Behavior & Community Support Therapist

PURPOSE:
The Behavior and Community Support Therapist works directly with clients and their families directly in their homes and other community-based settings to provide clinical intervention and treatment services using behaviorally based and trauma-informed treatment models. This will include positive behavior supports to reduce challenging behaviors and increase independence in daily living skills via 1:1 direct treatment in the family home and/or other community-based settings. The BCST will service children and teens in the Foster Care & Adoption program and within the community billed to Medicaid and/or private health insurance plans.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The list of essential duties and responsibilities, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the task to be performed. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.
1. Facilitates mental and behavioral health habilitation and rehabilitation through skill-building/instruction, community support, behavior             management programming, and other treatment interventions based on trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices.
2. Directs skill-building groups for children, adolescents and teens on topics including but not limited to:
a. Communication
b. Activities of Daily Living (ex: personal hygiene)
c. Social skills
d. Vocational skills
e. Self-Esteem and Advocacy
f. Health & Wellness
3. Supports parents and other caregivers to address specific needs of their children using evidence-based strategies, including but not              limited to, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
4. Works collaboratively with other members of the Community-Based Clinical Services team, including Therapists and Board Certified               Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) to understand, guide, and facilitate the services and goals contained in the clients’ assessments and                   treatment plans.
5. Coordinates with and establishes working relationships with clients’ collateral contacts, including but not limited to, educational, medical,        social, recreational, and family supports. Obtains required releases of information from other service providers and maintains the rules of      confidentiality.
6. Assists in reviewing assessments and treatment plans every 180 days to assess client functioning, progress toward goals, and service          recommendations.
7. Responds to client-related crises by helping to mitigate crisis, safety plan, and promote stabilization within the home and community.              Provide on-call crisis intervention and support on a rotating basis (full-time employees only).
8. Record/document and compile all required behavioral and skill-acquisition data accurately and in a timely fashion.
9. Documents service provision accurately, in a timely manner, and in accordance with Medicaid Rule 140 guidelines, within the agency’s          electronic health record (EHR) system.
10. Ensures that all services are provided in accordance with informed consent, maintenance of client rights, standards of confidentiality,              and are consistent with agency procedures, accreditation bodies, and Medicaid Community Behavioral Health Services guidelines.
11. Actively participates in regular team meetings, supervision, and training opportunities.
12. Document and maintain records of all certification requirements to ensure certification retention, including but not limited to, maintaining        RBT certification on an annual basis.
13. Abides by RBT and child welfare professional code of ethics.
14. Recognizes and accepts responsibility as a mandated reporter of abuse and neglect.
15. Successfully completes Little City required training, re-training, and any additional training as required by Little City policies and                       practices, or as assigned by his or her immediate supervisor.
16. Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Must be at least 21 years of age. Has either a bachelor’s degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or related human service field, a bachelor’s degree in any field with two years’ supervised clinical experience in a mental health setting, or a high school diploma or GED with 5 years of supervised clinical experience in mental health.
Experience using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles preferred. Must either have Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) training and certification, or the ability to successfully complete training and certification within 90 days of hire.
Must be capable of transporting children and traveling to homes within a 40-mile radius, possessing a valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle, and current auto insurance. Must be available to work weekdays, including afterschool and evening hours. This position is hybrid remote, and time will be split between employee’s home office, clients’ homes, and Little City’s Behavioral Health Clinic in Chicago. The BCST will also have access to Little City’s offices in Matteson and Joliet for completing administrative activities.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is subject to sitting for prolonged periods; frequently walks, stands, grasps, lifts, holds, or feels objects; occasionally stoops, kneels, crouches, or crawls. Extended use of computer and typing is required. The employee frequently is required to use manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination when working and handling office equipment. The employee is subject to assist and support up to 25 pounds with varying amounts of assistance on a reoccurring basis. The employee is required to have corrected vision and hearing within normal range and the ability to operate office equipment. No occupational exposure to blood, body fluids, communicable diseases or other potentially infectious substances (Category I). Typical office environment. 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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer: The intent of this job description is to provide a representative level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.