Communication Specialist/Behavior Support Specialist - Full-Time

Description

About Skills

Skills of Central PA (Skills) provides support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health challenges throughout central Pennsylvania. We offer services in 17 counties throughout the region and employ approximately 1,000 people in a variety of professional, clinical, and direct support roles. If you’re looking for a place where you can grow your career while helping people, give Skills a closer look! 

Position Purpose and General Summary

This position includes assessment, plan development, training, collaboration, monitoring, modeling, coaching, teaching, and consultation for individuals with nontraditional communication needs and coordinating Behavior Support Services across all environments. The hours of work for this position is 8am to 4pm but flexibility is needed based upon availability of the individuals supported.

Person-Centered Practices

1. Assures people have what is important to them present in their everyday life.
2. Provides the skills and supports necessary for people to participate in their desired roles and build natural supports in the community.
3. Assures relationships with friends and family are nurtured and protected.
4. Assures people are treated with dignity and respected as a whole person.
5. Assures people have the power to make decisions and have choice and control over their lives and within their program.

COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST/BEHAVIOR SUPPORT SPECIALIST Essential Duties

1. Follows the team process when providing services for the people we support
2. Comprehensive review and/or assessment of a person’s communication needs and skills (expressive and receptive). Performs the assessment of challenging behaviors by review of records, team consultation, observations/interaction, environmental analysis and functional analysis of the behaviors(s). 
3. Complete communication evaluations that are included in the Communication Specialist training provided by ODP.
4. Assist to build a communication plan or guide to support communication in a person’s life. Develops the behavioral guide in conjunction with the individual and the team to support the person ensuring that the guide is written in clear, measurable and observable terms, and in person-centered language.
5. Develops applicable ways to monitor target behaviors by use of data charts, spreadsheets, and graphs.
6. Trains the individual, staff and families on the communication or behavioral guide. 
7. Provides additional training to staff, families, and people we support as appropriate and applicable. 
8. Monitors progress across all environments through data review, participation in team meetings and contact with the person receiving services.
9. Providies direct and indirect services to the person supported and their team.
10. Provides a written progress report monthly to the individual and to team members by the end of the following month. 
11. Completes debriefing of significant incidents with the team within 48-72 hours of the incident.
12. Assists in implementing the plan via coaching, modeling and teaching the individual and team.
13. Attends psychiatric or medical appointments as appropriate and assists in gathering and presenting information to the psychiatrist or medical provider to support the individual. Assists the team in finding information regarding medications and side effects as appropriate. 
14. Makes recommendations for additional services that are not within the scope of the Communication Specialist such as a Speech and Language Pathologist or Speech Therapist. Coordinates with other involved medical professionals to support the individual and the team. 
15. Helps to establish, modify, and maintain environments that best support communication.
16. Identifies resources and potential communication tools or collaborating with a licensed speech and language specialist to gain assistance with communication tools.
17. Participates in the development of the person’s ISP and outcomes in cooperation with the team.
18. Helps to identify barriers to communication and advocating for a person’s communication needs.
19. Supports the protection of all people we support from abuse and neglect.
20. Reports any potential concerns or incidents through the chain of command.
21. Supports an environment that promotes health and safety by monitoring medical, behavioral and community safety concerns of the individual. 
22. Encourages the people we support to exercise their rights and personal decision making while setting aside personal bias.
23. Ensures documentation is clear concise, objective and up to date.
24. Maintains files, records and complies with confidentiality of all records/information as per HIPAA regulations.
25. Maintains a schedule in Outlook and shares this schedule with BSS Clinical Supervisors and BSS Director.
26. Participates in a minimum of twelve (12) hours of annual training on best practice in supporting people with challenging behaviors. 
27. Attends outside trainings to gain more knowledge about supporting individuals effectively. 
28. Complies with company policies and ODP regulations.
29. Complies with daily service notes for all services rendered daily and submits documentation the same day.
30. Monitors units of service per the individual’s ISP and reports discrepancies and/or concerns to the director.
31. Has an understanding of the department budget and maintains fiscal responsibility.
32. Attends department meetings as required and responds timely to communications.
33. Maintains caseload for after hour calls and situations or finds appropriate coverage for after hour calls and situations when not available.
34. When communication responsibilities are minimal, the employee will manage a BSS caseload aligned with the needs of the BSS department.

General Duties:

1. Performs job assignments with attention to, and in compliance with, the Skills mission, values, and ethics, and with a positive attitude; cooperates with others inside and outside the organization.
2. Communicates in an appropriate and professional manner with others inside and outside the organization; maintains a high level of dependability to include attendance at work and punctuality.
3. Keeps sensitive information relative to the organization, employees, and/or the people we support confidential and adheres to the provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
4. Completes mandatory orientation program and annual training programs; completes applicable attendance documentation; shares newly acquired information with fellow employees; attends and participates in applicable meetings, committees, and/or ad hoc work groups.
5. Performs assignments in accordance with the organization’s safety and health program; reports safety/health hazards or violations of safety/health policies to assigned supervisor.
6. Uses, maintains, and safeguards equipment, supplies, financial resources, etc. in an appropriate manner and in the best interest of the organization; reports needed equipment repairs.
7. Maintains appropriate professional dress in accordance with company and department standards and acceptable practices. 
8. Must be alert, aware and agile.  
9. Performs other similar and related duties as necessary and/or as assigned. 

Disclaimer - COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST/BEHAVIOR SUPPORT SPECIALIST:  

This job description is not intended to list all of the duties to be performed. Any employee who has a disability is expected to perform all essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation. Essential functions are all of those duties listed in this job description with the exception of those considered universal to the organization. All job duties must be performed in accordance with established safety and health procedures.

Skills of Central PA prohibits hiring and employment discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, race, color, disability, ethnic or national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, pregnancy, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, or any other bases under the law. Skills is an equal opportunity service provider and employer. 

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

• Master’s Degree or higher in Psychology, Special Education, Counseling, Social Work, Education, Applied Behavior Analysis or Gerontology, OR PA Behavior Specialist License, OR Bachelor’s Degree and work under the supervision of a professional who has a Master’s Degree in Psychology, Special Education, Counseling, Social Work, Education, Applied Behavior Analysis or Gerontology, or who is a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist, professional counselor, social worker (master's level or higher) or who has a Pennsylvania Behavior Specialist License.
• Certificate of completion for the myODP course Communication Specialist Training within the first 90 days of hire. 
• Certificate of completion for the Functional Behavior Analysis course from myODP within the first 90 days of hire. 

Experience:

• Training in conducting and using assessment tools and writing goal plans.
• A minimum of 2 years of employment experience working with people who have intellectual disabilities and/or Autism.
• Experience with nontraditional communication styles such as ASL, visual-gestural communication, lip reading, print and symbol systems, etc. 
• Knowledge of adaptive communication tools and systems for nontraditional communication styles

Special Knowledge Or Skills:

• Must have an understanding of Pennsylvania State/County developmental disabilities system.
• Must be computer literate and have the ability to learn the agency’s various computer programs.

Licensure:

Valid driver’s license with a good driving record.