Behavior Intervention Specialist

Job Summary

Working as part of an interdisciplinary team, the Behavior Intervention Specialist targets improvement of socially-significant client behaviors across a variety of domains through the delivery of Applied Behavior Analysis. The Behavior Intervention Specialist collaborates to improve service delivery and build capacity in caregivers. Staff training and development are critical functions of this role.

Essential Job Functions        

• Support functional behavior assessment to assist in the development of behavior plans for individuals receiving services through Hillside. 
• Assess skill deficits and behavioral challenges to develop interventions, including skill building, in collaboration with teams for youth and young adults. 
• Achieve positive and successful outcomes and improved quality of life for youth by utilizing experience, education, age-specific knowledge and cultural competence.
• Conduct skill-based assessments and functional behavior assessments (FBAs) in collaboration with the individuals, their families, staff, and clinical support in compliance with agency standards and program regulations.
• Partner with treatment team to develop measurement systems and trains others to collect data in order to measure the efficacy of the intervention and instructional strategies. 
• Summarize data and presents the data to team members to aid in making decisions on new and revisions to existing intervention and instructional strategies. 
• Act as a liaison with family, youth, staff and clinical support related to development of function-based behavioral programming with a focus on generalization and maintenance. 
• Teach and train youth, families, and staff as related to instructional strategies and behavior reduction strategies.  This includes some evenings and weekends.
• Recommend interventions for behavior reduction or skill building to improve quality of life are evidence-based either through research or support from clinical supervision. 
• Primary contact for the behavior plan and is able to expertly and succinctly communicate at all levels both orally and in writing.
• Develop, maintain and update all required documentation in a timely manner. 
• Develop, maintain and utilize a thorough knowledge of the legal and social rights of children, youth and parents to assure that these rights are understood and protected as needed
• May act as a mentor to direct care staff. 
• Responsible for the development and delivery of staff training.
• Ensure Hillside policies, procedures and all applicable governmental laws, regulations and guidelines are followed. 
• Work flexible shifts, with some evenings and weekends included in order to provide observations, teaching, mentoring, and coaching across programming sites and shifts. 
• While this job description covers many aspects of the role, employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• Master’s degree in a clinical or treatment field of psychology, social work, school psychology, applied psychology as it relates to human development and clinical intervention, or a related human services field required 
  • Note: Alternative degrees and experiences are available for this position: https://opwdd.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2023/06/633.16-adoption-final-reg-text.pdf 

Special Requirements

• Unrestricted, valid NYS driver’s license for minimum of 1 year with a clean driving record and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards. 
• CPR certification or equivalent required to obtain within 60 days of hire.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

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

• Demonstrate the emotional competence and good judgment required to build productive, engaged children, youth, and family relationships while implementing required rules, expectations and routines.
• Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of services provided both by the agency and by external service providers and maintains contacts as needed in order to efficiently access care for youth.
• Demonstrate well-developed skills as an advocate for children/youth/families in order to achieve the best, least-restrictive possible outcomes; communicates reasonable expectations and facilitates the achievement of results.
• Develop,