Job Description

As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. University of Utah Health seeks staff that are committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality and trust that are integral to our mission. EO/AA

This position primarily involves conducting functional assessments of challenging behaviors and developing and implementing behavior support plans to respond to such behaviors and teach appropriate alternative skills. The incumbent supports caregivers of children and adults to implement new strategies for behavior support to maximize individual and familial functioning.

Corporate Overview: The University of Utah is a Level 1 Trauma Center and is nationally ranked and recognized for our academic research, quality standards and overall patient experience. Our five hospitals and eleven clinics provide excellence in our comprehensive services, medical advancement, and overall patient outcomes.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

• Assesses patient care giving system for readiness to implement new behavior support strategies and collect data to monitor progress.
• Performs systematic functional assessments (i.e., interviews and direct observations) to determine the function(s) of challenging behavior in preparation for developing plans of intervention. Also performs functional analyses in controlled laboratory settings using experimental methods.
• Develops behavior support programs based on functional assessment results and baseline data collection.
• Teaches and demonstrates elements of the behavior plan and specific strategies to caregivers and other professionals. Models effective behavior support and positive interactions with client.
• Performs observations at the client's residence, work, or school as part of the assessment process and to observe implementation of behavior plan.
• Incorporates emergency support procedures in plans as necessary and obtains necessary reviews and oversight from appropriate committees.
• Assesses the need for therapeutic materials and uses judgment on age appropriateness of such materials.
• Collects and evaluates behavioral data, makes adjustments to behavior plan based on these data, observations, and other clinical information.
• Collaborates with other clinical team members and gives guidance regarding behavior support components while considering possible medical, psychological, psychiatric, or environmental causes.
• Participates in interdisciplinary rounds and evaluations as a member of the interdisciplinary team.
• Meets documentation requirements of state and insurance payers.
• Provides practicing oversight of Registered Behavior Technicians, Behavior Analysts in Training, and other professionals who implement behavior-analytic interventions in accordance with Utah state law.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Knowledge of positive behavior supports and applied behavior analysis principles and support techniques.

• Documented experience in conducting functional assessments and developing and implementing behavior support procedures.

• Familiarity with mental health diagnoses and biopsychosocial treatment modalities.

• Ability to work in the context of a team environment.

• Have the necessary presentation and direct demonstration and coaching skills to train parents, teachers, and other caregivers about behavior support and specific patient behavior programming.

• Experience with various data collection methods.

• Demonstrated knowledge of ABA treatment techniques and treatment program designs.

• Experience with discrete trials, pivotal response training, verbal behavior and early intervention.

Qualifications

Licenses Required

• Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system. The eCredential is to be obtained within 30 days of hire.

• Current Board Certified Behavioral Analyst Certificate

* Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.

Qualifications (Preferred)

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Employee must be able to meet the following requirements with or without an accommodation.

• This position involves intermediate work that may exert up to 50 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects while providing patient care to those with psychiatric conditions.

Physical Requirements

Carrying, Climbing, Color Determination, Crawling, Far Vision, Lifting, Listening, Manual Dexterity, Near Vision, Non Indicated, Pulling and/or Pushing, Reaching, Sitting, Speaking, Standing, Stooping and Crouching, Walking