Early Start Interventionist

About the role

Ocean Psychological Services is seeking passionate, energetic, and committed individuals to join our team of experts in the field of early intervention. As an Early Intervention Specialist (EIS), you will have an integral role in teaching young children essential skills to support their development.

The EIS will address each consumer’s developmental needs by delivering treatment utilizing principles of trauma-informed care and related early intervention practices for individuals with developmental difficulties and/or disabilities. Early intervention supports will address age-appropriate domains that include but are not limited to cognitive, motor, communication, and social skill areas. All services will be provided with a provider/staff to consumer ratio of 1:1 and will be delivered in the consumer’s home.

Developmental domains targeted for early intervention include social/emotional dysregulation, speech and language difficulties (e.g., pragmatic), adaptive skills (e.g., eating, toileting, and dressing), and cognitive deficits by addressing age-appropriate milestones for skill acquisition. The goal is to teach consumers impacted by trauma and their developmental deficits how to better cope and self-regulate, improving their quality of life through skills training across daily living skills, social opportunities, communication, and self-care while reducing maladaptive behaviors. The EIS will also teach parents/caregivers how to systematically teach these skills to increase the likelihood of social-emotional independence in their school-aged years.

Service domains include:

• Social-Emotional (pro-social behaviors, meaningful relationships, etc.)
• Speech and Language (comprehension, expression, pragmatics, speech production)
• Cognition Skills
• Adaptive Skills/Self-Care
• Behavioral Regulation (enhance coping skills)

All instruction is delivered 1:1 with the child and in parallel with parents as part of parent training. Goals developed from the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) will be incorporated into lessons/programs.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with BACB Code of Ethics.
• Implement early intervention programs and related programs for consumers.
• Provide social skills training to consumers (individually or in groups) when needed.
• Collect and maintain data on consumer progress.
• Attend and participate in monthly case conferences and client team meetings.
• Determine consumer mastery target areas/skills with Case Manager approval.
• Develop materials for sessions and programs.
• Attend quarterly mandatory staff meetings and required training workshops.
• Maintain a clean therapy area before and after sessions.
• Maintain RBT certification requirements, including supervision hours by a qualified BCBA.
• Incorporate evaluation and supervisory feedback into session performance.
• Attend company events as needed.
• Check and respond to company emails daily during the work week.

Supportive Activities

• Assist with training new EIS’s by having them shadow sessions.
• Substitute for other consumer sessions when needed (based on availability and assigned schedule).
• Support operations and clinical development needs by working on assigned special projects when direct consumer hours are under 30 per week.
• Support client assessment needs as required.

Requirements

• Associate degree required in psychology, child development, special education, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in ABA or equivalent (e.g., special education, child development) with formal documented training.
• Must have reliable transportation with a clean driving record and insurance.
• Must be available to provide at least 15–20 hours per week (Monday–Friday, with Saturday hours a plus).
• Availability between 8 AM–5 PM.

Pay

Hourly pay range: $28.00–$32.00 per hour (based on experience and qualifications).

Benefits

• Paid sick leave (in accordance with California state and local laws).
• Eligibility to participate in a 401(k) retirement savings plan (waiting period may apply).
• Professional development and training opportunities, including supervisory hours toward certification (e.g., RBT, BCaBA, BCBA) and educational leave for CEUs.
• Flexible scheduling options.
• Mileage reimbursement, where applicable.