Behavioral Intervention Specialist (BIS)

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YAI has an opening for a Behavior Intervention Specialist. This is a clinical position which involves the assignment to several programs where the BIS is responsible for the assessment of individuals’ habilitative, behavioral and psychiatric needs and the development and implementation of effective interventions to help support those needs.

We are seeking a Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS) to work in our Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRA's).

Under supervision of BIS leadership, Behavior Intervention Specialists (BISs) perform clinical duties relating to the assessment of habilitative, behavioral and psychiatric needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and develop and implement effective interventions to help support those needs across multiple programs within an assigned region. Regularly interacts with people we support, assessing their ADL skills, providing personal care, promoting habilitation and/or rehabilitation, and providing for their health, safety and well-being. Ensures that clinical needs of the people receiving supports in each program are addressed, staff are trained, person-centered interventions and program plans are understood and consistently implemented as documented, data is effectively collected to support evaluations and required documentation is completed/maintained.

Key/Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Identifies the habilitative, behavioral and psychiatric needs of the people we support through formal and informal assessments, using person-centered tools, Life and Staff Action Plans and by working with individuals and their circles of support, ensuring the interdisciplinary team is aware of these needs.
• Conducts behavioral and habilitative assessments including written questionnaires, standardized tests, rating scales, baseline data, direct and indirect observations and completes functional behavior assessments (FBAs) to identify contextual factors, cognitive, environmental, social, physical, medical/psychiatric conditions that may contribute to behavior.
• Analyzes data from multiple sources and utilizes findings to conduct research on related syndromes and conditions to support development of hypotheses for behaviors using DSM V, ICD 10, DM-ID etc.
• Develops written, individualized habilitative and behavior support plans using proactive interventions in accordance with the agency philosophy and OPWDD Person-Centered Behavioral Intervention Regulations as determined by individual need.
• Researches and implements the most effective and appropriate evidence-based treatment interventions and uses evidence-based behavioral approaches, strategies and supports to treatment interventions, such as systematic desensitization.
• Develops various types of habilitative and support plans including: skills, counseling, behavior support plan, medication monitoring, environmental modifications, false reporting, non-reversible medical diagnosis.
• Develops plans that instruct the planned use of medication (PRN), SCIP-R physical interventions and/or mechanical restraints to prevent, modify or control challenging behavior, reduce symptoms of diagnosed co-occurring psychiatric conditions and to maintain body alignment, as appropriate.
• Follows all protocols required to obtain proper approvals and consent(s) for all interventions, as applicable to plans and required by OPWDD, prior to implementation.
• Establishes baseline for each individual prior to implementation of habilitative and behavior support plan(s) and designs effective data collection systems that allow progress to be monitored.
• Directs and/or oversees day-to-day data collection by program staff, ensuring that data are consistently obtained, totaled and summarized on a monthly basis by the designated/trained staff (e.g. Assistant BIS) and that new data sheets are accessible at the beginning of each month.
• Ensures that timely modifications are made to the plan(s), as dictated by individual need based upon regular monitoring and assessment of response to services.
• Oversees, maintains and/or ensures appropriate and accurate completion of all required paperwork, communications and documentation for persons supported in accordance with prescribed guidelines and timelines including monthlies, Staff Action Plan, Life Plan meetings, psychiatric and therapy anecdotals, Person-Centered Plans, meeting minutes, billing, etc.
• Regularly trains all direct care staff and management at assigned programs on individual service, staff action plans and behavior management services using the Exp