Behavioral Support Specialist

Position Overview:

HCA's Behavioral Support Specialist opening provides the opportunity to engage individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their circle of support. Through collaboration, teaching behavior response and communication skills, you will assist in the creation, and on-going assessment, of a cohesive health living environment for the Individual and Care Partners.

This position is primarily remote and is scheduled for 20 hours per week.

Role and Responsibilities:

• Travel to community-based locations or private residences within Broome County to meet with those on your caseload
• Create and maintain your schedule while maximizing direct client hours
• Conduct functional behavioral assessments, decode the message intended by the behavior,
• Collect and track behavioral data to look for trends, patterns and correlations
• Draw on evidence-based programs like PBIS- positive behavior intervention & supports to create routine and structure within the household to promote an increase in positive behaviors/interactions and a decrease in the frequency of negative behaviors/interactions
• Collaborate with household members to create safety plans
• Administer Mental Health First Aid
• Connect family to resources related to the identified challenge
• Attend, at the request of the Individual or family member, events such as Life Plan, school-based service meetings, provider appointments, community events
• Professionally represent client and/or HCA while interfacing with community agencies, coalitions, etc.
• Complete progress notes and attend to program administrative tasks
• Participate in program evaluation and quarterly reports
• Exercise mandated reporter status, as needed
• Performs other duties as assigned

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Associate's degree in a human service-related field
• Minimum 5 years experience working with people with developmental disabilities or related human services field.

Qualifications and Knowledge:

• Excellent verbal, written, and active listening skills.
• Must be self-directed, organized, and possess time management skills
• Ability/desire to flex schedule to accommodate Individual’s scheduling needs (weekends not required but optional)
• Completion of required training including: Mandated Reporter, safeTALK, ASIST training or other assigned trainings.
• Working knowledge of the Protection of People with Special Needs Act
• Familiarity with state oversight agencies such as: OPWDD, OMH, OCFS
• NYS Driver’s License and reliable transportation
• Adept at building trust through transparency and collaboration
• Ability to multi-task in a fast paced, team-oriented environment. Strong collaboration skills.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, including a proactive approach to problem solving.
• Understands and respects the unique needs of the individuals served and their families/advocates.
• Motivational Interviewing techniques.
• Comfortable facilitating difficult conversations

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is:

• Frequently required to sit, kneel, stand, stoop, reach and manipulate objects.
• Regularly required to talk and hear.

HCA is proud to offer a competitive suite of benefits including but not limited to:

• Generous paid time off including vacation, holiday, personal, and sick time
• Retirement plan with company matching
• Life insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Professional development assistance
• Travel reimbursement

Please note: failure to provide responses to prescreening questions or fully complete an application may result in rejected submissions.

HCA is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of HCA to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin or citizenship, age, genetic predisposition or carrier status, gender identity or expression, disability, military or veteran status, sexual or reproductive health decisions, traits historically associated with race, height, weight and/or any other status or characteristic protected by law.