Assessment Specialist, Philadelphia

Assessment Specialist

New Today

Join Our Team as a Assessment Specialist and help make a difference in the lives of children, youth, and families!

Job Summary

Are you passionate about supporting the healthy development of children, youth, and families for a brighter future?
Look no further! At Northern Children's Services (Northern), every role in the organization contributes to helping us achieve our mission and vision.
We believe that every child and youth has the potential to transform themselves - no matter their background or life situation.
We work to "walk the talk" when it comes to our organizational values: Excellence, Respect, Resilience, Cultural Humility & Justice, Healing, and Wellness.

Why Choose Us? As a Assessment Specialist, you'll embark on a fulfilling journey.

Leadership Opportunity
Supportive Environment
Empowerment and Progress
Effective Communication
Empowerment Through Planning
Continuous Monitoring and Progress
Documentation Excellence
Networking and Collaboration

Benefits:

We offer comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance for full-time employees.
Life Insurance/AD&D and LTD: We provide full-time employees with a $20,000 life insurance policy through Mutual of Omaha Company at no cost. Additionally, Mutual of Omaha LTD coverage and AD&D insurance offer financial security to our employees and their families.
Our partner insurance company offers a range of self-funded insurance plans, including accident insurance, cancer insurance, life insurance, critical illness coverage, and short-term disability insurance, providing additional financial protection to our employees.
401(k) Retirement Plan: We offer a 401(k)-savings plan with a generous matching contribution after one year of employment.
Paid Leave: Employees have access to generous paid time off or sick leave, allowing them to prioritize their health and well-being.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Our EAP offers confidential referral and counseling services to help employees and their families manage life's challenges, including stress management, legal and financial concerns, depression, and substance abuse.
Legal Services: Self-funded legal services provide valuable support and resources for various legal matters.

Qualifications You Bring:

Expertise
Physical Capabilities
Trauma-Informed Approach
At Northern Children's Services, Inc., we value diversity, inclusion, and the well-being of every individual. Join us in our mission to empower children and families, one meaningful interaction at a time. Apply today and be a part of something truly extraordinary!

Northern Children's Services supports the healthy development of children and youth, while stabilizing their families to build stronger communities. Everything we do at Northern Children's Services is designed to create a better future for our families.

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THIS POSITION

Leadership
•Coordinates the overall clinical direction of treatment for the children assigned to caseload, in collaboration with family and other treatment professionals.
•Provides leadership in the treatment plan development and instruction and direction to other team members in implementing it.

Planning
•Participates in performance improvement activities.
•Conducts meetings to plan anticipated clinical needs of consumers.
•Develops treatment plan based on Functional Behavior Assessment, per agency and regulatory standards.
•Attends treatment team meetings, IEP meetings and ITM meetings, if they will inform the Functional Behavior Assessment.

Monitoring
•Ensures that the treatment goals, objectives and interventions are appropriate and fit the child and family's needs.

Direct Service
•Conducts observations of the child's behaviors in all appropriate settings.
•Provides interventions and feedback to the treatment team, based on the observations, during visitations.

Communication
•Initiates contact with family, school and other agencies [as identified] to understand client baseline and progress on the treatment plan.
•Clearly and effectively communicates program goals and directives to staff, families, school district personnel, agency staff and other providers of service.
•Collaborates with schools, families, funding source representatives and internal/external resources as appropriate.
•Collaborates with treatment teams, including Care Coordinator, to refer families to appropriate services to meet needs identified from Social Determinants Scale.

Documentation
•Documents all observations, data, case management activities, attendance at meetings, incidents, etc. within 72 hours (about 3 days) of service provision per agency policy and procedure.
•Creates Functional Behavior Assessment and Treatment Plan based on observations and data collected, per agency and regulatory standards.
•Documents all billable services, including all case management and collaboration activities.
•Completes incident reports within 24 hours when significant events occur.
•Functional Behavior Assessment with graph and Treatment Plan completed within 14 days of initial service.

BASIC SKILL SETS
•Ability to communicate and interact with staff and consultants.
•Ability to assess consumer treatment needs and apply appropriate therapeutic intervention.
•Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from consumers and collateral agencies.
•Ability to give clear and concise oral and written instructions.
•Working knowledge of the Behavioral Health system. Knowledge of and ability to navigate other social service systems.
•Good working knowledge of theoretical models, therapeutic interventions and behavior modification as it relates to our consumer base.
•Ability to effectively implement conflict resolution skills in dealing with consumers and staff.
•Ability to respond in a culturally competent manner to consumer issues.
•Experience in psychosocial assessment and treatment planning.

QUALIFICATIONS
Education
•Minimum Requirement - Master's Degree from an accredited university in a clinical mental health discipline AND completed clinical or MH practicum
•Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification or behavioral analysis certification
•Graduate degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)
•Licensed BSC
•Experience: At least one year's full-time paid experience in the mental health field. Excellent working knowledge of clinical issues relating to children, adolescents and families.
•Familiar with multiple child-serving systems (e.g., education, juvenile justice, child welfare, mental health, drug and alcohol, health care and vocational rehab).

PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
•Ability to walk up and down stairs.
•Ability to lift 20 lbs.
•Ability to operate a computer, printer and calculator.
•Ability to operate a motor vehicle or access public transportation.
•Requires some flexible work schedules: evening and weekend hours.

Trauma-Informed Principles

Northern Children's Services is committed to fostering a therapeutic environment rooted in safety, nonviolence, and resilience. Our policies are guided by trauma-informed principles, ensuring that we create a supportive and healing atmosphere for clients and staff.

A trauma-informed approach recognizes that past experiences, including trauma, can significantly impact a person's behavior, emotions, and interactions. Therefore, we strive to:

Use emotional intelligence: Respond with empathy and awareness, even in difficult situations.
Communicate effectively: Listen actively, ask clarifying questions, and avoid judgmental language.
Understand trauma's impact: Be aware that clients or colleagues may react based on past experiences, not just the present moment.
Apply person-first, strengths-based language: Focus on people's strengths and abilities rather than defining them by their challenges (e.g., saying "a person experiencing homelessness" instead of "a homeless person").

By adhering to these principles, we ensure that our workplace is not only effective but also compassionate and inclusive for everyone.

Americans with Disabilities: As with all positions at Northern Children's Services, Inc. we recognize the importance of accommodations individuals with disabilities. In that, we are committed to every extent possible accommodating disabled individual. We recognize the American with Disabilities Act of 1991 and understand the need to reasonably accommodate employees. All accommodation will be evaluated case by case, evaluating the essential functions of the positions.

DISCRIMINATION IS PROHIBITED IN EMPLOYMENT, PROMOTION, ASSIGNMENT OR DISMISSAL, ON THE BASIS OF RACE, RELIGION, COLOR, AGE, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, and HANDICAP, OR RECEIPT OF SERVICES FOR MENTAL DISABILITY.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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Location:: Philadelphia
Job Type:: FullTime

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