Behavior Support Specialist (36094)

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong, and communities are vibrant.

Purpose & Impact:

The purpose of the Behavior Support Specialist is to perform professional work in behavior management of pre-school children, training and coaching for staff and parents, case management including referral for psycho-educational and mental health services. Responsible for developing, modeling interventions, and monitoring the child’s progress and linking parents/families to mental health and/or psycho-educational services. Successful experience working with pre-school age children with behavioral concerns. The work involves linking parents/families to community services, providing support, making referrals and following up on referrals, designing and implementing classroom behavior support plans, providing mental health and behavioral management education to parents and staff, planning and consulting with the contracted mental health professionals. This work is performed under the supervision of the Licensed Mental Health Counselor and is reviewed through conferences, reports and evaluations of program effectiveness. Participates in the HS/EHS Quality Assurance efforts.

Essential Functions:

• Provides parents support to access necessary resources and conducts in-home follow-up, monitoring and training to assure consistency between parents and teachers as needed Teaches effective parenting skills.
• Participates in the multi-disciplinary case management team meetings, individual and staff conferences, health services advisory meetings, team meetings and other appropriate meetings, as necessary.
• Performs case management services when appropriate through referrals to mental health service providers, psycho-educational services and other appropriate community agencies and resources.
• Assists the teacher with understanding and implementing the Behavior Support Plan.
• Conducts appropriate individual observations and assessments of enrolled children as necessary.
• Conducts classroom level observations at least twice per year (Fall and Spring). Analyze observation data to monitor improvement in social-emotional learning and behavior management, and plan effective respond to improve child and family outcomes.
• Provides coaching support to teachers in implementing the Trust-Based Relational Intervention Model (TBRI) with fidelity.
• Performs crisis intervention activities when necessary.
• Reviews and supports Behavior Support Plans written for children with behavior concerns by the Mental Health Counselor or contracted Mental Health Provider.
• Assist Licensed Mental Health Counselor with behavior management training and on-site technical assistance to the centers.
• Assists with processing internal referrals to Licensed Mental Health Counselor and /or contracted Mental Health Provider.
• Assists with monitoring services facilitated by the Mental Health Counselor and/or contracted Mental Health Provider.
• Attends all workshops and meetings as deemed necessary by immediate supervisor and the Executive Director
• Attends all required staff and parent meetings and activities.
• Maintains strict confidentiality with respect to children, families and staff in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Health and Safety:

LSF is committed to providing a safe work environment while also focusing on staff wellness. An essential part of all employees’ job is the development of safe working practices and adherence to safety rules, including:

• Following safety warnings and directions at all times.
• Using personal safety devices or PPE when required.
• Reporting any unsafe conditions to their supervisor.
• Following process for reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.
• Ensure active supervision of assigned children.
• Following procedures when pulling out children for behavior intervention services or therapy.
• Reporting unsupervised children, after ensuring child’s safety. 

Physical Requirements: Must be able to lift at least 45 lbs. Reasonable accommodation may be made for otherwise qualified persons with disabilities.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in educational psychology, mental health counseling, special education, social work, or other related human services degree. Master’s degree preferred.

Must be willing to complete Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Practitioner and Play Therapy certification training within two years of hire. Cost of these training will be covered by the agency with understanding that employee must remain in the position at least two years after completion of training.

Experience: Minimum of one year of experience in mental health services for children; or working with pre-school age children with mental or behavioral disabilities; or experience implementing Behavior Support Plans for pre-school children; or any equivalent combination of related training and experience. Bilingual preferred: English/Spanish or English and other languages present in the local area.

Also required: Certification in First Aid and CPR within six months of the date assigned to this position; and successful completion of a Level II background screening, local criminal record check and drug screening prior to hiring. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of behavior management techniques for the classroom.
• Knowledge of child developmental stages.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• with diverse parents, staff and community residents.
• Ability to express ideas clearly, both orally and in writing.
• Knowledge of mental health and psycho-educational services.
• Understanding of low-income families, cultural differences and group dynamics.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with parents, staff, mental health providers and community agencies.
• Exceptional organization skills and attention to detail are required and the candidate must be able to meet designated deadlines.

Why work for LSF?

LSF offers 60 programs across the state of Florida serving a wide range of populations in need. Mission Driven staff members become part of the LSF community while transforming the lives of those in need. Our staff additionally find growth opportunities as they explore areas of interest within the organization. 

Amazing benefits package including:

• Medical, dental and vision
• Teladoc (24/7 access to doctors)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Long-term disability
• Employer paid life insurance (1X salary), AD&D
• Health and dependent care FSA
• 13 paid holidays 1 floating holiday
• Generous PTO policy
• 403(b) Retirement plan with 3% discretionary employer match
• Tuition reimbursement

Lutheran Services Florida embraces diversity, equity and inclusion in all business practices. LSF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.