BEHAVIORAL SPECIALIST

Behavioral Specialist

Agency for Persons with Disabilities Position: Behavioral Specialist Position's Location: Tacachale – Gainesville, FL Position Number: Multiple Vacancies Salary Range: $44,990.40 – $49,489.44 Annually $1,730.40 – $1,903.44 Biweekly

The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) works in partnership with local communities to support people with developmental disabilities in living, learning, and working in their communities. APD provides critical services and support for customers with developmental disabilities to reach their full potential. The Agency serves people with spina bifida, autism, Down syndrome, children ages 3-5 at high risk of developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, Prader-Willi syndrome, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, and intellectual disabilities. There is no charge or co-payment for services provided through the Agency.

Specific duties and responsibilities include evaluating and assessing residents utilizing functional behavior assessment tools, record review, direct observation, behavioral data analysis and consultation with other interdisciplinary members. Developing behavior support plans that incorporate the required ABA elements, including results of functional behavior assessment and specific strategies to teach replacement behaviors. Making daily rounds on homes of assigned caseload, to visit residents, gather feedback from direct care staff and collect ABC data sheets. Graphing data for analysis and writing narrative notes for summarization in various reports. Providing in-service training to direct care staff and monitoring for appropriate implementation of behavior supports. Providing adequate follow-up of residents both directly and via consultation with other disciplines and direct care staff. Attending interdisciplinary team meetings to discuss resident progress including Individual Support Plan meetings, and Interdisciplinary Team meetings. Attending placement/transition meetings related to resident admissions and discharge. Developing reports and graph data to present during Psychiatric Clinic reviews. Coordinating regulatory mandated attendance of guardians and community representatives to attend Human Rights Advocacy Committee meetings. Performing role of committee chairperson, to include the development and presentation of written reports that summarize prescribed restrictive or intrusive techniques to manage inappropriate behavior and the use of prescribed medications to manage behavior. Participating in Tacachale's Local Review Committee presenting and completing peer reviews for behavior support plans with restrictive components. Attending Behavior Specialist professional meetings, facility management meetings, and other meetings as required. Providing direct observation across settings, modeling, and providing consultation for assigned residents, working to facilitate behavioral stability and improved quality of life. Remaining current with research literature in the behavior analysis field and other areas that may benefit individuals receiving services.

Position requirements include a valid Florida Driver's License. Corrective Lenses Restricted license are acceptable provided the driver wears the corrective lenses while operating a state vehicle. A bachelor's degree in a human services field, (including, but not limited to sociology, special education, rehabilitation counseling, and psychology) Must have at least one (1) year of experience working directly with persons with intellectual disabilities or other developmental disabilities; and is one of the following professionals listed in the State Operations Manual W161 through W 180. Must maintain certification in Advanced Prevention and Safety Strategies (PASS) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)