Lead Behavorial Heath Specialist(Day School Pittsburgh)

Pressley Ridge Benefits

The well-being of our employees and their families is important to us. At Pressley Ridge, we strive to provide the most competitive and comprehensive employee benefit programs that are affordable and help you and your family achieve and maintain your best possible health.

• Medical coverage available with a Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer match
• Prescription coverage
• Dental and vision plans
• Patient advocate and Medicare specialists available at no cost
• Dependent Care Flexible Savings Account
• Wellness incentive (up to $250)
• 403b with up to 9% employer give/match
• Free life insurance and AD&D
• Paid sick time (up to 15 days)
• Paid holidays including a birthday holiday
• Tuition reimbursement (if applicable)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Position Summary

The Lead Behavior Health Specialist will assist classroom teams in the development, implementation, and monitoring of effective behavioral health programs for students, and will participate in the same professional development activities as behavior health specialists. The Lead BHS is responsible for organizing and implementing psychoeducational curriculum and behavioral programming for the assessment room, classroom teams and students. The Lead BHS is also responsible for assisting in the development of Positive Behavior Support Plans (PBSP) and assessment opportunities, research-based instructional methods, aligning materials and resources to curriculum outcomes, diagnostic testing, and other leadership responsibilities.

Essential Responsibilities

1. Clinical and Support
   
   1. Assist in the development, implementation, and monitoring of individual and group interventions in accordance with Interdisciplinary Reviews.
   2. Assist in the facilitation of affective/psychoeducational groups and deliver lessons and instruction on skill streaming, Aggression Replacement Training, social skills, etc.
   3. Assist the Behavioral Supports Coordinator/Program Director in the development, implementation, and monitoring of the peer mentoring program.
   4. Alongside the classroom staff, identify students who could benefit from additional mentoring and conduct small group mentoring sessions.
   5. Assist the Lead Teacher with administering statewide testing (PSSA, PASA, and 3 Keystone exams) at designated times to identified students during the school year.
   6. Provide training for newly hired classroom staff.
   7. Provide behavioral data to BHS and/or SET for the PBSP for new students.
   8. Report all diagnostic scores for immediate use to classroom staff and permanent records.
   9. Assist teams in designing and implementing a classroom management system and policies.
   10. Assist teams in implementing components of group process procedures in the classroom including, but not limited to development of a group theme, implementation of planning, evaluation, and problem-solving meetings, and group activities (social and academic).
   11. Integrates experiential education activities into daily programming.
   12. At the beginning of each school year and subsequently as needed, arranging the physical classroom setting (e.g., chairs, bulletin boards, meeting areas) to maximize the instructional atmosphere.
   13. Administer assessments and complete necessary documentation related to the assessments.
   14. Assist the Program Director in the development and maintenance of psychoeducational curriculum by reviewing, evaluating, and selecting new materials.
   15. Provide consultation to all classroom and supervisory staff in the areas of psychoeducational materials and behavior management techniques.
   16. Provide at least two (2) in-services per year relevant to innovative behavioral techniques and materials.
   17. Under the direction of the Program Director, participate in all School Curriculum Committee activities.
   18. Use assessment methods to determine the achievement levels and behavioral needs of each student within two (2) weeks of entry to the program, yearly thereafter, and within one (1) month before a student’s discharge from the program; testing will occur at other times on an as-needed basis.
   19. Assist with setting up and monitoring the classroom diagnostic tools and scholastic inventories.
   20. Co-facilitates psychoeducational groups with behavior health specialists.
   21. Identifies and selects appropriate behavioral goals.
   22. Efficiently and effectively selects materials for mentoring sessions/running groups.
   23. Provides consistent feedback to students for behavioral performance.
   24. Provides maximum amount of instruction time during behavioral health programming.
   25. Integrates experiential education into behavioral health programming.
2. Communication
   
   1. Maintain frequent informal communication with classroom teams regarding student programming and progress.
   2. Provide in-service/training programs to other educational programs as needed or directed.
3. Professional Development
   
   1. Serve on program committees as needed or directed.
4. Supervision
   
   1. Receive supervision.
      
      1. Receive supervision from and actively communicate with supervisor on an ongoing basis throughout the week by phone, email, written message and when possible, in person regarding program matters.
   2. Provides supervision.
      
      1. Supervise staff directly or their supervisors depending upon the personnel actions including action plans, hiring, terminations, recruitment, vacation and sick day requests. Ensures that program staffing is qualified and provides continued safety of children served with high rates of success/program completion.
5. Leadership
   
   1. Serve as a contributing member responsible for the educational and behavioral development of students.
   2. Co-facilitate the Assessment Room with the Lead Teacher.
   3. Provide consultation to classroom staff regarding interpretation and use of assessment information to formulate teaching and behavioral objectives and activities.
   4. Participate in all ancillary meetings held at least monthly.
   5. Assist the Program Coordinator/Program Director in the planning and implementation of all school-wide extracurricular activities.
   6. Demonstrate a proficient level of cultural sensitivity.
   7. Directly always supervise assigned students via visual and auditory contact during the school day unless otherwise arranged with staff or students.
   8. According to a designated schedule, supervise students’ arrival and departure to school via buses and cabs.
   9. Periodically attend local, state, or national conferences and workshops to enhance knowledge areas.
   10. Participate in all regularly scheduled in-service programs.
6. Documentation
   
   1. Complete all required documentation surrounding assessment and mentoring.
   2. Utilize technology through electronic documentation, electronic communication and use of the internet to supplement programming.
7. Risk Management and Safety
   
   1. Follow policy regarding the documentation of incidents (such as physical injury or illness, property damage, runaway, student search for drugs or weapons, physical restraint, etc.). Follow procedures for all physical contact with students during physical restraints, student searches, etc.
   2. Follow procedures for student illness and injury, including arranging necessary medical care, accordingly, informing appropriate persons of the situation, and documenting the injury/illness and actions taken.
   3. Assist other staff as needed in physical interventions to protect students and staff from injury.
   4. Detect and remediate any potentially dangerous environmental conditions (such as broken glass) accordingly.
   5. When transporting students, maintain safe driving procedures.

Qualifications

1. Education/Certifications/Licensure:
   
   1. Requires a bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, or social work.
   2. Master’s degree preferred.
   3. Requires proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL) within two (2) years of employment for the School for the Deaf.
   4. PA Special Education Teaching Certification preferred.
      
      1. Complete requirements and/ or Act 48 training to maintain certification accordingly.
   5. Requires a valid state driver’s license, safe driving record, and current auto insurance.
2. Experience:
   
   1. Requires five (5) years of experience in behavior management.
   2. Requires familiarity with multiple types of data collection instruments.
3. Clearances Required by Applicable Regulations:
   
   1. State Police
   2. FBI
   3. Child Abuse Clearances
   4. Mandated Reporter-Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse training certificate and/or statement

Working Conditions

1. Physical Demands:
   
   1. This position requires operating a keypad device 25% of the day and electronic/office equipment 50% of the day. Fingers, thumbs, hands, wrists, elbows, legs and feet are all routinely used throughout the day. The lower and upper torso is used 75% of the day. Employee must meet minimum requirements for hearing, speech, and vision. For positions in the School for the Deaf, hearing and speech are not required but ASL proficiency is (see qualifications above). Walking is required 75% of the day. Standing occurs 75% of the day. Sitting happens 25% of the day. Reaching above the shoulder as well as bending and twisting are performed 25% of the day. This function routinely lifts 15 pounds, 4 times per day. The maximum lift is 10 pounds, 4 times per day. The position requires the ability to implement physical interventions and meet the physical demands of TCI. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
2. Mental Demands:
   
   1. Continually handles diversity of problems.
   2. Frequently performs multiple tasks, make quick decisions, concentrate, and handle distractions that interfere.
3. Environmental Factors:
   
   1. Environmental demands require this position in schools and community.
4. Working Hours:
   
   1. Hours dependent on school schedule. Flexibility to meet program and student needs.
   2. PRSD is on a 12-month schedule. PRSA and Day School Greensburg and Johnstown are on a 10-month/ school year schedule. This position in a Day School Pittsburgh follows a 10-month/ school year schedule plus 5 additional days over the summer.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities


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