BEHAVIORAL SPECIALIST JOB DESCRIPTION

Behavioral plan development and implementation in psychiatric and community-based care settings rarely succeeds without dedicated ownership. When no single clinician holds accountability for behavioral assessment, treatment adherence, and direct intervention, consumers cycle through crisis states without measurable improvement. The Behavioral Specialist owns this gap: conducting intake assessments, designing individualized behavioral intervention plans, and monitoring outcomes across multidisciplinary teams that include nurses, psychologists, and rehabilitation aides. Nonviolent Crisis Intervention certification and working knowledge of psychiatric rehabilitation principles are standard entry expectations.

As the Behavioral Specialist, you carry direct responsibility for designing, implementing, and monitoring behavioral intervention programs for consumers with psychiatric disorders or developmental disabilities, ensuring that treatment goals are measurable and that individualized plans are adjusted as clinical needs evolve. You work within an interdisciplinary team, collaborating with licensed clinicians, behavioral aides, external service providers, and family systems to deliver coordinated, person-centered care.

Career Impact: Developing hands-on experience across intake assessment, behavioral plan design, and crisis de-escalation builds a clinical foundation that supports advancement into licensed clinical or supervisory roles within behavioral health organizations.

Business Impact: Consumers enrolled in rehabilitation day treatment programs depend on this role to progress toward measurable rehabilitation goals; without active plan monitoring and adjustment, treatment continuity breaks down and discharge readiness stalls.

Growth Opportunity: Exposure to psychological assessment tools, positive behavior support models, and multidisciplinary case consultation expands your scope toward Board Certified Behavior Analyst credentialing or licensed psychologist candidacy.

• Conduct initial and ongoing assessments of consumers to determine program eligibility, skill levels, and appropriate continuum-of-care placement.
• Develop individualized behavioral intervention plans and activity schedules aligned with each consumer's rehabilitation needs and treatment goals.
• Implement planned therapeutic activities in both formal group settings and informal daily interactions, adjusting based on consumer response.
• Monitor and document consumer behavior, attendance, and progress in the electronic health record according to department and hospital policies.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members, including nurses, psychologists, and external providers such as speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists, to ensure integrated treatment.
• Recognize early indicators of crisis states and apply de-escalation strategies or nonviolent crisis intervention techniques to resolve situations safely.
• Supervise and approve documentation submitted by Behavioral Aides, ensuring records meet program standards and required submission timelines.
• Lead or co-facilitate psychoeducational and supportive therapy groups under the clinical direction of a licensed supervisor or behavioral therapist.

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, or a related mental health discipline, or equivalent work experience.
• Two or more years of experience in a psychiatric, developmental disability, or behavioral health service setting, with demonstrated direct client contact.
• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the adult or pediatric population, including behavioral presentations common to acute psychosis and developmental delays.
• Understanding of psychiatric rehabilitation principles, behavioral analysis frameworks, and positive behavior support strategies.
• Current certification in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention or ability to obtain certification within 90 days of hire.
• Current CPR certification or ability to obtain prior to start, with renewal maintained on required schedule.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to complete clinical documentation accurately and on deadline.
• Valid state-issued driver's license and ability to travel for home-based or community service delivery as required.

• Graduate coursework or supervised clinical hours in applied behavior analysis, psychological assessment, or a related specialty area.
• Experience administering or interpreting formal psychological assessment instruments in a clinical or educational setting.
• Familiarity with Autism Spectrum Disorder treatment protocols, including discrete trial training, token economy systems, or behavior intervention plan development.
• Prior experience coordinating care with external service providers, school systems, or family support networks in a community behavioral health context.

• Percentage of consumer behavioral plans reviewed and updated on the required bi-weekly or monthly cycle, reflecting documentation compliance.
• Rate of successful de-escalation interventions, measured as incidents resolved without physical restraint or external escalation.
• Consumer program retention rate, reflecting continuity of enrollment and engagement in the rehabilitation day treatment program.
• Percentage of Behavioral Aide session notes reviewed and approved within required submission windows.
• Attendance and completion rate for assigned annual competency validations, age-specific training, and crisis intervention recertification.
• Typical tools: electronic health record platforms (commonly Epic or similar); behavioral data tracking systems (commonly digital data collection or proprietary agency platforms).

• Base Salary Range: $42,000 to $58,000 annually, depending on seniority and setting
• Bonus: Performance- or merit-based bonus, typically 3 to 5 percent annually
• Equity: Not standard for this role and industry
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer contribution varies by organization
• PTO: 15 to 20 days annually, plus standard federal holidays
• Common Perks: Clinical supervision hours toward licensure, continuing education reimbursement, and employee assistance programs

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States; employment is contingent on successful completion of background screening, including criminal history and, where applicable, child abuse registry checks required by state behavioral health licensing standards. Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process upon request. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law.

The Behavioral Specialist delivers direct patient care within an inpatient psychiatric setting, leading educational groups and co-facilitating supportive therapy under the supervision of the Behavioral Therapist and Charge Nurse. Working alongside an interdisciplinary clinical team, this role advances integrated treatment by monitoring patient behaviors, documenting in the medical record, and communicating critical information across disciplines to support coordinated, patient- and family-centered care.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide quality care in a compassionate patient- and family-centered environment.
• Assist the interdisciplinary team in providing direct patient care under the direction of the Charge Nurse.
• Lead educational groups.
• Provide and participate in co-leadership of supportive therapy under the direction and supervision of the Behavioral Therapist.
• Monitor and record patient activities and behaviors and document in the medical record per department and hospital policy and procedures.
• Communicate pertinent information to other disciplines to promote an integrated approach to treatment.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Sociology, or related field.
• Nonviolent crisis intervention certification required within 90 days of hire.
• CPR certification required with biannual renewal.
• At least two years of experience in a psychiatric setting preferred.
• Successful completion of annual clinical, age-specific competencies, and skills validation tools.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, written communication, organizational, and critical decision-making skills.

Embedded within Applied Behavioral Interventions' intensive behavioral health services team, the Behavior Specialist delivers one-on-one instruction to individuals with developmental delays and Autism Spectrum Disorders in home and community settings under the direction of an assigned Clinical Supervisor or Behavior Analyst. Working closely with related service providers including SLPs, PTs, OTs, and school teachers, this role shapes measurable client progress by implementing individualized treatment plans, recording daily behavioral data, and maintaining professional and ethical standards across all service interactions.

Core Functions

• Provide direct one-on-one teaching trials with the client and family in the home or community under the supervision of a clinical supervisor.
• Record daily data on each client's treatment plan objectives and behavioral protocols, including behavior intervention plans and token economies.
• Complete session notes at the end of each session to be signed by the parent or legal guardian and submitted on required due dates.
• Work collaboratively with related service providers assigned to the child's case, including SLPs, PTs, OTs, and school teachers.
• Participate in supervision as recommended and required.
• Attend trainings to satisfy ongoing agency training requirements.
• Maintain professional and ethical standards, including confidentiality and boundaries of professional relationships.

Qualifications & Skills

• Associate's degree in human services, psychology, counseling, child development, education, or nursing preferred, or high school diploma with 2 years of supervised experience working with children with special health care needs.
• Board of Criminal Identification (BCI) and Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System (CANTS) clearance required.
• Two or more years of supervised experience working with children with developmental delays or special health care needs.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Strong communication, collaboration, prioritization, and organizational skills.
• Schedule flexibility and ability to travel for home-based service delivery.
• Valid driver's license with current vehicle registration and insurance.

Reporting to the hospital's multidisciplinary treatment leadership, the Behavioral Specialist leads the development, implementation, and monitoring of individualized behavioral intervention programs across all hospital treatment teams, conducting comprehensive psychological testing and providing both individual and group therapy. Partnering with clinical disciplines hospital-wide, this role builds a higher standard of integrated psychiatric care by guiding doctoral externs and predoctoral interns through supervision and mentoring while contributing to program development, in-service training, and court testimony.

Primary Duties

• Observe and analyze behavior, consult with treatment teams and support systems, and identify appropriate behavior-based interventions.
• Develop behavioral intervention programs and monitor active plans and cases across all hospital multidisciplinary treatment teams.
• Provide clinical leadership in the development and review of treatment plans and therapeutic interventions.
• Lead the creation, implementation, and monitoring of personalized behavioral plans and provide individual therapy hospital-wide.
• Collaborate with other clinical disciplines to provide group and family therapy.
• Conduct comprehensive psychological testing and consult with all treatment teams on appropriate referrals and testing results.
• Document regularly in the electronic health record and contribute to training of doctoral externs and predoctoral interns through seminars, supervision, and mentoring.
• Contribute to hospital-wide events, in-service training, program development, and completion of certification evaluations and court testimony.

Skills & Qualifications

• One or more years of experience as a licensed psychologist or permitted psychologist candidate.
• Experience working with severe and persistent mental illness and a variety of psychological assessment measures.
• Training or work experience in behavioral analysis, positive behavior support, or other behavioral theory and principles.
• Experience with individualized behavior planning.
• Good organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to inspire and motivate clients.

Sitting at the intersection of psychiatric rehabilitation and community-based care, the Behavioral Specialist leads ongoing consumer assessment, therapeutic activity planning, and crisis intervention within a Rehab Day Treatment Program, working collaboratively with treatment team members and outside sources to ensure integrated, quality care. Operating across scheduling, transportation coordination, documentation oversight, and direct consumer teaching, this role shapes consumer progress and program integrity by supervising Behavioral Aides and applying evidence-based nonviolent crisis intervention techniques to support individuals with severe and persistent psychiatric disorders.

Duties

• Conduct initial and ongoing assessments of consumers to determine program eligibility, discharge readiness, and appropriate continuum-of-care placement.
• Schedule consumers for appropriate activities according to program standards and individual treatment needs, maintaining accurate enrollment and scheduling records.
• Plan, develop, and implement therapeutic activities aligned with consumers' rehabilitation needs in both formal and informal settings.
• Provide ongoing monitoring, interaction, and daily teaching to consumers in the Rehab Day Treatment Program.
• Maintain signature logs for daily attendance and transportation, coordinate transportation needs, and provide backup van driving coverage as needed.
• Recognize crisis states and apply de-escalation or nonviolent crisis intervention techniques to resolve situations.
• Collaborate with treatment team members and outside sources to ensure quality, integrated care for consumers.
• Supervise and approve bi-weekly documentation submitted by Behavioral Aides to ensure records meet program standards.

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a mental health discipline, with adult specialty knowledge to be attained within six months of employment.
• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in the adult population, psychiatric rehabilitation principles, and educational methods for adults with severe and persistent psychiatric disorders.
• Knowledge of behavior management, crisis intervention, and nonviolent crisis intervention practices, including cultural diversity considerations.
• Knowledge of available community resources and ability to access them according to consumer needs.
• Compassionate, calm, cooperative, and sensitive to consumer needs, expectations, and individual differences, with personal values that support inclusive care.
• Valid state-issued driver's license.