Behavior Analyst I

About the role

Would you thrive in an environment where you learn and grow personally and professionally all while helping make a positive impact on people's lives? Do you appreciate being around others like yourself who are dependable, trustworthy, hard workers who believe in the value of teamwork? HSCS is dedicated to building an atmosphere where employees feel valued and supported while providing specialized care for Texans in need. HSCS is comprised of ten psychiatric hospitals, two youth residential treatment facilities, and thirteen state supported living centers. Psychiatric hospitals are a hub of excellence for forensic mental health and complex psychiatric care, with all facilities accredited by The Joint Commission. They provide state-of-the-art treatment that is recovery-oriented and science-based.

Responsibilities

• Attends work on a regular basis and may be required to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
• As part of the treatment planning process, observes and assesses individual patients and designs positive interventions to address the behavioral challenges of patients with cognitive, developmental, psychiatric, and physical needs.
• Ongoing systematic monitoring and approval of functional behavioral assessments and behavior support plans are conducted through personal observation, staff interviews, and documentation review to ensure the patients continuing needs are met.
• Consults with staff concerning positive and effective approaches to preventing and addressing challenging behaviors.
• Writes a behavioral support plan and communicates it to the direct care staff. Provides in-person training, updating the treatment team as necessary. Involves the person served as much as possible.
• Evaluates individual and group behavioral therapy programs and unit milieu management structures to guide the treatment process for the psychiatric population. Designs supplemental therapeutic programs at the individual and group level.
• Provides consultative services to treatment teams and unit staff on effective patient interaction, the application of behavioral interventions, the use of unit milieu structure, the use of patient centered safety plans, and treatment interventions that are alternatives to the use of seclusion or restraint.
• Reviews patient progress and response to behavioral therapy services and provides debriefings with staff and patients when restraints occur.
• Attends and participates in the Behavioral Support Plan Peer Review Committee to ensure compliance with the Texas Administrative Code (TAC). Reviews the behavioral support plans and ensures the patients' rights are being served and individual choices are being honored. Approves all hospital behavioral plans.
• Actively participates in the hospitals quality management, patient safety, risk management, and infection control programs helping to ensure compliance with The Joint Commission (TJC) standards, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) conditions of participation, Texas Administrative Code (TAC), and the rules and regulations of the Agency and state hospital system.
• Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Qualifications

• Must be certified as a Behavior Analyst by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.
• Six (6) months of experience in psychology and behavior analyst work.
• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master's or a higher-level degree in behavior analysis, special education, human services, psychology, or a related field.

Preferred qualifications

• Two (2) or more years implementing behavioral services with adults with developmental disabilities, substance abuse and/or serious mental illness using a person-centered approach.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of applied behavior analysis.
• Knowledge of behavior support plan development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Knowledge of medications used to assist with behavior management.
• Knowledge of systems used to track treatment effectiveness.
• Knowledge of behavioral service delivery to people with mental disorders, and of the characteristics of developmental disabilities.
• Knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and departmental and agency policy.
• Skills in writing and developing complex technical reports and other documents.
• Skills in the use of a computer and applicable software.
• Ability to conduct comprehensive functional behavior assessments.
• Ability to develop behavior support plans.
• Ability to evaluate behavioral and program data.
• Ability to make clinical recommendations.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Benefits

Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, and numerous opportunities for career advancement. This position may be eligible to earn additional pay for work performed on evenings, nights and/or weekends.

Schedule

Day shift (First). Flexibility in work hours may be required. The position may be required to work overtime and/or extended hours.

Pay

Salary range: $6,534.79 - $8,304.83 per month (Salary Group TEXAS-B-23).