Program Specialist
We are "making dreams come true." We provide children and adults with autism, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral health challenges and their families the education, support, and resources needed to be self-reliant, independent, and valued members of their community. In addition, we provide the professionals who serve them with world-class education and training.
The Program Specialist (PS) provides oversight of client programming, documentation, and team processes to ensure individuals receive high-quality, person-centered care. This exempt positiongenerally is scheduled Monday through Friday with some weekend and on-call responsibilities. Hours vary to support staff and monitor individuals across residential homes. The PS is responsible for developing and implementing individualized supports that empower each person to live fully and engage meaningfully in their communities.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Individual Support & Care Coordination
- Serves as an internal team lead for all client care needs—programmatic, health, social, and behavioral—and communicates updates to Barber team members, external support, and families.
- Ensures individual needs and desires are met per the ISP; verifies that staff receive learning and development and demonstrate competency in client-specific care.
- Oversees health and safety of individuals, including follow-up on medical appointments, medication administration, and adaptive equipment maintenance.
- Maintains compliance with health records, behavioral documentation, and electronic health systems; ensures timely updates and corrective actions.
- Conducts in-person visits to each group home (minimum twice weekly) at varied times; attends monitoring visits and provides follow-up.
- Coordinates and participates in intake, admission, discharge, and annual meetings.
- Supports "Every Day Lives" principles for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities or autism.
Documentation, Benefits & Quality Assurance
- Maintains accurate documentation including assessments, quarterly reports, service notes, and MARs.
- Maintains accurate, compliant documentation across all programmatic and health domains.
- Reviews daily notes for narrative quality and time accuracy; monitors fire safety plans and drills.
- Supports internal audits and completes plans of correction as needed.
- Manages client benefits in collaboration with the Benefit Specialist, including spend-down processes and verification of safeguarded funds.
- Ensures completion of Health Risk Screening tools, inventories, and Self-Inspection packets.
- Enter critical events into the Enterprise Incident Management system.
ISP & Regulatory Compliance (Chapter 6400)
- Coordinates and completes assessments per 6400.181, 6400.44(b)(1) participates in ISP development, developing team reviews, updates, and revisions 6400.44(b)(s)
- Oversees the provision of and supervision of activities for individuals in accordance the individual's plan. 6400/(b)(3).
- Supporting the individuals integration into the community. 6400.(b)(4).
- Supporting the individual's communication and involvement with family and friends. 6400.44(b)(5).
- Leads ISP meetings and fulfills plan lead responsibilities under 6400.182 and 6400.186.
- Reviews ISP content for accuracy; reports discrepancies and recommends revisions as needed.
- Implements ISP as written; monitors and evaluates services provided. 6400.44(b)(2)
- Reviews and signs monthly documentation of progress toward outcomes.
- Documents and shares ISP reviews with Supports Coordinator and plan team members; informs team of option to decline documentation.
- Develops and implements provider services per 6400.188.
Learning & Development, Onboarding, & Collaboration
- Fosters a culture of learning and development by supporting the onboarding and learning and development of new staff, ensuring they gain a deep understanding of client-specific care and ISP requirements.
- Participates in mentorship and coaching culture to foster staff development and retention.
- Collaborates with Residential Supervisors, Lead DSPs, and Associate Directors to promote consistent care and team alignment.
Program Oversight & Operational Support
- Prepares for licensing inspections and contractual reviews; ensures program components and physical sites meet standards.
- Monitors compliance with agency policies, 6400 regulations, and documentation practices.
- Participates in weekend on-call rotation and maintains high availability during weekdays.
- Supports transportation coordination, safety protocols, and equipment needs.
- Immediately reports suspected abuse and ensures individual safety.
- Participates in committee work and maintains professional relationships with inter-agency staff.
Other:
- Understands that duties may be added or deleted from the position as deemed necessary by management.
- Understands that additional work or extended hours may be required due to program demands.
- Completes mandatory in-service hours annually in compliance with regulations and other learnings as required.
Skills/Competencies:
- Documentation & Compliance: Maintains accurate, timely, and regulation-compliant records across health, behavioral, and programmatic domains, ensuring readiness for audits and licensing reviews.
- Communication & Collaboration: Coordinates effectively with families, staff, and external partners, facilitating meetings, sharing updates, and aligning interdisciplinary teams around client care.
- Client-Centered Planning & Oversight: Designs and monitors individualized service plans that reflect each person's goals, health needs, and adaptive supports, ensuring holistic and person-first care.
- Learning & Development: Supports onboarding and ongoing staff learning and development, reinforcing client-specific care standards and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
- Problem-Solving & Crisis Management: Responds to incidents and critical events with clarity and urgency, resolving discrepancies and maintaining stability during emergencies or transitions.
Education/Experience:
Master's Degree: with 1 year working directly with individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism, OR
Bachelor' Degree: with 2 years working directly with individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism, OR
Associate's Degree or 60 Credit Hours: 4 years working directly with individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism,
Licensure/Certification/Registration:
Valid driver's license required
CPR and First Aid Certifications upon hire
Perks with a Purpose Our benefits are created with YOU in mind.
Healthcare • Highmark Medical and Mental Health • Delta Dental and Davis Vision Coverage
• Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Accounts
• Teladoc Virtual Health Financial Well-being • 401K Retirement Plan with Employer Match • On-Demand Pay • Employee Referral Bonus Program • Student Loan Forgiveness • College Scholarship & Tuition Discounts • Employee Discounts
Life & Family Support • Company Paid Life Insurance
• Short & Long-Term Disability Insurance • Employee Assistance Program • Erie Campus*- discounted on-site weekday childcare • Employee discounts for select BNI events and services
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Seven Paid Holidays
Who is Barber National Institute?
The Barber National Institute is a non-profit committed to its mission of providing the highest quality services for children and adults with autism, intellectual disabilities or behavioral health challenges and their families. Since our founding in 1952, we have evolved into a multi-faceted organization serving more than 6,200 individuals annually with a wide range of educational, vocational, residential and behavioral health programs.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. If you need an accommodation to apply, please contact HR. EOE Any consideration of the background check will be an individualized assessment based on the applicant or employee's specific record and the duties and requirements of the specific job.
Program Specialist
We are "making dreams come true." We provide children and adults with autism, intellectual disabilities, and behavioral health challenges and their families the education, support, and resources needed to be self-reliant, independent, and valued members of their community. In addition, we provide the professionals who serve them with world-class education and training.
The Program Specialist (PS) provides oversight of client programming, documentation, and team processes to ensure individuals receive high-quality, person-centered care. This exempt positiongenerally is scheduled Monday through Friday with some weekend and on-call responsibilities. Hours vary to support staff and monitor individuals across residential homes. The PS is responsible for developing and implementing individualized supports that empower each person to live fully and engage meaningfully in their communities.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Individual Support & Care Coordination
- Serves as an internal team lead for all client care needs—programmatic, health, social, and behavioral—and communicates updates to Barber team members, external support, and families.
- Ensures individual needs and desires are met per the ISP; verifies that staff receive learning and development and demonstrate competency in client-specific care.
- Oversees health and safety of individuals, including follow-up on medical appointments, medication administration, and adaptive equipment maintenance.
- Maintains compliance with health records, behavioral documentation, and electronic health systems; ensures timely updates and corrective actions.
- Conducts in-person visits to each group home (minimum twice weekly) at varied times; attends monitoring visits and provides follow-up.
- Coordinates and participates in intake, admission, discharge, and annual meetings.
- Supports "Every Day Lives" principles for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities or autism.
Documentation, Benefits & Quality Assurance
- Maintains accurate documentation including assessments, quarterly reports, service notes, and MARs.
- Maintains accurate, compliant documentation across all programmatic and health domains.
- Reviews daily notes for narrative quality and time accuracy; monitors fire safety plans and drills.
- Supports internal audits and completes plans of correction as needed.
- Manages client benefits in collaboration with the Benefit Specialist, including spend-down processes and verification of safeguarded funds.
- Ensures completion of Health Risk Screening tools, inventories, and Self-Inspection packets.
- Enter critical events into the Enterprise Incident Management system.
ISP & Regulatory Compliance (Chapter 6400)
- Coordinates and completes assessments per 6400.181, 6400.44(b)(1) participates in ISP development, developing team reviews, updates, and revisions 6400.44(b)(s)
- Oversees the provision of and supervision of activities for individuals in accordance the individual's plan. 6400/(b)(3).
- Supporting the individuals integration into the community. 6400.(b)(4).
- Supporting the individual's communication and involvement with family and friends. 6400.44(b)(5).
- Leads ISP meetings and fulfills plan lead responsibilities under 6400.182 and 6400.186.
- Reviews ISP content for accuracy; reports discrepancies and recommends revisions as needed.
- Implements ISP as written; monitors and evaluates services provided. 6400.44(b)(2)
- Reviews and signs monthly documentation of progress toward outcomes.
- Documents and shares ISP reviews with Supports Coordinator and plan team members; informs team of option to decline documentation.
- Develops and implements provider services per 6400.188.
Learning & Development, Onboarding, & Collaboration
- Fosters a culture of learning and development by supporting the onboarding and learning and development of new staff, ensuring they gain a deep understanding of client-specific care and ISP requirements.
- Participates in mentorship and coaching culture to foster staff development and retention.
- Collaborates with Residential Supervisors, Lead DSPs, and Associate Directors to promote consistent care and team alignment.
Program Oversight & Operational Support
- Prepares for licensing inspections and contractual reviews; ensures program components and physical sites meet standards.
- Monitors compliance with agency policies, 6400 regulations, and documentation practices.
- Participates in weekend on-call rotation and maintains high availability during weekdays.
- Supports transportation coordination, safety protocols, and equipment needs.
- Immediately reports suspected abuse and ensures individual safety.
- Participates in committee work and maintains professional relationships with inter-agency staff.
Other:
- Understands that duties may be added or deleted from the position as deemed necessary by management.
- Understands that additional work or extended hours may be required due to program demands.
- Completes mandatory in-service hours annually in compliance with regulations and other learnings as required.
Skills/Competencies:
- Documentation & Compliance: Maintains accurate, timely, and regulation-compliant records across health, behavioral, and programmatic domains, ensuring readiness for audits and licensing reviews.
- Communication & Collaboration: Coordinates effectively with families, staff, and external partners, facilitating meetings, sharing updates, and aligning interdisciplinary teams around client care.
- Client-Centered Planning & Oversight: Designs and monitors individualized service plans that reflect each person's goals, health needs, and adaptive supports, ensuring holistic and person-first care.
- Learning & Development: Supports onboarding and ongoing staff learning and development, reinforcing client-specific care standards and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
- Problem-Solving & Crisis Management: Responds to incidents and critical events with clarity and urgency, resolving discrepancies and maintaining stability during emergencies or transitions.
Education/Experience:
Master's Degree: with 1 year working directly with individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism, OR
Bachelor' Degree: with 2 years working directly with individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism, OR
Associate's Degree or 60 Credit Hours: 4 years working directly with individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism,
Licensure/Certification/Registration:
Valid driver's license required
CPR and First Aid Certifications upon hire
Perks with a Purpose Our benefits are created with YOU in mind.
Healthcare • Highmark Medical and Mental Health • Delta Dental and Davis Vision Coverage
• Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Accounts
• Teladoc Virtual Health Financial Well-being • 401K Retirement Plan with Employer Match • On-Demand Pay • Employee Referral Bonus Program • Student Loan Forgiveness • College Scholarship & Tuition Discounts • Employee Discounts
Life & Family Support • Company Paid Life Insurance
• Short & Long-Term Disability Insurance • Employee Assistance Program • Erie Campus*- discounted on-site weekday childcare • Employee discounts for select BNI events and services
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Seven Paid Holidays
Who is Barber National Institute?
The Barber National Institute is a non-profit committed to its mission of providing the highest quality services for children and adults with autism, intellectual disabilities or behavioral health challenges and their families. Since our founding in 1952, we have evolved into a multi-faceted organization serving more than 6,200 individuals annually with a wide range of educational, vocational, residential and behavioral health programs.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status. If you need an accommodation to apply, please contact HR. EOE Any consideration of the background check will be an individualized assessment based on the applicant or employee's specific record and the duties and requirements of the specific job.
