Behavior Support Specialist- STAIRS

Job Description

Job Description

Overview

Position: Behavior Support Specialist

Pay Range: $20.05 - $23.03 per hour

Available Shifts:  

• 2p-10p, Tuesday-Saturday (Off Sunday and Monday)
• 2p-10p, Wednesday- Sunday (Off Monday and Tuesday)
• 2p-10p, Thursday- Monday (Off Tuesday and Wednesday)
• 2p-10p, Sunday-Thursday (Off Friday and Saturday)  

Location: Homestead area of Pittsburgh, PA

Start a new career with purpose and impact!

We’re excited to begin welcoming new team members as we launch an innovative residential treatment program dedicated to supporting children and adolescents with autism or intellectual disabilities and co-occurring behavioral health needs.  As a Behavior Support Specialist, you’ll play a vital role in providing hands-on care, building meaningful relationships, and helping individuals achieve their goals in a safe and supportive environment. You’ll work alongside a compassionate multidisciplinary team, contribute to life-changing progress, and be part of something truly special from the very beginning.

Position Summary:
Devereux/TCV Community Services is seeking multiple Behavior Support Specialists for our new STAIRS program , an intensive residential treatment program for youth with autism and developmental disabilities. The program serves youth with significant behavioral challenges and skill deficits who have not made progress in less restrictive settings.

The Behavior Support Specialist is part of a multidisciplinary treatment team including a child psychiatrist, social worker, nurses, special education staff, behavior analysts, and recreational specialist.  Individuals in our program vary in their abilities, with some being non-speaking and having limited interactions and responses to others.

Primary Responsibilities Include:

• Implement Individualized Positive Behavior Support Plans and Behavioral Health Treatment Plans: Assist in carrying out therapeutic and behavioral strategies and interventions developed by the multidisciplinary team including psychiatrists, nurses, and behavior analysts.
• Provide Direct Care & Supervision: Support residents during daily activities, leisure time, and community outings, ensuring safety and engagement.
• Support Self-Care & Daily Living Skills: Aid residents with personal hygiene, toileting, and other functional living skills, especially those with limited independence.
• Preventing and Responding to Challenging Behaviors: Implementing treatment interventions to prevent challenging behaviors as well as strategies to de-escalate challenging behaviors (including self-injury, aggression, elopement) and other crisis situations using approved intervention techniques.
• Facilitate Therapeutic Activities: Assist with individual and group sessions focused on social and communication skills, emotion regulation, daily living skills, leisure and recreational activities.
• Maintain a Safe & Therapeutic Environment: Ensure the physical and emotional well-being of residents by promoting a structured, respectful, and supportive atmosphere.

Being a Behavior Support Specialist at Devereux/TCV has its advantages!

• Transform Lives: Help youth with autism and complex behavioral needs make meaningful progress.
• Team-Based Care: Work alongside a skilled, multidisciplinary team.
• Family Involvement: Empower families through training and active participation.
• Growth Opportunity: Gain valuable experience in intensive behavioral treatment.
• Educational Collaboration: Support skill-building across home, school, and community.

Interested in advancing your career?  Devereux is proud to offer ASCEND - the first career accelerator program exclusively designed to give behavioral healthcare workers - the career guidance, one-on-one coaching, skills and financial assistance you need to reach your full potential. This program includes tuition and student loan repayment! 

Responsibilities

Company Overview  

Devereux is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit organizations, providing services, insight and leadership in the evolving field of behavioral healthcare. Founded in 1912, Devereux operates a comprehensive national network of clinical, therapeutic, educational and employment programs that positively impact the lives of 10,000+ children, adults – and their families – every year.    

Our Mission: Devereux changes lives – by unlocking and nurturing human potential for people living with emotional, behavioral or cognitive differences.    

With nearly 6,500 employees working in programs across the country, Devereux is a trusted partner for families, schools and communities, serving individuals in the areas of autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, specialty mental health, education and foster care. 

Our Culture, Our Expectations   

At Devereux, Servant Leadership is embedded throughout our culture and every aspect of our organizational framework. Our mission-driven, people-first mindset is at the heart of the compassionate and high-quality programming we provide – every day – for the individuals and families we serve, and other key stakeholders. Devereux offers challenging and exciting work, and our team environment creates an empowering, positive and rewarding atmosphere. To be successful at Devereux, you will: put the needs of others first, feel called to serve and called to lead. As a member of our team, you will be a significant part of our commitment to providing a welcoming and supportive work environment across all programs and services, and within all policies and employee practices.  

We believe a workplace rooted in inclusivity – offering a sense of belonging to all those who walk through our doors – is fundamental to delivering the highest quality healthcare services. Through open dialogue and the creation of brave spaces, we will engage in work that gives each of us a chance to change the world – one person, one family, one community at a time. 

What Devereux Offers You  

In addition to a competitive salary, Devereux provides a comprehensive health and welfare program to eligible full-time employees, family members and domestic partners. Eligible employees are eligible to start benefits after 30 days of employment. In addition, we offer;  

• Medical (including telemedicine via phone, web, app), dental, prescription drug, preventative care, and mental health services. 

• Student loan debt assistance, tuition reimbursement and continuing education assistance. 

• Generous time-off (start accruing 1st day), 403(b) retirement plan with matching benefit, and voluntary/employee paid supplemental life and accident coverage. 

• Employee assistance / work-life balance program. 

Visit to see why Devereux is a great place to work!

Devereux is a drug-free workplace, drug screening required. EOE

Qualifications

EDUCATION: High School Diploma or GED required. Bachelor or higher degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE: One (1) year previous experience in a Psychiatric residential treatment facility preferred. One (1) year experience working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Intellectual Disabilities preferred. Ability to manage multiple tasks.  Proficient communication and computer skills.  Valid driver’s license must be maintained. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to administer CPR.  Ability to administer first aid.  Ability to properly restrain adolescent/adult residents.  Ability to create and maintain a therapeutic milieu.  Regularly requires walking, standing, stooping, bending, and pushing/pulling (1/2 to 3/4 of the workday).  Seldom requires sitting.  May require lifting up to 50 lbs. (1/4 - 1/2 of the workday). Requires repetitive wrist/hand movement (3/4 to 4/4 of the workday). Range of hearing and vision sufficient to operate standard office machines and communicate with co-workers and stakeholders in person and via telephone. Free of dependency and abuse of illegal or illicit drugs, alcohol, inhalants, or other chemical substances or controlled substances.  Often drives a Devereux-TCV vehicle or van.  Regularly works inside in areas that are adequately lighted and ventilated (1/2 to 3/4 of work time).  Some fluctuation in temperature.  Also, regularly works outside.  May work in wet conditions (<1/4 of work time)

Devereux has a zero-tolerance policy for abuse and maintains policies and procedures to systematically reduce the risk of abuse to occur in our organization. Devereux fosters a culture of reporting abuse, and will cooperate with the authorities to the fullest extent possible.