Development Coach - Shrub Oak International School : Job Details

Shrub Oak International School is a therapeutic day and residential school for autistic children, adolescents, and young adults with complex co-occurring conditions. Located in northern Westchester County, Shrub Oak offers unparalleled educational opportunities for autistic students in a family-centric, supportive environment. We offer a variety of programs to meet the needs of students across the spectrum, and our curriculum is based on the most advanced and successful evidence-based clinical and academic approaches in ASD education.

Compensation: $64,350 annually

Benefits:

Available for full-time employees. An overview of our benefits:

• Insurance coverage: Health, vision, dental, life, and disability insurance
• Flexible spending account (FSA)
• Paid time off (PTO)
• 401k w/ company match
• Tuition/Professional development assistance
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Employee discounts

Job Summary:

The Development Coach is a year-round position reporting to the Director of Research and Staff Development. It is the mission of the Development Coach to empower all staff to confidently lead through challenging situations with students while prioritizing the use of hands-off de-escalation strategies. Working in strong collaboration with other members of the training department and their supervisor, the development coach stays current with the evolution of Therapeutic Interventions and ensures effective staff development. They are an expert in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools (TCIS), the writing of Incident Reports (IRs), and facilitators in the Staff Debriefing process. They provide real-time support to all staff during situations involving escalated student behavior by guiding staff through preventative/de-escalation strategies. Having access to confidential information, the development coach is expected to exercise discretion and independent decision-making.

Position Type & Expected Hours of Work

• Full-time
• Tuesday – Saturday, 2pm – 10pm
• As this is an exempt role, there may be additional work required outside these hours as dictated by the needs of our students and/or the program.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Reports expediently to the location of escalated student to coach staff through the situation and serve as extra support, if necessary.
• Provides real-time coaching/feedback/support to all staff and students during escalated situations.
• Encourages staff to remain hands-off in crisis situations by guiding staff through Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools (TCIS) de-escalation techniques and other hands-off approaches in accordance with SOIS policy.
• Guides staff through proper use of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools (TCIS) holds after exhausting all hands-off options.
• Facilitates de-briefing session with staff after crisis situations by allowing time and safe, confidential space for staff to process and learn from the crisis situation.
• Collaborates with staff members to develop, review, and submit IRs with professional/clinical language.
• Collaborates with members of the Clinical Department to discuss student-specific related concerns related to Therapeutic Intervention.
• Collaborates with Supervisors across all departments to help create and reassess Employee Growth Plans (EGPs) for staff.
• Attends all required meetings/trainings determined by the head of training.
• Remains current with training refreshers, re-certifications and policy/procedure updates.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Requirements:

Experience & Education

• Experience working with children and early/late adolescents on the Autism Spectrum and/or developmental disabilities is required.
• Knowledge and experience of crisis prevention with emphasis on verbal de-escalation and how it is applied with the Autism population is required.
• Experience working with individuals exhibiting challenging behaviors is required.
• Combination of post-secondary education and/or experience working with special needs populations as a Crisis Intervention Specialist, DSP, or related position preferred.
• Three-year minimum of relevant professional experience; previous experience working in a school and particularly a boarding program is preferred.

Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of/skill in utilizing a trauma-informed approach when working with students and staff.
• Prioritize proactive approaches during crisis situations.
• Ability to develop and maintain trusting, respectful relationships with students and staff.
• Skilled in modeling behavior standards of treating all students and staff with dignity and respect.
• Demonstrate a passion for working with the Autism population and ensuring the overall safety/well-being of students and staff.
• Ability to empower staff to work confidently through crisis situations.
• Knowledge of/experience with verbal de-escalation techniques/therapeutic intervention strategies.
• Strong knowledge/understanding of TCIS, writing of Incident Reports, the facilitation of the Staff Debriefing Process, and Employee Growth Plans for staff.
• Ability to make safe and reasonable decisions under pressure.
• Ability to maintain composure and a kind demeanor during crisis situations.
• Ability to work well with a team and collaborate with colleagues across departments.
• Ability to provide leadership by advising and providing positive/constructive feedback to staff.
• Strong self-awareness and emotional regulation skills.

Physical Requirements/Demands:

A workday regularly includes multiple or conflicting demands, deadlines and time pressures; work regularly requires sustained concentration. Standing for sustained periods of time, bending, stretching, walking up and down stairs (building has 6 floors), around a hilly campus as needed, may also require walking between floors or between buildings at a moment's notice. Lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling may be required.

Work Environment:

We are a boarding school located on a 127-acre campus. The work environment will include both indoor and outdoor spaces, mostly inside the classroom or educational environment. May include work within the residential setting. The building has 6 floors accessible by staircases and elevators.

EEO Statement:

Shrub Oak is an equal employment opportunity employer. Shrub Oak International School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to apply for a job or to perform the essentials functions of their job. Please advise us if you require a reasonable accommodation.

Please note:

SOIS maintains a smoke-free environment to ensure the health and safety of our students, employees, and community. Smoking or vaping of any kind is strictly prohibited indoors, outdoors, and during off-campus activities, with enforcement measures in place including smoke/vape detectors. Non-compliance will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.