ESD - Specialty CTI - BIS

Behavioral Intervention Specialist

Under the supervision of the ESD Specialty Critical Time Intervention (CTI) Team Leader, the BIS is responsible for the implementation and evaluation of all behavior support services for the people they support. This includes conducting psychological and functional assessments, developing person-centered behavioral interventions, and delivering direct and consultative behavioral supports in collaboration with the ESD Specialty CTI team and the Transitional Residential Setting (TRS) staff members. The BIS ensures that behavior support services are clinically sound, recovery-oriented, and trauma-informed, and that they promote stabilization, skill-building, and positive community tenure. The BIS may maintain a small, specialized caseload of individuals with complex behavioral needs to ensure continuity of care and targeted clinical oversight.

Duties, Responsibilities, and Essential Functions:

• Conducts Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA) and psychological evaluations for individuals referred to the ESD Program.
• Collaborates with the Specialty CTI team to develop individualized, strengths-based, and trauma-informed behavior support plans for individuals with complex needs.
• Observes and analyzes maladaptive behavior patterns and identify socially meaningful replacement behaviors in TRS and community settings.
• Completes risk and safety assessments as part of the hospital-to-community discharge planning process, in alignment with the Specialty CTI phases.
• Participates in pre-discharge planning with hospital partners; support psychiatric stabilization through behavior strategies prior to discharge.
• Collaborates with Specialty CTI Care Managers and TRS staff to ensure behavioral supports are aligned across settings, especially during transitions between hospital, TRS, and community-based housing.
• Provides consultation and support to individuals and their teams in navigating behavioral challenges that may impact eligibility for community-based services.
• Trains TRS direct care and Specialty CTI staff in the implementation of proactive behavioral supports, data collection, and de-escalation techniques.
• Monitors fidelity to behavior plans and revise them regularly based on data and team feedback.
• Provides clinical input in crisis situations and guides direct support staff in emergency behavioral interventions within the TRS or in the community.
• Participates in the on-call rotation to respond to behavioral and psychiatric crises across the ESD Program.
• Administers and interprets standardized psychological and adaptive assessments to support diagnostic clarity and service eligibility when required.
• Prepares diagnostic summaries for submission to OPWDD or other relevant authorities as part of eligibility or service access pathways.
• Assists in developing individualized safety and support plans in collaboration with family/guardians and collateral providers.
• Participates in all ESD clinical and administrative meetings.
• Supports person-centered planning and contributes to the development of TRS therapeutic milieu and structured programming.
• Provides clinical consultation to hospitals, OPWDD/OMH residential providers, and external community services as part of the Specialty CTI model of linkage and hand-off.
• Completes all documentation in a timely and accurate manner, in accordance with OMH/OPWDD guidelines and agency standards.
• Utilizes the agency's electronic health record (EHR) and reporting systems to track behavioral data and monitor treatment effectiveness.
• Complies with internal quality assurance measures, clinical audits, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Carries a limited caseload of individuals with intensive behavioral support needs.
• Serves as the primary behavioral clinician for assigned individuals, integrating support planning with the Specialty CTI model.
• Participates in individual service planning, clinical case conferences, discharge planning, and cross-system coordination.
• Maintains clinical notes and other documentation related to direct support.
• Perform additional responsibilities as requested and/or necessary.

Qualifications:

• Education: Master's Degree in social work, psychology, school psychology, applied psychology rehab counseling, mental health counseling, or another human services field required.
• Experience: Experience working with individuals with co-occurring MH/IDD preferred.
• Specialized Training, Licenses, Certifications: Complete the CTI certification process within 12 months of hiring. Complete 9.58 designation certification within 6 months of hiring. LCSW, LMHC, LMSW or another related licensure preferred.
• Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities: Knowledge of OMH and/or OPWDD practices, policies and regulations. Computer literacy required; familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite. Must be able to motivate and coach others. Must be efficient, well organized, and have excellent communication skills. Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment with flexibility, keeping others informed and anticipating needs is essential. Knowledge of Positive Behavior Supports is highly desirable. Knowledge with the completion and interpretation of clinical assessments, psychological screenings and testing tools, is preferred.
• Other Requirements: Valid Driver's license and satisfy criteria to be an agency driver required. Ability to be on call and work a flexible schedule according to the needs of the program. A current PPD (tuberculosis) test or equivalent screening (will be administered upon hire if needed). A physical examination completed within the last year by a licensed healthcare provider. Up-to-date immunization records, which may include (but are not limited to) MMR, Varicella, Tdap, Influenza, and COVID-19, in accordance with hospital system protocols and applicable public health guidelines.

Work Environment: This role is performed in-person, on-site at the assigned residential or day program locations. Must be able to also travel to administrative locations for meetings etc.

Physical Requirements: Employee is required to sit, walk and stand for prolonged period of time (at least 8 hours). Employee is required to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing. Employee is required to operate standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, fax and filing cabinets. Employee is required to reach with hands and arms. Employee is required to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch or stand on a stool as needed. Employee is required to be able to lift 50 pounds at a time. Notwithstanding the above listed physical requirements of this position, FREE will provide reasonable accommodations to allow employees to perform the essential functions of the position, provided such reasonable accommodations do not cause undue hardship on FREE.