Therapeutic Support Staff

Full Time

Albany, NY, US

Requisition ID: 1490

Salary Range: $21.54 To $25.14 Hourly

THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT STAFF

Program : Special Education (R&E May School)

Type : Full-time; Non-Exempt

Pay Range : $21.54 - 25.14 (Hourly)

Job Ref. #: 326

Schedule : Monday-Friday, 8:00am-3:30pm, Wednesdays, 8:00am-4:00pm

About St. Catherine’s Center for Children

St. Catherine’s Center for Children is a non-profit organization located in the Greater Capital Region of New York. We offer a wide array of human services designed to meet the needs of vulnerable children, families and adults, including residential and therapeutic foster care programs for children and youth, Kinship support, homeless and community-based services for adults and families, a special education elementary school for ages 5-13, and so much more.

St. Catherine’s is committed to cultivating a culture where all employees feel safe to bring their authentic and best selves to the workplace. We are invested in fostering an equitable, inclusive and diversified workplace; collaboratively embracing mindfulness, relevance, respect and solidarity.

• Our Mission: St. Catherine's Center for Children provides a comprehensive range of human services designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of the children, families, and adults we serve.

• Our Vision: Our willingness to embrace change and develop new services is, and will remain, our guiding philosophy as we support the human service needs of our community.

Position Overview:

The Therapeutic Support Staff is responsible for assisting students who are temporarily unable to function in their classroom program. The Therapeutic Support Staff utilizes crisis de-escalation techniques, and their relationship with the student, in order to bring the student back to baseline, assist with resolving the issue, and help the student to develop a plan for them to return to academic programming and achieve success within the school environment.

Organizational Relationships:

Works under the supervision of the Supervisor of Behavior Supports. Works cooperatively with program staff to effectively assist all students.

Position Specifications & Requirements:

• Ability to work: Monday-Friday, 8am – 3:30pm, and Wednesday (8am – 4pm) w/ flexibility as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field, preferred. In lieu of a college degree, a combination of relevant professional experience and relatable life experience will be considered. High school diploma or equivalency is required.

• Experience working with children who exhibit significant emotional, behavioral and interpersonal challenges, trauma history and mental health diagnoses within a Special Education/Day Treatment program, preferred.

• Experience in the use of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), with ability to respond effectively and therapeutically in crisis situations. TCI Certification must be earned upon hire and maintained.

• Local travel is required; A current Clean and Valid New York State Driver’s License (actively licensed at least one year) is required*.

• Ability to work in a therapeutic manner with the students of the R&E May School.

• Ability to adapt individual mindset and de-escalation skills based on each encounter with students (grades K-6).

• Ability to use developmentally appropriate practices for each student.

• Proficiency in computer applications: Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel), Google Business Workspace Suite (Gmail, Google Docs, Meet, Sheets, etc.), and secure Internet practices.

• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills; Capable of building strong working relationships with regulatory bodies.

• Self-motivated and engaged, with a strong attention to detail; Excellent writing aptitude.

• A kind, warm and caring mindset; Capable of exhibiting empathy for those in need.

• Ability to nurture and show compassion and understanding for clients/children in crisis.

• Qualities of positivity, flexibility and adaptability; A professional record of integrity, proven reliability and dependability.

• Capable of exercising ethical, independent judgment and discretion, handle sensitive data with strict confidentiality.

• Ability to pass pre-employment background check requirements, including fingerprinting.

*Staff in driving positions must be able to meet agency’s minimum requirements of our insurance policy for authorized drivers; including, but not limited to the minimum age of 21 at time of hire.

Duties & Responsibilities include:

• Utilizing a wide variety of agency approved techniques to de-escalate students experiencing crisis.

• Conducts life space interviews with students when necessary.

• Conducts classroom “re-entry” interviews between student and teacher.

• Prepares incident reports and documents interventions when necessary.

• Responsible for reporting back on progress from ICSP meetings.

• Attends Tier 2, Universal and Classroom Meetings.

• Must be able to model appropriate de-escalation and processing skills for other employees.

• Utilizing Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) strategies to de-escalate students and develop a plan for them to return to the classroom and achieve success throughout the school day.

• Builds positive relationships with all students and staff members.

• Assists students in developing effective emotional coping and problem-solving skills, as well as prosocial skills.

• The Therapeutic Support Staff coordinates with the Behavior/ Therapeutic Support Team to prepare and submit all Critical Incident Reports for the day, prior to the end of the shift.

• Creates and submits Incident Reports (as necessary): Accident reports, Critical Incident Reports, Justice Center reports, etc.

• May be requested to attend TCI “Train the Trainer” as professional development and to join the agency’s TCI training team.

• May be requested to attend various meetings (i.e. Med Review, Suspension Re-Entry meetings, Treatment Plan Meetings, etc.).

• Works collaboratively with Master Teachers, Teacher Assistants and other staff in order to provide a comprehensive, inclusive and supportive program for all students.

• Must be able to model and coach appropriate de-escalation and processing skills for other employees.

• Knowledgeable and assists with implementation of all students’ Individual Crisis Support Plans (ICSP), Individual Education Plan (IEP) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP).

• Responsible for logging student data when utilizing Therapeutic Support Spaces.

• Works in a classroom as indicated by the Supervisor of Behavior Supports, Principal, or other school administrators.

• Meets with Supervisors to review progress toward professional goals, and design and implement specific treatment strategies for individual students, whole classes, and/or the student population as a whole.

• Additional position-related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor or director.

What We Offer You**

At St. Catherine’s Center for Children, we believe in taking care of the people who take care of our community. We offer competitive compensation alongside a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, wealth, and professional growth:

Financial Security & Future Planning

• Pension Plan: Secure your future with a retirement pension plan featuring a generous agency contribution.

• 403(b) Retirement Savings: Pre-tax savings options to further build your nest egg.

• Student Loan Forgiveness: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency, employment here qualifies eligible staff for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

• Expense Reimbursements: Travel and mileage reimbursements for any role-related transit.

Health & Well-being

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Choice of robust Medical, Dental, and Vision plans to fit your needs.

• Well-being Reimbursement: A $600 annual benefit dedicated to supporting your personal wellness journey.

• Work-Life Balance: Generous Combined Leave Time (CLT) plus paid holidays so you can rest and recharge.

• Life Insurance: Fully employer-paid, automatic life insurance coverage at no cost to you.

Professional Growth & Culture

• Paid Certifications & Training: Fully covered training updates, including Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) and CPR/AED/First Aid.

• Tuition Assistance: Financial support for continuing education and tuition reimbursement opportunities.

• Career Advancement: Clear pathways for professional development and internal career growth.

• Our Culture: Enjoy the comfort of a welcoming, business-casual work environment rooted in our core values of Mindfulness, Relevance, Respect, and Solidarity.

**Please note: To qualify for specific benefits, certain terms and conditions may apply.

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) Statement

St. Catherine’s Center for Children is deeply committed to creating a diverse, inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, reproductive health, pregnancy, family history, genetics, disability, age, military status, veteran status, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

If you would like to learn more about our agency or one of our many programs, please visit our website at: www.st-cath.org