Behavior Intervention Specialist I, II or III

Description

Lutheran Social Services of Southern California began in December 1944 when a group of Lutheran congregations in San Diego came together to discuss how to better assist families in need. They began discussing how to form a Welfare Commission. Their vision expanded when they came together with another group of Lutheran congregations in Los Angeles having the very same conversation. Lutheran Social Services of Southern California was officially incorporated in 1946 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit social service agency. The mission has stayed true to its earliest beginnings, to be a servant to those in need. Today LSSSC serves thousands of individuals and families throughout Southern California with over 45 programs/services at 18 locations. We are part of the Lutheran Services in America (LSA) network and strive to serve those in need with dignity and respect.

Lutheran Social Services of Southern California’s Mission: Ignited by faith, we live out God’s love by embracing, equipping and empowering vulnerable individuals, families and communities toward self-sufficiency.

The Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS) provides Student Assistance Program (SAP) Prevention and Early Intervention Medi-Cal Services designed to improve the mental health of identified student including implementation of behavioral interventions provision of individual and group interventions, and collaboration with school staff, agencies within the community, and other LSSSC programs. This position works under a licensed professional and is responsible for planning and implementing various non- therapeutic aspects of mental health services such as Rehab/ADL and Behavioral Modification. The BIS provides immediate guidance and encouragement to assist, support, and redirect the student in crisis situations. The position also provides prevention services such as anger management and socialization groups for students who have issues but do not qualify for mental health services.

The Behavior Intervention Specialist I and II positions are full-time (40 hours) and adheres to the Bear Valley Unified School District, BVUSD calendar, not the LSSSC schedule. 

The Behavior Intervention Specialist III position is full-time (40 hours). The BIS III adheres to the LSSSC calendar, not the Bear Valley Unified School District, BVUSD calendar. 

Requirements

 Essential Duties and Responsibilities for Behavior Intervention Specialist I, II, and III include the following:

· Interview and screen prospective clients to determine client needs. 

· Facilitate client intake paperwork and referrals. 

· Assist individuals and groups to recognize and improve home, school, family, or community conditions contributing to mental health issues. 

· Provide direct services that focus on behavior modification in school, community, and home dynamics, and improving familial dynamics.

· Develop and maintain lines of communication with school personnel, Child, and Family Services, CFS, San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, DBH, Probation, and community-based organizations. 

· Provide short-term crisis intervention to resolve the immediate problem and make appropriate referrals for further interventions. 

· Assist licensed/pre-licensed professional staff in assessments and treatment planning; implements specific aspects of the client recovery plan, CRP, and utilizes Rehab/ADL and collaboration to implement approved interventions in the school setting. 

· Provide prevention services at the school sites such as facilitating groups and classroom presentations. Assist with completing the SAP Bi-Annual Progress Report by submitting data and outcome measures via monthly summary reports or spreadsheets. 

· Complete mandated documentation within forty-eight (48) hours according to scope of practice (Activity/Service Log, Demographic Survey, intake forms, assessment, assessment forms, assessments tools, Problem List, Client Recovery Plan, CRP).

· Maintain client electronic health records, E H R, as required by DBH, the Outpatient Chart Manual, Medi-Cal Manual, Scope Practices Billing Guide, and CalAIM billing guide. 

· Incorporate the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiatives into services to improve the quality of life and health outcomes of school-age children. 

· Work a flexible schedule, with the ability to provide in-person services focused on supporting or addressing daily and emergency needs of the clients in the local school district or out in the field.

· Using the 24/7 crisis schedule for the program, be available to address the regular and emergency needs of the clients and offer support for an in-person response to provide the full range of mental health services to children/youth that live within the Contractor’s service area(s), including crisis and emergency services.

· Attend all training (both internal and external) as required by the contractor, the Clinical Supervisor, or other LSSSC management team members. 

· Attend the mandated annual Wellness Conference.

· Manage workload to meet program target goals by the end of each month and the fiscal year in accordance with the contractual percentage restrictions (20% Prevention and 70% Early Intervention). 

· Maintain a clean and organized work environment. 

· Meet all requirements and regulations delineated in the Employee Handbook.

· Other duties assigned by a supervisor.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities for Behavior Intervention Specialist II

· Engage in opportunities for professional development to cultivate skills and knowledge of current research and practices for the program. 

· Assist with direct school related behavioral needs for youth and family referred to San Bernardino County Schools or enrolled in the General Mental Health, GMH, Success First or Wraparound programs.

· Provide case management services to all clients as needed and in accordance with policies and procedures, including but not limited to intake, assessment, care planning, linkage, transportation, and consultation to resources in the community.

· Provide other client services designated by and only with prior approval of the Site Director. 

· Advocate for the program by providing outreach to the community. 

· Other duties assigned by a supervisor.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities for Behavior Intervention Specialist III

· Assist with training of new hires and the SBC Rural annual training.

· Participate in one (1) SBC Rural management team meeting a month.

· Plan or coordinate outreach and fundraiser events.

· Facilitate NCTI groups for youth, parents, and family receiving services via Success First, SF, Student Assistance Program, SAP, Wraparound, Wrap, and San Bernardino County Probation Department referrals in SBC Rural.

· Collaborate with San Bernardino County Probation Department, Bear Valley Unified School District representatives and community partners to receive referrals for prevention and early intervention services and National Curriculum and Training Institute, NCTI, groups.

· Track referrals to comply with the required 4-15 group count per facilitator.

· Ensure NCTI curriculum fosters positive and prosocial behaviors for youth, parents, and family.

· Plan and implement group curriculum that includes but is not limited to the following:

A. Anger Management

B. Cognitive Life Skills

C. Curfew

D. Drugs and Alcohol

E. Gang Involvement

F. Shoplifting

G. Truancy.

· Order and inventory NCTI workbooks for the group participants.

· Provide NCTI education classes outside of traditional school hours at locations that are easily accessible to children/youth/TAY and their families such as school sites, the LSSSC office, community settings (e.g. schools, clinics, Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) centers, community centers, and anywhere children/youth and families live and congregate).

· Assist quality control, quality assurance, the Director of Administrative Services, Site Director, or other SBC Rural leadership team members with creating policies and procedures for NCTI parenting groups.

· Establish parenting sessions and groups that occur quarterly, over a three-week period; twice a week for two 1-2 hours for each session, for a total of six sessions or once a week for 1-2 hours each for each session, for a total of six weeks. and include the following:

Session 1- Introductions, Agreements, and Objectives

Session 2- Developing Values 

Session 3 - Getting to Know Your Children/ Communication/ What Motivates a Child? 

Session 4-Family Rules/ How Do You Discipline? 

Session 5-Keys to Success/ Stress Test 

Session 6 - Coping with Stress / Positive Self-Image/ Goals 

· Utilize NCTI assessment tools and pre- and post-tests in compliance with the contractual requirement of 80% completion rate.

· Input or arrange for pre- and post-test data entry electronically into the NCTI® database or mail the hard copies of pre- and post-tests to NCTI® to be entered by NCTI® staff. 

· Input preventive, outreach, and other required services into the San Bernardino County Department if Behavioral Health, DBH, File Transfer Protocol, FTP.

· Participate in pre-employment interviews, program, department, and agency/inter-agency meetings as required. 

· Represent LSSSC in community, church, and/or interagency activities.

· Other duties assigned by a supervisor.

During the BVUSD off season (Spring Break, Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, Summer Break, and holidays recognized by the BVUSD) duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

· Provide individual and group sessions via face-to-face or telehealth services (Rehab ADL, Case Management Linkage Consultation, and Collateral) for other LSSSC programs.

· Facilitate parenting classes to assist parents in changing their children’s maladaptive behaviors into more adaptive behaviors to improve functioning.

· Prepare presentations by researching evidenced based practices, promising practices, and community-based practices for training materials.

· Conduct presentations for the purpose of promoting the services provided by the Student Assistance Program and increasing teacher engagement to build referral resources.

· Collaborate with clinicians and paraprofessionals to enhance client care to children/adolescents within the DBH programs at LSSSC.

· Engage in opportunities for professional development to cultivate skills and knowledge of current research and practices in the provision of Rehab ADL, Case Management Linkage & Consultation, Intensive Care Coordination, and NCTI.

Competency:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.

Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.

Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.

Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.

Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly. 

Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must be able to pass a DOJ check and have a clear DMV record.

Education/Experience:

Behavioral Intervention Specialist I

Applicants must possess an A.A., B.A., or B.S. related to the field (e.g., psychology, applied behavioral analysis, child and adolescent development, social sciences, etc.). Alternatively, an applicant must have a high school diploma and have two years experience working with youth and their family facing emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges. The applicant must also demonstrate a capacity to provide culturally responsive care.

Behavior Intervention Specialist II

In addition to the education OR experience criteria for Behavioral Intervention Specialist I, the Behavioral Intervention Specialist II must have experience providing behavioral health-related services such as intake, interviewing, risk prevention, supportive groups, and referrals. The applicant must also have one (1) year experience working with youth and their family enrolled in the Success First and Wraparound programs. Alcohol and Drug Certificate courses are acceptable.

Behavior Intervention Specialist III

In addition to the education OR experience criteria for Behavioral Intervention Specialist I and II, the Behavioral Intervention Specialist III must possess Anger Management and National Curriculum Institute Training, NCTI, Certificates. The candidate must also have one (1) year experience facilitating NCTI and Anger Management groups.

Language Ability: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

Math Ability: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, identify percentage and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills:  To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Word Processing software and Spreadsheet software.

Certificates and Licenses: No certificates are required for the Behavior Intervention Specialist I and II positions.

The Behavior Intervention Specialist III position must possess valid certificates in Anger Management and National Curriculum Training Institute, NCTI. For alcohol and other drug education services not associated with NCTI, certification in substance abuse (e.g., CADC, SUDCC, or CATC) is required.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.