Crisis Prevention Specialist

Shift: 40 hours, Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 7pm

Job Summary

The Crisis Prevention Specialist works in conjunction with the behavior analyst, clinical team, unit supervisors, unit manager and/or program manager to ensure effective and ongoing training, mentoring, modeling and monitoring of crisis prevention activities in Residential Programs. This position is focused on achieving a significant reduction in the number and duration of physical holds with the goal of eliminating the use of restraints. This includes working closely with direct care staff to support the development of de-escalation skills and relationship building with youth.

Essential Job functions

• Deliver required staff training in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) principles and de-escalation techniques.
• Maintain proficiency in Children and Residential Experiences (CARE) principles and support development of CARE practices in direct care staff.
• Monitor youth activity in various units and during programs; identify potential or actual risk of escalated problematic behavior and provide support and modeling as needed to teach appropriate de-escalation techniques to direct care staff.
• Assist staff in identifying opportunities to employ de-escalation techniques as needed to mediate dysregulated behavior to avoid the use of physical interventions (i.e. holds) whenever possible.
• Collect feedback from youth and their families on safety plans and goals and share information with the youth’s treatment team.
• Consult on revisions to individualized safety plans as needed.
• Analyze restraint trend data such as frequency, duration, individuals involved (i.e. residents and staff), time, location, and precipitating factors, and recommend improvements to policies and practices that improve outcomes for youth.
• Continuously improve the incident debriefing process for staff and youth by partnering with supervisors and managers.
• Maintain all necessary records, reports, and analyses according to agency/funder standards through the use of established processes and practices.
• Contribute in inter-disciplinary treatment team meetings.
• Transport youth as assigned.
• While this job description covers many aspects of the role, employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services field or a New York State Teacher’s Certificate required
• Office of Mental Health (OMH) : Minimum 4 years’ experience providing direct services to children with severe behavioral disturbance required
• Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) : Minimum 4 years’ experience providing direct services to youth required
  
  

Special Requirements

• CPR certification required or obtained within 60 days of hire.
• TCI Trainer Certification required to obtain within 120 days of hire.
• Specialized training/expertise in trauma informed care and crisis prevention techniques required.
• Unrestricted, valid NYS driver’s license for minimum of 1 year with a clean driving record and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

In addition to demonstrating the Hillside Professional Competencies of Communicates Effectively , Personal Excellence, Cultural Competence, Builds and Leverages Relationships, Optimizes Decision Making, the following occupational competencies must be demonstrated:

• Skills of good judgement and a calm demeanor in crisis/emergency situations.
• Ability to mentor co-workers.
• Ability to utilize conflict resolution and problem solving skills.
• Skills in behavior management and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) through formal training and practice.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

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.

• Must be able to work a variable scheduling including evenings, weekends and school breaks.
• The following physical demands are required:
  • Frequent sitting (up to 3 hours)
  • Frequent standing and walking (up to 5 hour)
  • Frequent driving (up to 8 hours)
  • Continuous balancing (up to 8 hours)
  • Frequent bending/stooping, pushing pulling, reaching forward or down, reaching overhead, and twisting (up to 5.5 hours)
  • Occasional climbing, crawling/crouching, kneeling, and running (up to 2.5 hours)
  • Frequent lifting up to 55 lbs. (community-based staff may be required to lift an empty wheelchair weighing up to 40 lbs.) frequent basis
  • Frequent carrying up to 55 lbs. approximately 10-100 ft. on a frequent basis
• Manual dexterity is required, including the frequent ability to grasp in both hands and continuous use of fine manipulation skills in both hands (approximately 2.5-5.5 hrs.)
Occasional exposure extreme changes in temperature and humidity, dust, fumes, gases or chemicals is apparent. Protective clothing or equipment required includes PPE (exposure to pool chemicals/bodily fluids)

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SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

• May be required to physically restrain clients weighing between 50 and 300 lbs. and guide them safely to the floor. In some circumstances, restraints can last up to 15 minutes and may require repetition as necessary.