Direct Care Specialist

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD (“The HARRIS CENTER”) is looking for a Direct Care Specialist to join our team. Coordinates and provides services for individuals with Dual Diagnosis (IDD/MH) and/or Developmental Disorder (IDD, Autism/PDD). Duties include but are not limited to chart documentation, implementation of the daily program schedule, and providing information regarding consumer status/progress to the treatment team. This position also monitors and assesses consumer behavior, prepares treatment plans and teaches consumers social and behavior management skills. Duties also include coordinating field trips or other day activities and facilitating groups to target adaptive replacement behavior training and other topics based upon consumer need(s).

Your role in action:

• Facilitates and provides group training in the following: communication, social, and independent living skills, as well as adaptive replacements for problem behavior.
• Implements behavior therapy programs and behavior support strategies under the direction of the psychologist.
• Coordinates consumer training, field trips and other activities.
• Monitors consumers during self-administration of medication in accordance with unit dosage system.
• Ability to complete ongoing functional assessments (i.e., ABC analysis/data collection).
• Monitors, documents and maintains records of consumer activities and progress.
• Reports to the Direct Care Manager.
• Complies with all safety and health requirements and regulations in accordance with all
• applicable standards (i.e., DADS, MHMRA, State licensing boards, programs, etc.).
• Confidential information and sensitive data in regards to consumers, employee, and the
• Agency is protected at all times.
• Performs other duties as assigned

The qualifications you will need:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral, Social Sciences or Human services preferred or High school diploma or GED non-degreed paraprofessional with training in Behavioral, Social Sciences or Human Services.

Experience:

• 1 to 2 years experience or training working with individuals with a Dual Diagnosis (IDD/MH), Developmental Disabilities (IDD, Autism/PDD).

Other Key Qualifications:

• Must maintain a valid Texas Driver’s license and be insurable under Agency policy.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• The person must have well-developed interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills, and be a team player with a desire to provide a high level of customer service.
• Possess strong verbal and written communication skills and interact effectively at all levels within the organization.
• General working knowledge of basic behavior principles.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills. Should have excellent written, verbal and communication.
• Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality of all work-related matters and ability to communicate effectively and tactfully with all levels of the agency.

What we have to offer:

The Harris Center not only offers a competitive salary but also a suite of excellent benefits designed to enrich your life both professionally and personally. Imagine a future with a robust retirement plan complemented by our generous company matching – a testament to our investment in your long-term financial well-being. Experience the unique advantage of our prior service credit, accelerating your journey towards a more substantial Paid Time Off accrual, empowering you to enjoy well-deserved breaks.

Enjoy Cell Phone Discounts, exclusive entertainment deals through Tickets at Work, and a free Headspace subscription for mental wellness. Additionally, our Employee Assistance Program supports your overall well-being.

Take advantage of significant financial relief through student loan forgiveness as a valued member of The Harris Center team. As a qualifying entity, our employees are eligible for various student loan forgiveness programs, designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with higher education.

What else you should know:

• This posting is associated with position #

About us:

The HARRIS CENTER is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The Harris Center provided care to over 96,000 people in fiscal year 2023!

As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The HARRIS CENTER provides a full continuum of services at 86 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 40 different languages as well as sign language to better serve what is one of the most diverse and multi-cultural communities in the nation.

By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,500 employees, The Harris Center is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.