Clinical Specialist-BCBA

Job Summary:

The Clinical Specialist-BCBA supports Care Managers in delivering comprehensive, person-centered care management services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Serving as a subject matter expert in complex behavioral needs and positive behavioral supports, the Clinical Specialist-BCBA provides consultation, technical assistance, and resource guidance to promote health, safety, community inclusion, service stability, and quality of life. The position supports care coordination and interdisciplinary collaboration but does not provide direct behavioral assessment, treatment, behavior plan development, or behavioral therapy services, nor does it assume responsibility for services delivered by outside providers.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serve as an initial clinical resource to Care Managers and Supervisors on individual member concerns.

• Provide subject matter expertise to Care Managers and Supervisors regarding complex behavioral presentations, including situations involving significant barriers to community participation, service stability, health and safety, or quality of life.

• Assist Care Managers in identifying appropriate behavioral health, clinical, community, and OPWDD resources to address member needs and support person-centered outcomes.

• Participate in interdisciplinary discussions with providers, family members, and support teams, as appropriate, to promote coordination of services and shared understanding of member needs.

• Support Care Managers in preparing for team meetings by helping identify relevant questions, resources, treatment considerations, and potential service options.

• Consult with residential and other service providers regarding evidence-informed positive behavioral support practices and available community resources.

• Review available clinical, behavioral, and service information to help identify gaps in supports, unmet needs, and opportunities for risk reduction.

• Assist in the development and maintenance of behavioral health and positive support resources, tools, and training materials for Care Management staff.

• Provide coaching and education to Care Managers regarding behavioral support concepts, documentation practices, service system navigation, and available behavioral health resources.

• Identify emerging behavioral health trends and systemic barriers affecting members and communicate findings to Clinical Department leadership.

• Support efforts to reduce unnecessary psychiatric hospitalization, residential disruption, school or day program exclusion, and other adverse outcomes through early consultation and coordination of available supports.

• Participate in departmental efforts to identify members with more complex and/or high-risk behavioral health conditions for referral to the Clinical Department for formal consultation.

• Support implementation of proactive initiatives to improve behavioral health outcomes for the people we support. This may include outreach to Care Managers of targeted risk groups and directing them to tools and interventions that minimize risk and promote health outcomes.

• Partner with Member and Provider Relations teams to educate members, families, and providers on complex behavioral presentations.

• Actively complies and stays current with all standards of conduct as determined by – e.g., Corporate Compliance Regulations, OPWDD, DOH, the Justice Center, in addition to HIPAA. Monitor health and safety services, reporting all allegations of abuse to; Child Protective Services (under age 18), Adult Protective Services (18 years or older) their supervisor, and comply with Part 624 regulations along with the Justice Center 625 regulations.

• Is a responsible employee and active team player.

• Participates in required training, meetings, committees, projects, conferences as directed.

• Performs other duties, as assigned.

• Must possess a valid Driver’s License from New York, or a contiguous state (i.e., Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Vermont) OR Must have the ability to take ample public transportation to attend meetings in person in the community and in the office as needed.