Behavioral Specialist - 40 Hours, Evenings - Autism Inpatient Unit

Job Title

Autism Inpatient Unit Staff

Position Location

Hospital for Special Care

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Work Shift

Second Shift

Department

Autism Inpatient Unit

We are dedicated to creating an environment of care and engagement that makes us one of the most desirable places to work, providing exceptional care to each patient each and every day!

Qualifications

Baccalaureate in a Human Service field with six months to one year of direct childcare work with children diagnosed with Autism Spectral Disorder.

OR

Associate's degree in a Human Service field with two years of experience with children diagnosed with Autism Spectral Disorder.

OR

Five years of experience with children diagnosed with Autism Spectral Disorder. Preference for individuals with experience implementing Applied Behavior Analysis procedures with children and/or adolescents including data collection, reinforcement and instructional procedures.

Job Summary

Under the oversight of the Clinical Nurse Manager and daily monitoring by the Behavior Specialist Supervisor, is responsible for the implementation of the therapeutic treatment plan assuring the safety of assigned patient. As a member of the interdisciplinary treatment team, the BS is responsible for collecting data for the purpose of functional assessment, observation and data collection on patient responses to intervention, and documentation of this program under the direction of a registered nurse and BCBA. Provides care to assigned patient under the direction of the RN.

Physical Demands

Employees in this position must be able to participate in the physical management of patients which can include, but is not limited to, awareness and demonstration of safe body positioning at all times, awareness and coordination to block and deflect possible aggression, and the ability to physically hold struggling patients, using approved methods only, to maintain safety for extended periods of time. Specifically, such employees must be able to lift up to fifty pounds; reach with their hands and arms; grasp and hold with their hands; bend/squat/kneel without limitation, and physically escort patients who may become combative for short distances. Position requires occasional running for short distances, and frequent standing, walking and sitting.

Cognitive Demands

• Job allows for the application of learned knowledge and basic follow through on easily identifiable steps. Reference materials are available. Limited inference is necessary. Some selective attention is necessary to complete task.
• Job requires legibility, spelling accuracy and logical sentence and paragraph organization. A working knowledge and familiarity with professional medical terminology and definitions is required.
• Job requires a high level of communication skill including expression of abstract/complex ideas, use of negotiation and active listening and an ability to dialogue with multiple parties.
• Job requires an ability to comprehend lengthy and complex messages or paragraphs and to follow multistage and 3 step commands.
• Job requires flexibility of thought, reasoning, organizational skills, and ability to function in behavioral and physical care situation.

Work Demands

• Employees in this position work in a behavioral management setting under stressful conditions associated with care of impaired, aggressive and sometimes self-injurious individuals.
• Employees are expected to utilize de-escalation techniques taught by the Hospital to minimize need for physical intervention. They must have the ability to remain calm during a crisis situation as evidenced by the ability to make quick rational decisions and prioritize immediate patient care needs to maintain a therapeutic environment and ensure safety.
• Employees in this role may be required to float to other patient care units or departments based on operational and patient care needs, provided they possess the required competencies and qualifications for the assignment.

Essential Functions

• Maintains a safe and therapeutic environment, intervening in destructive behaviors, aggression and expressions of self-harm providing timely therapeutic interventions as designated in individualized behavior plans.
• Maintains the documented level of patient observation as ordered by the physician/Board Certified Behavioral Analyst/Charge RN each shift.
• Supervises assigned patients in daily routines and actively assists with activities of daily living and basic hygiene needs per their individual needs.
• Identifies, reports, and resolves potential/actual problems on the unit.
• Demonstrates appropriate critical incident follow-up skills by timely verbal reporting to charge RN and documentation in medical record. Completes other documentation, ie. incident reports, seclusion and restraint forms, as applicable. Participates in debriefings.
• Under the direction of the BS supervisor, greets new admissions, escorting them onto the unit.
• Reviews assigned patient behavior intervention plans at the start of each shift. Collaborates with the behavior leadership team to suggest revisions based on observations.
• Actively participates in hand-off shift report.
• Engages patients in organized group-based activities. Actively participates in the activities with assigned patients, modifying the task to meet the developmental needs of the patient.
• Demonstrates ability to set consistent and supportive therapeutic limits within guidelines of hospital, unit and department standards.
• Participates in teaching visits/family and parent training as assigned.
• Handles crisis situations in a safe, effective manner, utilizing the least restrictive, safe patient care alternative
• Anticipates and de-escalates patient distress situations prior to patients' loss of control as indicated in the behavior intervention plan.
• Performs other related duties as required, assigned or directed by charge nurse.