Behavioral Support Specialist (BSS)

WHO WE ARE: Rise & Shine is revolutionizing care-giving to our communities’ most vulnerable populations. By taking a person-centered focused approach, we are raising the standard of support to give individuals who experience learning disabilities an opportunity to live their best life.

POSITION SUMMARY: Reporting to the Director of Programs, the Behavioral Support Specialist (BSS) supports the development, implementation, and monitoring of Positive Behavior Support Programming for individuals served at Rise & Shine.

This role works collaboratively with Program Managers, Direct Support Professionals, and the Behavior Department to ensure behavior support strategies are implemented consistently and in alignment with agency policies and Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR), under appropriate clinical supervision.

Interpersonal Behavior:

• Compassionately, respectfully, and effectively communicates to those we serve, coworkers, and outside offices
• Demonstrates a caring, respectful, and compassionate attitude towards all people
• Takes initiative to meet the challenges within the environment
• Adheres to guidelines, policies, and procedures
• Supports the mission of Rise & Shine through behavior and actions
• Ability to debate differing opinions towards a positive solution for the people we support
• Acts as a role model within and outside the agency
• Represents the organization in a positive and supportive manner
• Demonstrates flexible and efficient time management and the ability to prioritize workload
• Takes responsibility for personal growth
• Receives feedback from team in a positive manner
• Oriented toward solutions through collaboration

Essential Functions: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Proactively develops and reviews team-based Positive Behavior Support Plans (PBSPs) and Interaction Guidelines
• Creates and reviews Functional Behavior Assessments
• Assists Behavior Specialist 2 and Department in behavior data capture and analysis in support of department reporting.
• Monitors and approves monthly Proactive & Challenging Behavior Reports
• Collaborates and assists in the creation of Person-Centered Plans
• Participates in and responses to Behavioral Crisis Management
• Provide program observation and direct coaching to Program Manager, Lead & Direct support staff
• Develops Interaction Guidelines
• Ensures plans and documents adhere to OAR standards and requirements as well as Rise & Shine policies and procedures
• Communicates issues of noncompliance and quality to Management
• Ensures team-based participation by soliciting feedback and input
• Educates Program Manager to PBSP training and systems
• Collaborates with Program Manager to ensure staff education, timelines, and success
• Collaborates with Program Manager and/or Program Director to ensure program team training is provided when needed in response to specific individual issues
• Collaborates with training department to develop and implement behavior-related education
• Educates staff on behavior-specific issues
• Leads OIS Certification Training as needed
• Actively working towards OIS Instructor certification if not currently certified
• Assists supported individuals with intense psychiatric and behavioral events
• Other duties as assigned by Program Director

Please note, this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Education & Experience Requirements: 

*Candidates must meet at least 1 of the following qualifications:

• BCBA certification with at least 1 year of experience providing positive behavior support services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), OR 
• Master’s degree in psychology, social work, education, human services, behavioral sciences, or a related field with at least 1 year of relevant experience supporting individuals with IDD or related conditions, OR 
• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, education, human services, behavioral sciences, or related field (or equivalent coursework) with at least 2 years of relevant experience supporting individuals with IDD or related conditions, OR 
• Minimum of 6 years of professional behavior services experience supporting individuals with IDD prior to January 1, 2023. 

Additional Requirements

• Must maintain a current approved criminal background check.
• Must hold current certification in an ODDS-approved behavior intervention curriculum.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands descripted here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; talk; and hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk up and down stairs and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close

If  you can commit to and live with the following principles, then you are  the type of person who will be successful and help our company thrive.  If you feel this level of engagement is not right for you or that you’re  not willing or able to participate with us at this level, we are not a  good fit for you. Our  expectation is that you will take the steps necessary to do what you  say you are going to do and be accountable for your actions. In other  words, live “Above the Line.”We  understand that not every person is ready for this level of  performance, and we appreciate the honesty of those who decide this is  not the right place for them. On the other hand, you would make an ideal  candidate to join our company if you are willing to commit to the  following Above the Line principles:

• Accountability: See It, Own It, Solve It, Do It
• Become part of the solution
• Respect for others and their feelings
• Act now!
• Ask the question: “What else can I do?”
• Ask the questions: “What coaching do you have for me?” and “What can I do better?”
• Personal ownership and pride
• Reject average
• Show others that you care

Coaching  teaches people how to improve their performance. Training teaches  people what to do. Culture teaches people how to treat each other. Most  of the employees we terminate are fired for a lousy attitude and a  cultural miss, not because they forgot the skills that got them hired in  the first place.