Behavioral Support Specialist - #WWRW0058

Title: Behavioral Support Specialist - #WWRW0058

State Role Title: Counselor II

Hiring Range: Anticipated Starting Salary: $50,107 (commensurate with experience)

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Dept for Aging & Rehab Svcs

Location: Wilson Wkfc Rehab Ctn

Agency Website: https://www.wwrc.virginia.gov/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

About the Agency:

Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center provides people with disabilities comprehensive, individualized services to realize personal independence through employment.

Job Duties:

The Behavioral Health Unit at WWRC is seeking a dedicated Behavioral Support Specialist to facilitate behavioral health services for clients participating in rehabilitation programs. This role ensures appropriate behavioral interventions are in place and supports client progress through collaboration, documentation, and direct service delivery.
Key Responsibilities:

Collaborate with the Rehabilitation Team to review client charts prior to admission and ensure services are in place.
Provide individual and group interventions focused on social, interpersonal, and coping skills.
Develop and implement Behavior Support Plans, monitor progress, and document outcomes.
Facilitate psycho-educational and support groups based on behavioral needs identified through assessments.
Resolve conflicts and communicate effectively with students, staff, sponsors, families, and other supports.
Provide crisis intervention in consultation with Behavioral Health Services staff, following Center policies.
Refer clients to psychological services when issues are significant or chronic.
Document all services and interactions in a timely manner and communicate updates to the Rehabilitation Team.

Additional Duties:

Monitor daily progress of assigned clients, including adaptation to the Center environment.
Respond to inquiries from consumers, families, community organizations, and professionals.
Provide general information about WWRC programs and services to visitors and consumers.

This position is subject to close 10-business days (excluding holidays) from the opening date.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge:

Knowledge of characteristics of various emotional, physical, behavioral, and developmental disabilities. Knowledge of social issues within a residential treatment or educational setting.
Knowledge and skills in behavioral management principles and techniques.
Knowledge and experience in developing behavior support plans to address individual needs of consumers.
Knowledge and experience in providing therapeutic interventions to individuals with disabilities in relation to vocational goals.
Knowledge of leading psycho-educational and support groups in a residential setting.
Working knowledge of Windows based computer office software and similar software.

Skills/Abilities:

Skills in observing and collection of data.
Skills in data entry, including working knowledge of office procedures, tracking systems, and work task organization.
Skills in working directly with people in an empathic manner leading to therapeutic learning experiences. Understanding of case management within a vocational rehabilitation perspective.

Additional Considerations:

Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) or Registered Behavioral Technician (RBT) certification.
Experience working in a residential based program providing behavioral therapy, or treating the individual needs of persons with physical, behavioral, substance abuse, emotional, or developmental disabilities.

Special Instructions:

This has been designated a sensitive position under Va. Code § 2.2-1201.1.
A fingerprint-based criminal history check will be required of the finalist candidate.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during the application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact recruitment@dars.virginia.gov for assistance.

Minorities, Individuals with disabilities, Veterans, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service Alumni are encouraged to apply.

To Apply:

Equal Opportunity Employer State applications will only be accepted as submitted online by 11:55 p.m. on the closing date through the Commonwealth of Virginia’s New Recruitment Management System. Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand-delivered applications and/or résumés will not be accepted. PageUp will provide you with a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Contact Information:

Name: Human Resources

Email: Recruitment@dars.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.