Behavioral Health Specialist (HCBS) - Per Diem

About Abbott House

Abbott House is an innovative community-based organization that helps children, families, adults and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with complex needs build lasting foundations a for a promising future. We operate programs in the New York Metropolitan area and Hudson Valley.

Job Summary:

Based on training, experience and qualifications, the Behavioral Health Specialist may be called upon to provide one or more of the following services to children and families enrolled in the specific services.

In no situation shall a Behavioral Health Specialist provide services where he/she does not meet the minimum educational requirements and qualifications necessary to provide such services as documented.

Prevocational Services

Prevocational Services are individually designed to prepare a youth (age 14 or older) to engage

in paid work, volunteer work or career exploration. Prevocational Services are not job-specific,

but rather are geared toward facilitating success in any work environment for youth whose

disabilities do not permit them access to other prevocational services. The service will be

reflected in youth’s plan of care and must be directed to teaching skills rather than explicit

employment objectives. In addition, Prevocational Services assist with facilitating appropriate

work habits, acceptable job behaviors, and learning job production requirements.

Respite

This service focuses on short-term assistance and/or relief for children/youth with disabilities

(developmental, physical and/or behavioral), and family/caregivers which can be provided in a

planned mode or delivered in a crisis environment. Respite workers supervise the child/youth

and engage the child in activities that support his/her and or caregiver/family’s constructive

interests and abilities.

• Planned respite services provide planned short-term relief for family/caregivers that are needed to enhance the family/caregiver’s ability to support the child/youth’s functional, mental health/substance use disorder and/or health care issues. The service is direct care for the child/youth by staff trained to support the child/youth’s needs while providing relief from caregiver activities for the family/caregiver. This may occur in short-term increments of time (usually during the day) or on an overnight or longer-term increment. Planned Respite Services support the plan of care goals. Planned Respite activities include providing supervision and recreational activities that match the child/youth’s developmental stage and continue to maintain the participant’s health and safety.

• Crisis Respite is a short-term care and intervention strategy for children/youth and their families as a result of a child’s mental health/substance use crisis event, medical crisis or trauma that creates a risk for an escalation of symptoms without supports and/or loss of functioning. It may be used when acutely challenging emotional or medical crisis occur which the child/youth is unable to manage without intensive assistance and support. The need for Crisis Respite may be identified as a result of crisis intervention or may come from referrals from the emergency room, the community, LDSS/LGU/SPOA, school, self-referrals, Care Manager referrals, or as part of a step-down plan from an inpatient setting. 

Supported Employment 

Supported Employment provides ongoing supports to participants who, because of their disabilities, need intensive on-going support to obtain and maintain and individual job in competitive or customized employment, or self-employment, in an integrated work setting in the general workforce for which an individual is compensated at or above the minimum wage, but not less than the customary wage and level of benefits paid by the employer for the same or similar work performed by individuals without disabilities. The outcome of this service is sustained paid employment at or above the minimum wage in an integrated setting in the general workforce, in a job that meets personal and career goals. 

Caregiver/Family Advocacy Supports and Services 

Caregiver/Family Advocacy and Support Services enhance the child/youth’s ability, regardless of disability (developmental, physical, and/or behavioral), to function as part of a caregiver/family unit and enhance the caregiver/family’s ability to care for the child/youth in the home and/or community as well as, provides the child/youth, family, caregivers, and collateral contacts (family members, caregivers, and other stakeholders identified on the child/youth’s POC) with techniques and information not generally available so that they can better respond to the needs of the participant. These services are intended to assist the child/youth, family/caregiver, and collateral contacts in understanding and addressing the participant’s needs related to their disability(ies). These services can enhance the child/youth’s ability, regardless of disability (developmental, physical, and/or behavioral), to function as part of a caregiver/family unit and enhance the caregiver/family’s ability to care for the child/youth in the home and/or community. 

Community Habilitation 

Habilitation services assists children/youth with developmental, medical or behavioral disabilities with the self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills necessary for successful functioning 

Additional Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the oversight and execution of all requirements for the program, as assigned. 
• Properly document all necessary information on each child in order to bill for services accordingly.
• Participate in treatment team meetings to provide updates.
• Report all Serious Reportable and Recordable Incidents to Supervisor
• Comply with Abbott House’s policies, procedures, and time frames for reporting, documenting, and billing. 
• Knowledge of evidence based practice and complex trauma. 
• Any other related duties as required.

About You:

You are the ideal candidate if you are creative, mature, responsible and enthusiastic. You are also committed to helping children with emotional challenges, developmental disabilities, and medical fragility.

• Each service listed requires a different level of education/experience. 
• Prevocational Services requires an AA/AS plus 1 year of experience or a BA with 1 year of experience. 
• Respite Services requires a High School Diploma with experience. 
• Supported Employment Services requires an AA/AS plus 1 year of experience or a BA/BS with 1 year of experience. 
• Caregiver/Family Advocacy and Support Services requires a BA with 2 years of experience or a MA with 1 year of experience. 
• Community Habilitation requires a High School Diploma with experience. 

“Experience” relates to working directly with children and families.