Behavior Support Specialist

Behavioral Support Specialist (BSS) - field based
A BSS provides specialized interventions that assist a participant in increasing adaptive behaviors to replace or modify challenging behaviors of a disruptive or destructive nature that prevent or interfere with the participant’s inclusion in home and family life or community life. The BSS promotes consistently implementing the Behavioral Support Plan (BSP) and Crisis Intervention Plan (CIP) across environments and people with regular contact with the participant, such as family, friends, neighbors, and other providers. Consistency is essential to skill development and the reduction of problematic behavior. BSS includes both the result of an initial BSP and ongoing behavioral support. Ongoing Support can occur both before and after the completion of the BSP. If the participant
needs behavioral support before the BSP and CIP are developed, the SC may submit a request to ODP for ongoing support to be provided during plan development. This service may be furnished in a participant’s home or other community locations.

Direct supports include:

• Support and consultation with the participant to help them understand the BSP's purpose, objectives, methods, and documentation, evaluate its effectiveness, and review recommendedrevisions.
• Attend meetings with Office-based BSS staff to meet potential participants and learn desired behavior outcomes.
• Crisis intervention support provided directly to the participant in response to a behavioral episode that manifests with acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that a prudent lay person could reasonably expect that the absence of immediate intervention will result inplacing the participant and the persons around the participant in serious jeopardy including the imminent risk of institutionalization or put the participant at imminent risk of incarceration or result in the close damage to valuable property by the participant.

Consultative supports include:

• Support of family members, friends, waiver providers, other support providers, and employersto help them understand the purpose, objectives, methods of implementation, and how the progress of the BSP is collected and documented and to understand any revisions that havebeen made to the plan which have previously been agreed upon with the participant.
• Monitor and analyze data collected during the BSP implementation based on the goals of the BSP; Complete service notes.
• Based on data analysis of the plans' implementation, assist in modifying the BSP or the CIP, possibly including a new FBA.
• Crisis intervention supports provided to informal or formal caregivers in response to abehavioral episode that manifests with acute symptoms of sufficient severity such that a prudent layperson could reasonably expect that the absence of immediate intervention will result in placing the participant and the persons around the participant in serious jeopardy including the imminent risk of institutionalization or put the participant at imminent risk of incarceration or result in the close damage to valuable property by the participant.

Competencies

• a) Knowledge and Experience: Staff must have one of the following: master’s degree or higher in Psychology, Special Education, Counseling, Social Work, Education, Applied Behavior Analysis, or Gerontology.
• b) A Pennsylvania Behavior Specialist License.
• c) Bachelor’s Degree and work under the supervision of a professional who has a Master’s degree in psychology, Special Education, Counseling, Social Work, Education, Applied Behavior Analysis or Gerontology, or who is a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist, professional counselor, social worker (Master's level or higher) or who has a Pennsylvania Behavioral Specialist License.

Personal accountability: Exercises good health and personal hygiene practices. Demonstrates awareness of one’s behavior and its impact on others. Maintains excellent attendance, including traveling to client sites in all weather conditions. Performs tasks efficiently and cost-effectively.

Interpersonal Skills: Maintains a professional attitude and demeanor and communicates effectively. Relates courteously and cooperatively with consumers, caregivers, colleagues,supervisors, co-workers, and all others. Demonstrates optimism, enthusiasm, and willingness to work constructively with other home care team members and shows respect and concern for the well-being of consumers and others.

Physical Demands:

• This position requires the employee to work in various environments (housing styles, heating, andcooling) during clients' visits to their residences.
• It requires the ability to ambulate throughout a patient's home, navigate stairs, and navigate other physical barriers typical of private residences.
• Must be able to deal effectively with stress.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to performessential functions

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $22.00 - $24.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• Are you willing to use your vehicle to and from work locations?
• Do you have a valid vehicle registration and insurance?
• Please list 2-3 references.
• May we contact references?

Ability to Commute:

• Horsham, PA 19044 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $22 - $24