Special Investigations Unit Director jobs in Connecticut

1. Bachelors in a Human Service field with six months to one year of direct child care work with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or adults with brain injuries.

OR

Associates Degree in a Human Service field with 2 years of experience with children diagnosed with Autism Spectum Disorder or 2 years of experience working with adults in behavioral health or psychiatric setting.

OR

 5 years of experience with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder or adults with brain injuries

1. Required -valid current Driver’s License
2. Required : ability to read, write and understand instructions.
3. Preferred experience working with groups or teams.
4. Preference for individuals with experience implementing Applied Behavior Analysis procedures with children and/or adolescents including data collection, reinforcement and instructional procedures
5. Preferred experience in inpatient/residential rehabilitation, psychiatric or developmental disability setting managing behaviors.

• The Behavioral Float performs patient care on all behavioral units, Neurobehavioral, PHP, and Inpatient Autism.  Functions in collaboration with RN's, SBS and BCBA's to carry out treatment/behavioral plans.  Maintains a familiarity with patients and families on all units in order to establish a relationship which provides positive interactions, the ability to recognize and de-escalate patient distress, assist in meeting patient outcomes and goals, and organize and lead appropriate group activities.

• Employees in this position must be able to participate in the physical management of patients which can include, but is not limited to, awareness and demonstration of safe body positioning at all times, awareness and coordination to block and deflect possible aggression, and the ability to physically hold struggling patients, using approved methods only, to maintain safety for extended periods of time. Specifically, such employees must be able to lift up to fifty pounds; reach with their hands and arms; grasp and hold with their hands; bend/squat/kneel without limitation, and physically escort patients who may become combative for short distances. Position requires occasional running for short distances, and frequent standing, walking and sitting.

• Job requires writing legibility, spelling accuracy and logical sentence and paragraph organization. A working knowledge and familiarity with professional medical terminology and definitions is required.
• Job requires a high level of communication skill including expression of abstract/complex ideas, use of negotiation and active listening and an ability to dialogue with multiple parties.
• Job requires an ability to comprehend lengthy and complex messages or paragraphs and to follow multistage and 3 step commands.
• Job requires flexibility of thought, reasoning, organizational skills, and ability to function in behavioral and physical care situation.

• Employees in this position work in a behavioral management setting under stressful conditions associated with care of impaired, aggressive and sometimes self-injurious individuals. Employees are expected to utilize de-escalation techniques taught by the Hospital to minimize need for physical intervention. They must have he ability to remain calm during a crisis situation as evidenced by the ability to make quick rational decisions and prioritize immediate patient care needs to maintain a therapeutic environment and ensure safety.

40%

1. Performs direct patient care functions under the direction of the RN and/or SBS in accordance with hospital policies, procedures, and protocols. Supervising patients at all times maintaining appropriate level of supervision as specified and assisting patients in daily scheduled activities, ADL’s, and skills trainings. Participate & teach parent/conservator trainings under the guidance of BCBA, SBS, and/or unit psychologist. Following standard operating procedures and therapeutic techniques for the unit.
2. Follows patients Individual Treatment/behavioral plan. Collaborates with RN , SBS or BCBA to develop initial interventions to manage target behaviors identified on initial behavior plan created by SBS/ BCBA . Maintains familiarity with each patient’s assessments, interventions. Utilizes appropriate therapeutic modalities and interventions to meet patient outcomes and department goals; Communicates individual patient care plans in an ongoing manner to appropriate unit staff.
3. Demonstrates ability to anticipate, address and de-escalate patient distress situations prior to patients’ loss of control as designated in their treatment plans. Demonstrates ability to set consistent and supportive therapeutic limits within guidelines of hospital, unit and department standards.
4. Performs efficiently in emergency situations following established protocols. Actively promotes environmental/patient safety using effective preventative measures and appropriate safety care techniques.
5. Intervenes in disruptive milieu or destructive to self/other patient situations providing timely therapeutic interventions and safety to patients in distress. Handles crisis situations in a safe, effective manner, utilizing the least restrictive, safe patient care alternative.
6. Establishes and maintains professional and appropriate therapeutic relationship with patients. Incorporates awareness of age, developmental, cultural, disabilities, and other patient needs into care provided for assigned patients. Models positive behavior and effective problem solving techniques. Consistently models to peer/patient/families appropriate and therapeutic interpersonal staff/patient interactions.
7. Works to support initial rapport building with patient and family on admission. Assists with the separation process and performs other duties necessary to provide a smooth transition to the hospital environment. 
8. Documents behavioral observations, responses to care plan interventions and daily treatments as per hospital standards.
9. Organizes and assists with structured group activities as assigned. Including setting up, leading and co-leading 1:1 & group activities with identified clinical staff on the unit. Coordinates, supervises and actively participates in 1:1 and group activities for all ages to promote physical, social, cognitive, and emotional development.
10. Actively participates in  hand-off shift report as assigned.
11. Performs other related duties as required, assigned or directed by Charge Nurse or SBS. Examples included but not limited to be transporting patients in the community for functional outings, treatment activities, medical appointments, school. Etc.