Position Summary

Under the general supervision of the SELPA Director, SELPA Program Manager and direction of SELPA Behavioral Health Intervention Specialists, the Certified Behavior Support Technician (CBST) provides specific and intensive support to Humboldt/Del Norte SELPA (HDN SELPA) students with behavioral needs per comprehensive positive behavioral intervention plans and utilizing effective behavior management strategies. The CBST will work 1:1 with students for short-term emergencies; deliver instructions; participate as a member of the educational team and help implement all components of the student’s program. The CBST may also be placed in a Therapeutic Learning Classroom (TLC). This is a 10-month position.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The HDN SELPA serves a diverse group of Local Education Agencies (LEAs). The HDN SELPA spans two counties on the coast of Northern California. Humboldt and Del Norte counties are unique and located in the heart of the redwood coast. Schools supported range from small one-school districts to our largest district, which serves just over 3000 students. The CBST will have the opportunity to work with a wide range of students, teachers and school settings. This position is often itinerant and allows for autonomy and growth. This is an entry level position. This position allows the opportunity to obtain certification as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). This position at times supports students with extensive behavioral needs in high intensity crisis situations.

Supervision Received and Exercised

This position is directly supervised by a SELPA Behavioral Health Intervention Specialist and indirectly supervised by a SELPA Program Director. The applicant must be 18 years of age, possess a minimum of a high school diploma or national equivalent, complete 40 hours of training, complete a criminal background check, pass the RBT Competency Assessment and pass the RBT exam. Renewal of certification requires annual passage of RBT Competency Assessment, completion of a renewal, ongoing supervision and compliance with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s (BCBA) ethics requirements relevant to RBTs. Additional information regarding the requirements and expectations of RBT certification can be provided upon request. A minimum of 5% of the RBTs time will be spent in a required monthly group/individual supervision. Annual competency RBT competency assessment must be passed, and completed with a BCBA. The employee is responsible for keeping track of their individual supervision hours.

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities (Examples of Essential Job Functions)

Duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Implements behavior intervention plans and strategies
• Consults and collaborates with SELPA, district and site staff
• Collects data as part of the assessment process and daily as relevant to the behavior plan
• Participates in IEP meetings as appropriate
• Maintains appropriate documentation, records and reports
• Works one on one with students with serious behavioral needs
• Support students through transition into new education settings
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Complies with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s (BCBA) ethics requirements relevant to Registered Behavioral Technicians

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

Qualifications (aka Employment Standards)

Knowledge of:

• Basic concepts of child growth and development and developmental behavior characteristics, particularly in regards to pupils with special learning needs;
• Behavior management strategies and techniques relating to pupils experiencing behavioral challenges;
• Positive behavioral interventions and applied behavior analysis;
• Appropriate English usage, punctuation, spelling and grammar;
• Data record-keeping systems, with or without the use of technology;
• Routine record storage, retrieval and management procedures.

Ability to:

• Work with students having special needs and/or aggressive behaviors;
• Appropriately manage student behavior and guide student toward more acceptable social behaviors;
• Implement positive behavioral intervention plans;
• Model appropriate behavioral techniques;
• Assist in teaching children who have special learning needs;
• Maintain emotional control under difficult situations;
• Learn and adapt to new procedures and conditions;
• Learn laws, rules, practices and procedures related to public education for children and related to the program to which assigned;
• Maintain professional competency;
• Take extensive data and perform a variety of related clerical tasks;
• Communicate effectively;
• Supervise children in the classroom and out of doors;
• Follow oral and written directions;
• Adapt to changing work demands;
• Manage task priorities to meet deadlines;
• Work under varying degrees of stress;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals and groups;
• Read and comprehend fine print, such as contracts, spreadsheets, texts, catalogs, etc.
• Communicate effectively via telephone, computer modem and in person;
• Be physically agile and possess sufficient strength and stamina to work with children who may be prone to sudden flight or aggression.

(Consideration will be given to requests for reasonable accommodation for the physical requirements.)

Education and Experience:

• Graduation from high school or comparable demonstration of basic competence and
• Not less than two years experience working with students with special needs in a school setting involving students exhibiting complex and/or severe behavioral concerns.
• Two years of college training related to psychology, child development or education may be substituted for one year of experience.
• Some skills in sign language are desirable but not required.
• Passing score on the paraprofessional exam in addition to current Registered Behavior Technician Certification or willingness to obtain and maintain registration as Behavior Technician within 6 months of hire required.* The CBST is expected to work under the supervision of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) to pursue and maintain certification as a Registered Behavior Technician through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB). Any associated training time will be included in the workday and the employer will cover costs associated with training and required supervision. Employer will cover the cost of tasking the RBT Competency Assessment up to 3 times within the 6-month timeframe

*To obtain certification as a Registered Behavior Technician, the applicant must be 18 years of age, possess a minimum of a high school diploma or national equivalent, complete 40 hours of training, complete a criminal background check, pass the RBT Competency Assessment, and past the RBT exam. Renewal of certification requires annual passage of RBT Competency Assessment, completion of a renewal, ongoing supervision, and compliance with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s (BCBA) ethics requirements relevant to RBTs. Additional information regarding the requirements and expectations of RBT certification can be provided upon request.

Working Conditions (Work Environment)

Work is performed in a school environment and involves continuous contact with staff and representatives of LEAs.

Physical Demands

The usual and customary method of performing the job’s functions requires the following physical demands:

• Frequent lifting with the ability to lift 50 pounds;
• Sufficient strength to lift non-ambulatory students and lift and move adaptive equipment; carrying, pushing and/or pulling.
• Frequent stooping, kneeling, crouching and reaching.
• Manual dexterity to operate a telephone and enter data into a computer.
• Facility to sit at a desk, conference table or in meetings of various configurations for extended periods of time.
• Facility to see and read, with or without visual aids, laws and codes, rules, policies and other printed matter and computer screens and printouts.
• Facility to hear and understand speech at normal room levels and to hear and understand speech on the telephone.
• Facility to speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly in normal conversations, in training sessions and other meetings.
• Facility to drive an automobile.

Note: This list of essential functions and physical requirements is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary.

Other Requirements

• Must be fingerprinted and a satisfactory Department of Justice records check must be received by HCOE prior to employment.
• TB testing and/or risk assessment will be required upon employment.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical (if applicable).
• May be required to obtain first aid and CPR certificates within the first 6 to 12 months of employment.
• May be required to drive with or without students; some positions may require a California driver’s license, proof of insurance and possible participation in the DMV PUll Notice Program once employed.

Range 8 | Personnel Commission Approved: 08/10/2021 | Reformatted 6/2/2023