Behaviorist

Description

Under supervision, to assist ABA supervisor and instruct client in a variety of educational settings including home, community, and school; to implement intensive behavior intervention programs for identified clients; attend student progress meetings; assist client with and demonstrate proper physical care and hygienic needs; perform related duties as assigned.

Applied Behavior Analysis has knowledge of methodologies found to benefit some children including, but not limited to, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Discrete Trial Training (DTT), and Crisis Prevention Institute Training (CPI). Incumbents may be required to drive a personal vehicle to travel to client’s homes and other locations including the clinic, community, and schools and provide one- to-one intensive behavioral intervention services. Other related duties may be assigned.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Follow behavioral treatment plan as approved by BCBA and assist in the preparation of plans as needed based on each client’s physical and/or educational needs;
  
• As directed by the BCBA, provide one-on-one and group instruction and/or intensive behavior intervention in the clinic, community, or home setting;
  
• Support home, community, school, OT, sports, etc. with adherence to ABA principles to ensure continuity of care;
  
• Assist in identifying clients needing remedial instruction in movement skills;
  
• Providing activities for improvement of skills in body image, spatial awareness balance,
  locomotion, strength and agility;
  
• Assist clients with personal hygiene and the development of self-grooming skills as
  appropriate, including, but not limited to: eating, washing, oral care, and toileting;
  
• Assist caregivers in toileting program;
  
• Assist caregivers with medication according to establish guidelines and procedures;
  
• Collect data and record anecdotal client progress notes, maintain and organize program
  notes, and implement behavioral modifications;
  
• Assist supervisor with carrying out and assessing clients goals;
  
• Prepare various learning materials as approved or directed by the BCBA;
  
• Set up work areas and prepare materials for instructional use;
  
• Prepare routine clerical tasks related to record-keeping and instructional material
  preparation;
  
• Operate or learn to operate a variety of audiovisual equipment, office equipment, assistive
  technology, and computer terminals;
  
• Chart student progress;
  
• Attend a variety of meetings, workshops, and in-service trainings to maintain current
  knowledge of ABA practices;
  
• Respect and protect the confidential nature of client records;
  
• Initiate and maintain appropriate and timely care-giver contact;
  
• Monitor client data input by Direct Staff
  
• Conduct and revise reports as scheduled by the BCBA
  
• Conduct care-giver training meetings as directed by the BCBA
  
• Clean and maintain all session equipment
  
• Follow all Covid-19 protocols and guidelines
  
• Report any incidents of injury and complete an incident report within 24 hours of incident.
  
• Other Duties:
  
  • Maintain and replenish necessary supplies
    
  • Report any damaged or missing equipment to supervisor
    
  • Other duties as required by the Clinical Director or Assistant Clinical Director
    

1. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required
   
   • Knowledge of basic concepts of child growth and development and developmental behavior characteristics particularly pertaining to pupils with special learning needs.
     
   • Knowledge of behavior management strategies and techniques relating to pupils experiencing atypical control problems.
     
   • Knowledge of appropriate English usage, punctuation, spelling, grammar, and basic arithmetical concepts.
     
   • Knowledge of routine record storage, retrieval, and management procedures.
     
   • Ability to demonstrate an understanding, patient, and receptive attitude toward students of
     varied age groups, particularly those exhibiting specialized needs.
     
   • Ability to appropriately manage student behavior and guide student toward more acceptable
     social behaviors.
     
   • Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form.
     
   • Ability to perform routine clerical tasks and operate a variety of educational and office related
     machines and equipment.
     
   • Ability to learn to utilize a variety of appropriate instructional materials and procedures in the
     enhancement of a training and educational environment.
     
   • Ability to understand and carry out oral and written directions.
     
   • Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with children and adults.
     
   • Required - Fluency in English (read, write and speak)
     Kids Connections Developmental Therapy Center
     ABA Supervisor / Direct Behaviorist Job Description rev. 10.15.2020 Page 2 of 4
     

WORKING CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in an indoor office environment with moderate noise, light and temperature levels. Position requires frequent interaction with multiple individuals. Work may be stressful on occasion. Some evening and weekend work may be necessary from time to time. The workplace environment for this position is generally collaborative and supportive, but a number of routine tasks require the employee be self-directed and work independently.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB:

The physical demands described in the following paragraphs are representative of those that must be met in order to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF IN-PERSON SESSION WORK:

• Exert 50 to 75 pounds of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move equipment or objects.
  
• Work involves sitting, and may involve running, walking, or standing for brief to longer periods of time.
  
• Setting up obstacle course to include, lifting equipment such as blocks and mats, bending and/or twisting at the waist and/or kneeling to move equipment
  
• Participating in obstacle courses with clients
  
• Fully extending arms above head to hang suspended equipment weighing up to 30
  pounds
  
• CPI de-escalation process and related physical holds/restraints
  
• Physical response blocking of clients as necessary
  
• Jumping on trampoline
  
• Running on tumble track
  
• Climbing onto and or jumping off any elevated surface
  
• Pushing clients on swings
  
• Crawling
  
• Jumping into foam pit
  
• Lifting clients
  
• Strenuous activity such as jogging, sprinting, climbing, rolling etc.
  
• Providing a physical support/bracing for clients.

• PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF REMOTE WORK:
  If temporarily and/or partially assigned to remote work due to the pandemic or other reasons, employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and locomote throughout the workplace (home or office). Employee is frequently required to speak and hear. Employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms, stoop, bend and/or twist at the waist.
  

Most remote work is performed while sitting at a desk (for up to 6.5 hours in an 8-hour day), communicating by telephone and email, entering data with a computer keyboard, reviewing emails and other documents/data on the computer screen, typing up client session reports and uploading them to our server. Work requires well-developed typing skills and sufficient manual dexterity to operate a keyboard, calculator, telephone, copier, scanner, fax machine, and other office equipment as necessary. Vision must be correctable to levels that allow performance of tasks inherent to common office work. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, mid-range depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. Hearing must be correctable to an acceptable range for clear and efficient telephone communications.

MENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB:

Position requires the mental ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Position requires alertness and the ability to respond quickly and appropriately to various therapeutic, administrative and/or logistical challenges as well as to emotional or otherwise sensitive situations or issues that occasionally occur. Position requires common-sense decision-making and the ability to discern when a situation must be escalated to the Clinical Director or Assistant Clinical Director. Discretion, compassion, and a calming but professional demeanor are paramount.

Requirements

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent education, such as a GED.
  
• Must hold a BCAT certification or obtain certification within 60 days of hire