Learning Specialist II

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A Brief Overview
Learning Specialist II is responsible for the planning and delivery of specialized learning assessment and opportunities to children with severe emotional and behavioral issues who are being treated in a psychiatric partial hospital program. Learning services include assessment, instruction, curriculum planning, multidisciplinary collaboration and communication with the children's caretakers, clinical team, school systems and community agencies. Responsibilities include a leadership role on the Learning Team to assist the Supervisor of Learning Services in additional duties including mentoring and training new staff.

What you will do

• Maintain continuous assessment of patient's learning needs and provides learning services tailored to those needs assessed.
• Participates in team evaluations reviewing standardized assessment data to determine learning needs and relevant IEP status.
• Determines and prioritizes scope and depth of specialized learning opportunities recommended for each patient.
• Assesses patient's readiness to learn taking into consideration emotional and behavioral needs and goals.
• Plans appropriate learning opportunities which match patients' needs and reflect their IEP and treatment plan
• Provide family/teacher feedback as requested
• Assures that instructional plans and activities are age and developmentally appropriate
• Provide recommendations to family and Child Study Team members in discharge planning meetings.
• Develops and maintains supportive therapeutic relationships with children and family members.
• Functions as a member of the treatment team and integrates the master treatment plan into the learning program, while also including families and considering special education status in order to promote optimal patient care.
• Provides treatment team with pertinent information during clinical rounds and similarly during transition planning where other treatment providers, family members, and school personnel are included.
• Advocates for children/families and is a liaison between CIEBS and Child Study Team for educational needs and goals related to behavioral/emotional functioning as it relates to learning.
• Provides consultation to the clinical team regarding the cognitive and social status and special instruction needs of the children.
• Recommends consults/referrals when patient needs are beyond the scope of special instruction.
• Maintains a safe therapeutic and hazard free environment.
• Provides close supervision to children during classroom and program activities to maintain safety and clinical integrity of the group milieu.
• Demonstrates and provides a clearly delineated series of non-violent crisis intervention strategies to facilitate improved child functioning.
• Only as a last resort, when other less restrictive measures have failed to maintain safety, demonstrates and provides non-violent physical crisis interventions.
• Prepare written documentation for program management, reporting purposes and for patient records.
• Documents services provided and recommendations as appropriate.
• Conducts Pre-Testing and Post-Testing and collects data on scores to improve learning needs.
• Completes Social-Emotional Learning Rubrics on each patient to track social-emotional progress.
• Identifies and documents targeted Learning goals in the master treatment plan.
• Writes learning discharge summaries and recommendations in a timely manner.
• Demonstrates a role in leadership on the Learning Team.
• Assists Supervisor of Learning Services in mentoring and training new staff. Assists in the development of and implementation of the new Learning Specialists training schedule, lesson planning and delivery, patient activities and written documentation responsibilities.
• In the event that the Supervisor of Learning Services or other Learning Specialists is absent or unable to perform her/his duties, take over/delegate responsibilities to effectively carry out the position and maintain the utmost quality of patient learning and care.
• Responsible for the continuous training of Classroom and Program Staff in Social-Emotional Learning. Responsible for data collection of Cooperative Learning and Social-Emotional Learning efforts. Observe and provide feedback to Classroom staff to help foster the effective implementation of these learning practices.
• Research, proposals, ordering, design and planning for the social and emotional learning curriculum. Acts as the liaison between curricula representatives and CIEBS staff. Responsible for reporting new curricula development back to Learning Team and updating curriculum room/online tools accordingly.
• Responsible for receiving input on supplies needed for the Learning Team and creating a supplies order biannually.
• Responsible for the maintenance, upkeep and new advancements with SMARTboard technology. Acts as a liaison between CIEBS staff and SMARTboard representatives/trainers to be able to utilize this technology in assisting with the learning, social and emotional needs of our patient population.
• In conjunction with the Learning Team, acts as the Leader in the planning and execution of Special Functions within and between programs.

Education Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree Education, Psychology, Sociology, Communications, History or similar field of study. Required
• Master's Degree Elementary Education or Special Education Preferred

Experience Qualifications

• At least two (2) years experience with direct care of children with social, emotional and behavioral needs. Required
• At least two (2) years providing educational services Preferred

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to develop and evaluate educational programs for children and families of varied racial, ethnic cultural, religious and social backgrounds.
• Ability to provide appropriate developmental assessment and instruction in a natural environment to children of varied racial, ethnic, cultural, religious and social backgrounds.
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge and effective use of behavior management strategies.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a health care setting.
• Communicates effectively, verbally and in writing, with the broadest range of individuals including children, families, the general public, and professionals.
• Ability to adapt programs, equipment and materials to suit the individual needs of children with a variety of conditions or disabilities.
• Demonstrates flexibility in scheduling and carrying out responsibilities.
• Ability to work in an intense and stressful environment.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the effects of illness and physical disability on children, family members and treatment staff, including teachers.
• Understands and develops ways to alleviate stress in children and families.
• Knowledge of hospital and community resources.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Knowledge of typical and atypical child development and related areas.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing in English.
• Computer skills including familiarity with word processing, spreadsheet and database programs.
• Skill and ability to navigate and document in EPIC the programs EHR
• Ability to direct and motivate staff teams.
• Critical analysis and problem solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a team setting.

Licenses and Certifications

• NJ Elementary Education Teacher Certification - New Jersey State Licensing Board - upon hire - Required or
• Special Education Certification - New Jersey State Licensing Board - upon hire - Required and
• Certification in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention - Crisis Prevention Institute, Inc. (CPI) - within 3 months - Required

To carry out its mission, CHOP is committed to supporting the health of our patients, families, workforce, and global community. As a condition of employment, CHOP employees who work in patient care buildings or who have patient facing responsibilities must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive an annual influenza vaccine. Learn more.

Employees may request exemptions for valid religious and medical reasons. Start dates may be delayed until candidates are immunized or exemption requests are reviewed.

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