Behavioral Technician

The Gándara Center provides residential, mental health, substance abuse, and preventive services for children, adults, and families across the Pioneer Valley and eastern parts of Massachusetts. We believe in our communities and value cultural diversity and strive to provide culturally competent, innovative services to a diverse community. Our mission is to promote the well-being of Hispanics, African Americans, and other culturally diverse populations, through innovative, culturally competent behavioral health, prevention, and educational services – Changing Lives one family at a time.

We're looking for Full-Time Behavioral Technicians to work with our DDS Program [Developmental Disability Services] team model, establishing open communication, support, and accountability among workers and consumers. They are accountable to the DDS Program Manager, who is responsible for providing supervision and training. The Behavioral Technician is one who actively promotes the philosophy of the DDS Program, and maintains a high level of commitment to the program. This individual will respect the dignity of each individual through vigorous promotion of the human and civil rights which, in part, strives to keep people free from abuse or neglect and recognize that ethnic and cultural diversity of each individual must be valued and respected.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Communication skills
• The ability to empathize with clients and their family members
• The ability to remain professional in high-stress situations
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Listening and reasoning skills
• To assist clients daily in the enhancement of their ADL (activities of daily living) skills through practical experience and training both individually and in groups.
• To promote the right of people with an intellectual disability to exercise choice and to make meaningful decisions in their lives.
• To ensure that adequate services and flexible resources are non-intrusive, cost effective and provided by qualified, trained personnel to meet individual needs and preferences.
• To provide for client care and safety, and observe all safety measures; provide safety responses to emergencies when necessary.
• To interact with clients in order to assess needs, provide information, discuss problems, set limits and encourage growth and development.
• To empower individuals and their families to speak out for themselves and others, initiate ideas, have choices and make decisions about needed supports.
• To enhance public awareness of the valuable roles persons with Developmental Disabilities assume in society through promotion of physical and social integration.
• To provide entry to services through a single, local and familiar setting and recognizing the dignity of achievement understanding these services lead to meaningful benefits.
• To provide crisis intervention, monitor clients'' progress and act as a client advocate.
• To assist clients in planning, implementing and leading scheduled activities, to assess members'' participation, motivation and interest in these activities.
• To perform other duties as assigned by the Program Manager.

Administrative Responsibilities/Record Keeping

• To attend scheduled clinical and staff meetings and actively participate to determine treatment plans, re-evaluate case needs and goals, and develop skills and Behavioral Technician Meetings.
• To maintain client records in accordance with standard format and timetables.
• To attend scheduled supervisory meetings with Program Manager.
• To maintain assigned financial record keeping and submit requests and/or report accurately and in a timely manner.
• To adhere to DDS regulations regarding incident reporting, complete all DDS and agency required paperwork such as case [progress] notes, times sheets, weekly notes, bookkeeping, mileage, incident reports accurately and submit them in a timely manner.

Required Experience

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

• 2 plus years in the field of experienced preferred
• MAP Certification (training provided w/ $500 bonus once you pass)
• Ability to work with the intellectually disabled population.
• Ability to structure and organize job responsibilities with minimal supervisions.
• Ability to master and organize job responsibilities with minimal supervision.
• Ability to master mandated training, such as but not limited to First Aid, CPR. Defensive Driving, Fire Safety, and Administering Medication, Basic Human Rights.
• Demonstrates good math, verbal and written communication skills.
• Displays sound judgment and works well as a team player.
• Behavioral Technician Certification provided.

Minimum Qualifications

Associate degree or Bachelor's degree in human service field preferred.

• Associate degree or Bachelor's degree in human service field preferred.
• Minimum of 3 year of experience working with psychiatric clients preferred.
• Must have valid driver's license and safe driving history.
• Must have availability of an automobile to transport clients or perform other supportive services as necessary.
• Those who are Bilingual (English + Spanish) or Bicultural are encouraged to apply.

The Gándara Mental Health Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.