Position Summary
Purpose Statement
The Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) provides clinical leadership and behavior-analytic services to adults age 18 and older who receive residential services through Thrive Upstate.
The BCBA conducts behavioral assessments, develops and monitors individualized behavior-support and skill-acquisition plans, analyzes treatment data, trains and supervises staff, and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to promote independence, dignity, safety, and meaningful community participation.
This position is distinguished by independent clinical responsibility for behavior-analytic assessment, treatment design, program evaluation, and supervision within the BCBA scope of practice. Services must be delivered in accordance with the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts, Thrive Upstate policies, applicable payer requirements, and all state and federal laws and regulations.
Position Responsibilities
- Conducts functional behavior assessments, preference assessments, skills assessments, record reviews, interviews, and direct observations to identify behavioral needs, environmental variables, strengths, and treatment priorities.
- Develops, writes, implements, and revises individualized behavior-support plans, behavior-reduction programs, skill-acquisition programs, crisis-prevention strategies, and caregiver or staff training plans based on assessment findings and person-centered goals.
- Establishes objective and measurable treatment goals; designs reliable data-collection systems; analyzes graphed data; evaluates treatment integrity and clinical outcomes; and makes timely, data-based treatment decisions.
- Provides direct clinical services and models evidence-based procedures, including reinforcement, prompting, shaping, task analysis, antecedent interventions, functional communication training, and other behavior-analytic strategies appropriate to the individual and setting.
- Provides ongoing supervision, performance feedback, competency assessment, and clinical oversight to Registered Behavior Technicians, behavior-support staff, and other personnel implementing behavior-analytic services, consistent with credentialing and organizational requirements.
- Trains residential staff, families or guardians, and other team members to implement behavior-support strategies safely, consistently, respectfully, and with fidelity across home, day, and community settings.
- Collaborates with individuals receiving services, families or guardians, direct-support professionals, case managers, nurses, physicians, therapists, residential leadership, and other members of the interdisciplinary team while maintaining appropriate clinical boundaries and confidentiality.
- Reviews clinical documentation, session notes, incident information, medication or health-related variables, and environmental changes that may affect behavior; communicates clinically significant findings and recommends appropriate follow-up.
- Maintains complete, accurate, and timely assessments, treatment plans, progress reports, supervision records, training documentation, authorization materials, and other records required by Thrive Upstate, funders, regulators, and the BACB.
Essential Skills and Experience
QUALIFICATIONS:
- SKILLS: Advanced ability to conduct behavior-analytic assessments; develop function-based interventions; analyze and graph data; write clear clinical documentation; train and supervise staff; manage competing priorities; communicate complex information effectively; and exercise sound independent clinical judgment.
- Specific competencies include person-centered treatment planning, functional assessment, treatment-integrity monitoring, risk assessment, crisis prevention, staff performance management, interdisciplinary collaboration, cultural responsiveness, confidentiality, and ethical decision-making.
- KNOWLEDGE: Comprehensive knowledge of applied behavior analysis, including behavioral assessment, experimental and nonexperimental analysis, reinforcement, motivating operations, stimulus control, skill acquisition, behavior reduction, generalization, maintenance, supervision, organizational behavior management, professional ethics, and individual rights.
- Flexibility is required to work across residential homes, offices, day services, and community environments; respond to urgent clinical needs; adjust schedules based on individual and program needs; and provide occasional evening, weekend, or on-call consultation as assigned.
Ability is required to build effective relationships with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and diverse support teams; communicate respectfully; lead clinical meetings; accept and provide performance feedback; maintain reliable attendance; and safeguard confidential information.
- Problem solving is required to evaluate complex behavioral and environmental variables, identify immediate health and safety concerns, select clinically appropriate assessment and treatment strategies, monitor risk, and coordinate timely responses with residential leadership and interdisciplinary providers.
- Responsibilities are performed with substantial clinical independence and accountability. The BCBA is responsible for the quality and ethical delivery of assigned behavior-analytic services, for remaining within professional competence, and for obtaining consultation or making referrals when an individuals needs exceed the BCBAs training or scope.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Provides clinical supervision and performance oversight to assigned RBTs and other staff implementing behavior-analytic programs. May coordinate clinical assignments, evaluate competency, provide corrective feedback, and participate in hiring, onboarding, and performance-review processes. Administrative supervision responsibilities may vary by assignment.
Experience: At least one year of professional experience providing behavior-analytic services is preferred. Experience supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, complex behavioral needs, or co-occurring mental-health conditions in residential or community-based settings is strongly preferred.
Education and Credentials: Masters degree or higher in behavior analysis, psychology, education, or another qualifying field required. Current Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification in good standing through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board is required. Must maintain all continuing-education, ethics, supervision, and recertification requirements associated with the credential. State licensure or other professional authorization is required when applicable to the services performed and location of practice.
Additional Requirements: Completion of required background checks, health and safety training, and agency orientation. Completion of the BACB-required supervision training is required before supervising RBTs, BCaBAs, or fieldwork trainees. A valid drivers license, acceptable driving record, and ability to travel among Thrive Upstate service locations are required. Must be able to perform the essential physical functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
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