevant information (written and oral) regarding clients, milieu status and programming to/from successive shift staff.
• Maintains satisfactory attendance and punctuality.
• Collect data on observable behaviors to measure progress.
• Help de-escalate disruptive behaviors and maintain safe environment using individualized behavior plans or unit plans to manage safe behaviors.
• Participates in departmental staff meetings and individual supervision.
• Assist clinician in management and delivery of all aspects of client’s programs and instruction.
• Assists clinician in delivery of instructional activities including selection of instructional and collateral educational materials.
• Monitors client’s behaviors and collects data for skills acquisition and incident reports.
• Write reports and notes as assigned; Inputs and accesses information via carelogic.
• Assist in maintaining consistency and integrity of program by participating in program assessment.
• Implement evidence-based best practices while consistently adhering to written program
• Assists in evacuation clients during fire drills, emergencies and unusual practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Relates to clients and family members in a manner that reflects an awareness of respect for individual variances including cognitive and developmental functioning, as well as social behavior, familial, religious, cultural, and ethnic differences.
• Communicates with family members and / or agency personnel in a positive, effective manner
• Establish relations with local law enforcement, EMS, fire department and neighboring communities to ensure residents have positive community interactions and integrated into the community.
• Maintains the confidentiality of clients and their families/guardians.

Qualifications

Qualifications for Gentile Drive community home only:

Behavior Support Specialist

Must possess a High School Diploma/GED OR Associate's degree (issued in the US, or verified by an authorized accreditation agency), plus 7 years experience in residential and/or behavioral health care with experience working with behaviorally challenged individuals including implementation of behavioral and therapeutic interventions and de-escalation. Bachelors degree or master degree preferred with 1 year experience preferred.

Must be 18 years of age and must be able to verbally communicate emergency information in English over the phone.

Must possess a current and valid Driver’s License and must maintain current CPR certification.

Must successfully complete and pass Office of Developmental Programs approved medication administration course within the first 30-days of employment and must maintain all renewal requirements.

Must successfully complete an in-house training program focusing on a variety of complex behavior intervention strategies, and must demonstrate the ability to transfer the skills learned in the client’s daily life.

Must be to lift a minimum of 50 pounds, be agile, physically pursue clients on foot, physically restrain, bend, squad, stretch, reach, push up and stand for several hours at a time.