Behavioral Health Specialist (Day School Pittsburgh)

Position Summary

The Behavioral Health Specialist (BHS) is responsible for collaborating within the classroom team in the development, implementation, and monitoring of effective, individualized academic and behavioral programming for students.

Essential Roles And Responsibilities

• Quality Educational Programming
• Collaborate with the Special Education Teacher in the implementation and review of the Individualized Education Plans (IEP) for each student.
• Collaborates with the classroom team to support students in all content areas as well as areas specified in IEP through individual, group, and experiential interactions.
• Develop, implement and review Student Support Plans (SSP) in collaboration with the classroom team.
• Develop and implement a classroom/behavioral management system in collaboration with the classroom team.
• Develop and implement daily group and individualized lesson plans for each student utilizing provided social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum and supplemental materials.
• Demonstrates cultural sensitivity.
• Review and update the Student Support Plan (SSP) quarterly (or more if needed).
• Complete SEL lesson plans weekly and provide progress on social-emotional learning.
• Provide SET with behavioral data weekly.
• Communicate effectively, avoiding jargon and using basic terms.
• Participate in all regularly scheduled in-service programs.

Professional Development

Periodically attend local, state, or national conferences and workshops to enhance knowledge areas.

Supervision

Receive supervision. 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.

Leadership

Serve on program committees as needed or directed. Directly always supervise students.

Documentation

Complete Summary of Daily Progress (SDP) notes daily. Utilize technology to create graphs of student data.

Essential Qualifications

• Education/Certifications/Licensure: Requires a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, counseling, education or other childcare field. Requires proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL) within two (2) years of employment for the School for the Deaf. Requires a valid state driver’s license, safe driving record, and current vehicle insurance.
• Experience: Experience in behavior management preferred.

Mental Demands

Continually handles diversity of problems. Frequently performs multiple tasks, make quick decisions, concentrate, and handle distractions that interfere.

Reasonable Accommodations

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Physical Demands

• 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.

Working Conditions

• Environmental demands require this position in schools and community.
• Working Hours: Hours dependent on school schedule. Flexibility to meet student needs. PRSD is on a 12-month schedule. PRSA and Day Schools are on a 10-month/ school year schedule.