Residential Behavior Specialist

NEW BASE SALARY: EFF 1/1/24 $ 27/HR

Under the clinical supervision of Behavior Therapist Coordinator and/or a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and administrative supervision of a Home Manager the primary duty of a Residential Behavior Specialist is assisting youth with maximizing skill-acquisition in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), through individualized intensive implementation strategies aligned with the youths Person-Centered Plan goals and personal outcome measures. This will include positive behavior supports to reduce challenging behaviors, enhance safety with an emphasis on individualizing daily task analyses, discrete trials, errorless teaching via intensive 1:1 direct instruction, program supports, and data collection.

The position will work with youth in an intensive intervention residential environment with youth requiring highly intensive behavioral support needs as a result of exhibiting extreme physical aggression towards oneself and others.

Residential Behavior Specialists provide instruction to the youths through the implementation of the scientific principles of behavior analysis (ABA therapy) across all hours of the youths day and in all environments to improve Quality of Life outcomes. This includes knowledge and implementation of youths clinical, educational, vocational, and daily living skills objectives. Thorough competence of the theoretical components and practical applications of behavior analysis is critical to the successful performance of a Residential Behavior Specialist and the education for the youth. Intensive instruction is provided for Residential Behavior Specialists to gain competence in the following: discrete trial teaching, task analysis training, incidental teaching procedures; data collection and analysis and methods of increasing, decreasing, and shaping various behavior repertoires.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The list of essential duties and responsibilities, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the task to be performed. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein, if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.

1. Residential Behavior Specialist work as part of an interdisciplinary team of professionals who develop curricula and provide instruction to maximize youths skills and independence.
a. Thorough knowledge and competent implementation of all youths educational programs and behavior management guidelines in a 1:1 or small group format.
b. Implement behavior analytic teaching procedures in the residence and community including:
1) Discrete trials
2) Task analyses
3) Incidental teaching
4) Direct Instruction
2. Implement behavior analytic teaching procedures across all domain areas to improve Quality of Life outcomes including:
a. Independence skills:
1) Communication
2) Activities of Daily Living (ADLs; e.g., personal hygiene)
3) Social skills
4) Vocational skills
5) Leisure and recreation skills
6) Adaptive physical education
7) Community
8) Self-preservation
3. Individualize lesson plans and teaching procedures to accommodate each youths learning style such as:
a. Prompting and fading strategies
b. Reinforcement
c. Shaping
d. Errorless teaching
4. Collaborate with school staff to ensure that skills generalize to other people, different environments and to relevant activities.
5. Providing youth skill-acquisition through the implementation behavior analytic procedures to teach appropriate functional alternatives to challenging behavior through a variety of means including:
a. Functional Communication Training
b. Differential Reinforcement of Alternative behavior
c. Tolerating delays
d. Problem solving
e. Self-management

6. Trains Life Skills Instructors in the ChildBridge Center for Group Home Living for youths transitioning to less restrictive environments, and disseminating youth assessment information to the team.
7. Assists with the development, implementation, and/or monitoring educational curricula, including, but not limited to, completing core skills and other educational assessments.
8. Actively participates in regular clinical and team meetings.
9. Collaborates with other home staff, Teachers, Case Managers, Speech & Language Pathologists, Behavior Analysts, Occupational Therapists, Nursing staff, and other team members in providing effective and efficient services to youths including, but not limited to, implementation of behavior, communication, and sensory plans.
10. Assists with the development of youths families in-home programs.
11. Assists with the development and implementation of assessment methods to help decrease problem behavior and increase appropriate behavior for the youths.
12. Ensure all youths safety and implement all safety procedures.
13. Record/document and compile all required behavioral and skill-acquisition data accurately and in a timely fashion using mobile data collection devices.
14. Document and maintain records of all certification requirements to ensure certification retention, including but not limited to, maintaining RBT certification on an annual basis.
15. Successfully completes medication administration training and administers medications to youths and correctly documents on the Medication Administration Record (MAR).
16. Transport youths using agency vehicles, as needed.
17. Implements of all safety plans and emergency procedures.
18. Assists with residential duties/chores including laundry, cleaning, dishes, cooking, etc. as needed to ensure general maintenance of residential homes.
19. Punctual and competent completion of all team assignments.
20. Maintains American Heart Association certification in First Aid and CPR.
21. Successfully completes Little City Foundation required training, re-training, and any additional training as required by Little City Foundation policies and practices, or as assigned by his or her immediate supervisor.
22. Other duties as assigned by the administrative team.

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
This position is part of the collective bargaining unit. Management has the right to schedule work hours and determine the work to be performed. Supervisors must have the flexibility to adjust to changes in scheduling, (including hours, the total number of work hours and work assignments) brought on by program needs

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Must have a high school diploma or GED certification and be at least 21 years of age. Bachelors Degree in human services, education, or disability related field, preferred. Successful completion of Direct Support Professional within 120 days of hire and Registered Behavior Tech (RBT) training and certification within 90 days of hire, required. Experience using Applied Behavioral Analysis

(ABA), preferred. Must be capable of transporting children and possess a current IL valid drivers license. Residential Behavior Specialist must pass Medication Administration classroom and on-the-job training, demonstrate competency in passing medication, and receive clearance by the Medical Team to become a member of the Med Pass team.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is subject to sitting, walking, and standing for prolonged periods; frequently grasps, lifts, holds, or feels objects; occasionally stoops, kneels, crouches, or crawls. The employee frequently is required to use manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination when working with persons served and handling office, medical, or household equipment. The employee is subject to assist and lift up to 50 pounds with varying amounts of assistance on a reoccurring basis. The employee is required to have corrected vision and hearing within normal range and the ability to operate a motor vehicle. Must have the ability to perform CPR and CPI. Occupational exposure to blood, body fluids, infectious substances, including communicable diseases when performing personal care (Category III). Occasional exposure to cleaning agents and disinfectants. Residential work environment with a noise level of normal to loud. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must successfully complete required physical management training (non-violent self-defense) including, but not limited to:

Protective holds, movements and carries
Blocking and redirecting youth movements against the youths weight (40-250 pounds)
Physical interventions in response to aggressive and self-injurious behavior
Ability to move quickly and confidently to intervene in situations when protective holds and/or movements are deemed necessary
Ability to pursue a youth who elopes

Disclaimer: The intent of this job description is to provide a representative level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.