Direct Support Professional - Registered Behavor Technician

Responsibilities

• Provide overall supervision, protection, and care of individuals at all times, including maintenance of house rules, facilitating learning and training in fire safety, and identifying and appropriately escalating signs of potential harm to self or others.
• Provide support in a variety of settings in accordance with each person’s individualized service and behavior support plans, utilizing support skills for people with moderate to complex levels of need.
• Ensure health, wellness, and safety by providing appropriate supervision and managing crisis situations while adhering to policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Ensure implementation of plans of protective oversight, Individual Behavior Support Plans (IBSPs), and Individualized Program Plans (IPPs) for all people supported.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work and therapy environment; ensure maintenance upkeep and safety based on facility/program structure.
• Utilize safe and appropriate handling procedures when working with individuals; implement COVID mitigation and infection control protocols.
• Assist individuals in maximizing their strengths, interests, and abilities; uphold personal rights; provide emotional support; build positive relationships.
• Support people to meet personal goals that characterize quality of life; engage in respectful communications using person-first language; encourage socializing; facilitate activities that provide social capital and community connections.
• Ensure person-centered plans are implemented and assist with a variety of tasks as appropriate/authorized, including:
  • Providing personal care
  • Assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs)
  • Ensuring medication is administered as prescribed, according to guidelines
  • Teaching/developing skills
  • Supporting person-centered advocacy with the individual
  • Assisting in communication, self-expression, and resolving disputes among individuals
  • Facilitating ethical decision making
  • Providing supervision for and/or planning and preparing balanced meals and snacks in accordance with dietary restrictions and guidelines
  • Transporting and escorting individuals on recreational activities, medical appointments, home visits, etc.
  • Assisting with purchases and safeguarding personal allowance funds and any additional funds provided
• Complete and maintain all necessary trainings based on program and position to ensure compliance with YAI policies and licensing regulations; apply skills learned.
• Review communication logs daily and make entries of events, progress notes, services, and/or information; collect and enter data as part of daily operations using an electronic health record.
• Review and complete all other required paperwork and documentation to ensure compliance and/or billing, completely and accurately within appropriate timeframes (e.g., notifications, logging, incident reports, update files, maintenance requests, phone calls, tracking of incidents, evening and weekend reports).
• Maintain a therapeutic environment through Personal Outcome Measures, Person Centered Thinking, Informed Decision Making, and Trauma-Informed Approaches.
• Serve as a member of a highly effective team (teamwork within the circle of support), providing feedback and communicating programmatic needs; maintain a solution-oriented approach during conflicts.
• Consult with program leadership, clinical and other direct support staff to ensure streamlined, top-quality care; attend and actively participate in team meetings.
• Use foundational teaching skills (EMOE, task analysis, essential skills, supports and modifications, etc.) and progressive teaching methods.
• Comply with all Federal, State, Local, and other relevant regulatory agency requirements, including HIPAA.
• Complete and maintain Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) requirements for certification/license (RBT or LPT) and all other required recertifications and trainings as needed.
• Demonstrate and model all skills of DSP/RBT with a person-centered and trauma-informed approach.
• Under appropriate supervision:
  • Participate in the development of treatment plans
  • Develop and maintain understanding of specialized clinical knowledge for person-specific needs (supporting adults, challenging behaviors, autism spectrum disorders, complex medical needs)
  • Implement Behavior Support Plans (BSPs)
  • Collect, record, and summarize data on observable individual behavior
  • Observe and report any change in behavior or other signs and symptoms to a supervisor
  • Effectively communicate with authorized representatives regarding individual progress as instructed by the Board-Certified Behavior Analyst
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum requirements may vary by state of employment and/or contract. Please refer to applicable regulations for all DSP/RBT requirements for state of employment.

All DSP/RBTs Must Meet the Following Minimum Requirements

• High school diploma or its educational equivalent
• Valid Driver’s License may be required, based on position/location
• Must hold or obtain Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification within one year of appointment (or be a Licensed Psych Technician or Qualified Behavior Modification Professional for California assignments)
• Basic written and verbal communication skills
• Basic computer skills – including email, utilizing Workday and related systems (DA, etc.) to complete tasks
• Interpersonal and problem-solving skills
• Willingness to take initiative
• Ability to meet essential physical demands of the position, including frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling, and reaching with hands and arms; use hands to handle, finger, or feel objects, tools, or controls; assisting with lifting/moving individuals of any weight with assistance of mechanical lifts or other equipment and/or pushing individuals in wheelchairs; lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds or running on occasion; having the physical capacity to work with and implement emergency interventions as per the person’s Individual Behavior Support Plan and Individual Emergency Intervention Plan, if/as needed, including lifting/moving individuals of any weight with or without assistance of equipment and/or other staff

Additional Minimum Requirements by State

• New Jersey (Behavioral Health Stabilization Homes):
  • At least 6 months’ work or life experience with individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and/or behavioral challenges
  • Must hold a valid Driver’s license with no more than 5 points
  • New Jersey State drug test screening is mandatory
• California (Enhanced Behavioral Supports Homes and/or Community Crisis Homes):
  • At least six (6) months prior experience providing direct care to individuals with developmental disabilities
  • Successful completion of State of California Direct Support Professional Training (DSPT) Year 1 and Year 2 courses within one year of appointment
  • Hold (or obtain through employer-provided training) CPR/First Aid, Ukeru, and CPI certifications and recertify annually
  • Completion of Health Screening
  • Completion of annual continuing education units (CEUs) for professional development through competency-based training as required by Titles 17 & 22

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a Human Services field (e.g., social work, psychology, etc.)
• Knowledge of intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), clinical syndromes, and/or IDD with co-occurring behavioral/mental health needs
• Valid Driver’s License strongly preferred for California assignments

Pay

$20.50 per hour