Behavioral Health Services Coordinator

The Alden Network; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

The Alden Network seeks a licensed or licensed-eligible psychologist to oversee psychological and behavioral management at its DD Pediatric Skilled and DD Independent Group-Living facilities. You will organize, supervise, and run initiatives in line with Alden policies and federal/state guidelines.

You will conduct assessments, provide leadership to staff, and ensure high-quality resident care, documentation, and compliance with regulations.

Qualifications

• Doctorate Degree in Psychology; license preferred.
• One year experience in the psychological realm of healthcare including interviews, testing and behavioral management.
• Must be literate in DSM usage.
• Knowledge of Federal and State LTC Developmental Disability regulations and/or ability to interpret them.
• Ability to work with residents, families, staff and community agency personnel.
• Ability to make independent decisions in the best interest of residents, staff and families.
• Marketing skills to convey Alden’s DD Program to community and professionals.

Responsibilities

• Establish and monitor achievement of facilities’ goals through a team approach.
• Develop and maintain therapeutic, clinical, person-centered initiatives meeting residents’ psychological and behavioral needs.
• Maintain all Policies, Procedures and State/Federal regulations.
• Conduct and document psychological testing and evaluations for residents.
• Understand each resident’s background and care needs to ensure accurate documentation and staff guidance.
• Document interactions with residents and families to support resident advocacy as required by State standards.
• Oversee behavior management including observation, development of behavior plans, and collaboration with psychiatrists and school/day program systems.
• Provide rapport and supportive counseling to residents and families as needed; document accordingly.
• Provide quarterly trainings to staff on behavioral management and related topics; educate families and residents.
• Communicate with families, residents and staff through education and modeling appropriate interactions.
• Assist in audits and participate in public health surveys; be on-call for visits during these surveys.
• Maintain records and support Quality Improvement Programs; perform related duties as assigned.

Skills

Psychology expertise

Leadership

Staff training

Interviews & testing

Clinical documentation

Communication

Education

Doctorate Degree in Psychology

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

• Oversight related to psychological and behavioral management duties and responsibilities at Alden’s Developmental Disability (DD) Pediatric Skilled facilities and DD Independent Group-Living facilities. Responsible to the facilities to organize, oversee and run the overall operation of the psychological and behavioral initiatives in accordance with current Alden policies and procedures, federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations at these facilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Doctorate Degree in the Psychology field. License preferred.
• Have one year of experience working in the psychological realm of the healthcare field, including psychological interviews, testing and behavioral management. Must be literate in the use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.
• Current knowledge of Federal and State Long-Term Care (LTC) Developmental Disability regulations and/or ability to understand and interpret these regulations.
• Demonstrate skills and ability in working with and understanding the needs of the residents, families, other staff members and personnel from community agencies.
• Must be able to read, write, and speak the English language in an understandable manner. The ability to produce concise, meaningful, clinical written reports, assessments, and documentation initiatives and articulate the psychological/behavioral needs of the residents.
• Must possess the ability to make independent decisions when circumstances warrant such action that are in the best interest of the residents, staff, and families. Must possess the ability to deal tactfully with residents, family members, visitors, personnel, government agencies/personnel and the general public in a professional manor.
• Must possess marketing skills to effectively express Alden’s DD Program to the community, other health professionals, outside professional organizations, senior services, government agencies, and any other provider or professional in the community.
• Must have the sincere desire to work with a variety of populations that require long-term or short-term care, especially those with developmental and physical disabilities. Possess a knowledge and ability to apply that knowledge to deal effectively with these populations.

• Possess the ability assess these populations through psychological interviews and testing procedures and guide and direct staff in clinical therapeutic approaches effective with these populations, as well as residents with mental health issues, on an-ongoing basis.
• Must possess leadership ability and a willingness to work harmoniously with other personnel.
• The ability to accept and utilize professional supervision, consultation and in- service training/educational opportunities.
• Must demonstrate the ability to handle confidential data with professional discretion.
• Possess the qualities of empathy, compassion, understanding, enthusiasm, and humor in order to effectively interact with residents, families, and staff.
• Must function independently, have flexibility, personal integrity, and the ability to work effectively with the residents, family members, personnel, and support agencies.
• Willingness to be flexible regarding working hours in order to ensure quality of care.
• Understand and be able to manage emotional needs of yourself and be cognizant of the staff’s emotional needs that you are engaged with daily.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to move intermittently throughout the workday and be free of physical limitation in order to participate in the physical crisis prevention (CPI) techniques as trained by a certified trainer.
• Must possess sight/hearing senses or use prosthetics that will enable these senses to function adequately so that the requirements of the position can be fully met.
• Must be in good general health and demonstrate emotional stability. Must be able to cope with the mental and emotional stress of the position.
• Must be able to relate to and work with (physically/mentally) ill, disabled, elderly, emotionally upset and at times hostile people.
• May be subject to exposure of infectious waste, diseases, conditions, etc., including exposure to HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis B virus.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Establish and monitor achievement of facilities’ goals through a team approach.
• Develop and maintain therapeutic, clinical, person-centered initiatives in meeting the psychological and behavioral needs of each resident, which constantly strives to enhance their quality of life.
• Maintain all Policies and Procedures and State and Federal regulations.
• Conduct and document psychological and testing evaluations through written report, initial and on-going, for residents of the said facilities.
• Become knowledgeable of each individual resident’s background, cultural, life history, disease, and psychological and medical care needs in detail to ensure
• accurate documentation and to provide appropriate guidance to staff on psychological and behavioral needs.
• Document interactions with and in-between resident and/or family in the assessment and/or social services notes in support of resident advocacy as required by the State standards of practice. It may be necessary to interview family, friends, community agency representatives and utilize clinical records in order to complete thorough assessment and documentation procedures.
• Oversight of behavior management, including observation of residents’ moods and behaviors, development of behavior plans (behavior and social integration), reviewing behavioral data and providing effective interventions to staff, working collaboratively with psychiatrists, working collaboratively with school and day program systems in managing behaviors and participation in assigned meetings in order to guide staff in these processes.
• Provide good rapport through active listening with residents and/or families who express the need to talk and must be available to provide supportive counseling and behavioral intervention as identified through oneself and/or other resources. Documentation will be completed.
• Provide at least quarterly trainings to staff on behavioral management, DD, intellectual and mental health diagnoses, symptoms, and treatment, etc. based on needs of facilities.
• Provide scheduled and/or spontaneous education for families, residents, and staff. Educate by modeling appropriate interactions and approaches while on the units of the facilities.
• Conduct preparatory audits and participate in annual public health surveys for all said facilities. Be on-call for visitation during complaint public health surveys at these said facilities.
• Maintain adequate record system for obtaining, recording, and filing of documentation.
• Participate in the development, maintenance, and implementation of the facility’s Quality Improvement Programs, as needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.