Department: Clinical
Classification: Exempt
Reports to: Vice President
Position Type: Supervisory
JOB SUMMARY: The Behaviorist will be the primary point person for all clinical services in our day program. They will design, manage and implement all clinical treatment plans.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Agency Mission/Quality Services
- Understand and perform all job functions based on the mission and philosophical principles of Opportunity Works.
- Adhere to the Ethical Code of Conduct for all employees.
- Represent the agency in a positive image.
- Ensure the health, safety, well-being, and human rights of all people supported by following all agency policies and procedures and accreditation and licensing standards.
- Create a positive, team-oriented, holistic, and compassionate work environment that focuses on quality service delivery and program development.
- Adhere to the agency timelines/schedule regarding attendance and punctuality.
- Participation at all mandatory trainings and scheduled trainings and utilization of training information to improve job performance.
- Act as a role model for people supported by demonstrating a professional manner in all aspects of job performance.
- Promote and model Positive Behavioral Supports.
Management and Leadership
- Supervise and mentor the Behavioral Associate in all aspect of their duties, ensuring timelines are met to oversee the implementation of data collection, trend data.
- Ensure that all behavior data is taken regularly and data is interpreted on a quarterly basis
- Ensure all behavior modifying medication data is taken and interpreted quarterly to establish patterns
- Adhere to agency policies and procedures and accreditation and licensing standards and to train, direct, and monitor that employees do the same.
- Demonstrate good problem solving and conflict resolution skills and provide leadership to employees regarding the same.
- Assists management team in regards to behavioral interventions and works with the team in supporting stafftraining and development.
- Demonstrate a continuous quality improvement philosophy and to train and support employees around agency mission,philosophy and program development.
- Advocate for program needs in a way that is respectful of other programs’ and agency-wide needs.
- Demonstrate good organizational and time management skills.
- Promote teamwork and a positive agency spirit.
- Strive for professional growth and development through various opportunities.
- Keep current on best practices in behavioral management and in the human services field to allow for the highest level of practices within the agency.
Personnel
- Complete annual performance evaluations for employees.
- Provide written bi-monthly supervisions to employees that focus on support and improvement in their job performance.
- Work in conjunction with the Director of Human Resources regarding the implementation of Personnel Policies including hiring/termination and progressive discipline process of personnel.
- Provide orientation and ongoing training and support to employees for purposes of improving job performance and program standards.
- Continuously monitor employees’ practices regarding the health, safety, and well being of all people supported and employees, and in the protection of the human rights and dignity of all people supported.
Clinical Support and Oversight
- Oversee clinical support needs of people including the implementation of behavioral protocols and counseling.
- Support employees to follow the prescribed behavioral interventions and techniques and ensure implementation is in accordance with plans and protocols.
- Document all clinical issues thoroughly and follow up with appropriate personnel as needed.
- Ensure that all behavioral protocols are developedaccording to all agency policies and procedures and regulatory requirements and in accordance with the principles of least restrictive interventions.
- Provide monitoring and leadership in the use of emergency physical intervention techniques and ensure that all required documentation is completed.
- Obtain and maintain all behavior protocol documentation including consents, approvals, and data collection sheets.
- Coordinate all behavior support protocols with people’s residences to ensure consistent delivery as appropriate.
- Prepare for the Peer Review process for all intensivebehavior support plans and to participate and provide information at the meeting.
- To facilitate regular team meetings and clinical discussions with employees regarding people supported in conjunction with program managers.
- Identify clinical needs of people supported and make recommendations for strategies or support plan development and/or referral to appropriate agency consultants.
- Act as the Agency’s Senior PBS (Positive Behavior Supports) Clinician
- In conjunction with the PBS team, implement PBS action plan and ensure the Agency is in compliance with the new regulatory standards through DDS
- Attend and facilitate PBS and Human Rights committee meetings
- Attend referral visits to identify behavioral needs of new individuals
- Completion of DHLT (Day Hab Leveling Tools) and Assessments for new individuals and every 2 years thereafter
- Attend ISP meetings and intakes as needed
- Develop Positive Behavioral Support Plans, modify plans and oversee the use and documentation of restrictive procedures as needed
- Conduct individual functional behavioral assessments
Implementation of Support Plan Goals through Teaching and Training
- Monitor that staff thoroughly complete behavioraldocumentation in a timely manner.
- Participate in the interdisciplinary team process for people supported and ensure that quality input and information regarding the service needs and outcomes for people is provided to the team.
- Provide leadership and direction to staff regarding the implementation of support plan goals and strategies.
- In conjunction with the program managers & Behavior Associates facilitate regularly scheduled clinical meetings with staff and Program Managers.
Advocacy/Communication
- Support people served to foster their growth and independence, to make choices, and to exercise their human rights people according to their individual communication styles and respectful of their specific support needs.
- Advocate for people supported regarding their personal well-being, goals, and interests.
- Communicate with the Program Managers to ensure a continuum of service delivery.
- Maintain good communication and coordinated efforts with residential providers, DDS Service Coordinators, families, and all other outside people.
Occupational Exposure Tasks/Procedures
The following is a list of procedures and tasks performed at Opportunity Works in which occupational exposure may occur:
- Assistance with personal care including toileting, changing people who are incontinent of urine and/or feces, or cleaning people who have vomited. May also come in contact with semen/vaginal secretions or saliva
- Behavioral interventions that may involve a person becoming incontinent of urine and/or feces or situations in which interventions may involve saliva or vomit
- Assessment of illness of a person that may involve body fluids
- Blood sugar testing (task normally performed by licensed nurses)
- Administering injections (task performed by licensed nurses)
Documentation
- Ensure that all information regarding people supported is maintained with the highest level of confidentiality based on policies and procedures and regulations regarding people’s protected health information.
- Complete required documentation within established timelines, and in accordance with agency policies and procedures, and within a manner based on dignity and respect to people supported.
- Oversee that behavioral assessments are completed in an accurate and objective manner based on the skills and skill level of people supported and to ensure quality and achievable goal recommendations.
General
- Follow through on all assigned tasks.
- Work cooperatively with all team members and agency personnel.
- Ensure a clean and safe environment and to report any health or safety concerns promptly to the appropriate person based on policies and procedures.
- Complete other duties as assigned. This may include assisting in other departments and may be outside your normal tasks.
Qualifications:
- Licensed in Massachusetts in accordance with applicable law as one of the following: psychologist, an independent clinical social worker, an applied behavior analyst, a master's or doctorate level speech pathologist, a physician, a master's or doctorate level teacher with a certification in special education,or a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC); or be a doctorate level special education teacher actively teaching the topics of positive behavior support or applied behavior analysis at the college or university level.
- Have at least five years of training, including post graduate class work or formal training, and/or experience in function based behavioral assessment and treatment; and
- Have at least five years of clinical experience in the treatment of individuals with developmental disabilities.
- 2 years prior management experience preferred.
- Valid driver’s license with clean drivers license.
- Experience with a form of Crisis intervention training (i.e PABC) required
Access To Protected Health Information
The following levels of access are authorized based on job responsibilities. Workforce members understand their responsibilities to safeguard the confidentiality and integrity of ePHI. This employee has access to the following protected health information.
Access: Full access to all confidential files. Drive: U,O
Physical Requirements:
TASK
CONTINUOUS
INTERMITTENT
OCCASIONALLY
Sitting/intermittent
Walking/Intermittent
Standing/Intermittent
Bending/Occasionally
Kneeling/Occassionally
Lifting/Occassionally
CarryingOccassionally
Reaching overhead/Occassionally
Driving/Intermittent
Physical restraints/Intermittent
To Apply
Please send resumes to Karen Nicholas, Karen.Nicholas@opportunityworks.org