Behavioral Specialist

Children's Outpatient Services provides treatment for children and adolescents and their families and is intended to improve and maintain a child’s or an adolescent’s stability in the community. Treatment focuses on problem resolution, symptom reduction, stabilization and/or prevention of movement to a higher level of care. Services include individual, family and group therapy, medication evaluation and management, case management, in home intervention, case consultation and summer day treatment services. The type of treatment is highly variable and depends upon the individual’s existing symptoms and developmental level.

Behavioral Specialists in a Day Treatment setting are responsible for ongoing monitoring of and interaction with consumers, providing daily assessments of consumers’ behavior, assisting with personal care, providing training on basic living skills, and modeling appropriate behavior.

• Provides ongoing monitoring and interaction with consumers
• Provides daily assessment of consumer’s behavior via level system point sheets according to policy and standards
• Assists consumers with personal care(bathing, toileting and other personal hygiene items), medication use, chores, outings, and safety issues
• Provides training on basic living skills according to the consumer’s target goals, as identified by treatment team
• Ensures completion of weekly summaries per program guidelines
• Demonstrates the ability to recognize the elements of a crisis state and knows how to deescalate or resolve the situation
• Applies time-out/protective hold/seclusion/restraint per AHS Policy and Procedures
• Effectively collaborates with the treatment team members
• Models appropriate behavior including but not limited to communication skills, grooming, manners, etc.
• Effectively demonstrates the application of child/adolescent specific competencies
• Seeks supervision and consultation as needed
• Accepts and employs suggestions for improvement
• Actively works to enhance skills
• Documents in a timely fashion per AHS policy
• Documents in a clear and concise manner.
• Documents legibly
• Treats consumers with care, dignity and compassion
• Respects consumer’s privacy and confidentiality
• Is pleasant and cooperative with others
• Assists consumers and visitors as needed
• Personal values don’t inhibit ability to relate and care for others
• Is sensitive to the consumer’s needs, expectations and individual differences
• Is gentle and calm with consumers and families
• Actively participates in Performance Improvement activities
• Actively participates in AHS committees as applicable
• Completes assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Follows AHS policies and procedures
• Attends appropriate in-services trainings and other workshops

• Frequent standing, sitting, and walking which are in bursts of 5 to 10 minutes. There are times when this can be extended to pacing with the consumer(time could be undetermined) and at times sitting and standing can be extended with the employee having the ability to change positions as permitted by the observance and behavior of the consumer at that time.
• Occasional forward bending from the hips while kneeling to reach to the side.
• Occasional need to be able to assume a full squat/lunge from a standing position.
• Occasional need to maintain back extension while being on stomach with one’s own body weight on hips and legs. This position is maintained for several minutes.
• Occasionally, be able to put one’s own body weight on one knee and one elbow on the same side of one’s body.
• Occasionally, be able to kneel and reach to same side toward the floor.
• Lift up to 10 pounds occasionally during shift.
• Strong grasp is needed to use keys to open doors throughout the facility, and to maintain constant contact with a consumer during a take down procedure or with other hold techniques.
• Pushing/pulling force up to 25 pounds occasionally during a shift.

Bachelor's degree in a mental health discipline. 

Maintain a valid Alabama driver license and must have proof of current liability insurance. Must be 23 years of age or older.