Training Specialist

Job DescriptionJob Description

About Our Organization:

St. Catherine’s Center for Children is a leading non-profit organization in New York’s Greater Capital District. Our comprehensive range of human services reach more than 1,000 children, 600 families, and hundreds of adults across Upstate New York each year. Our multi-faceted programs are designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of the children, families, and adults we serve. We offer 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 employs more than 300 full and part-time staff. Our spectrum of services for children, families and individuals suffering from the lasting effects of abuse and neglect, family instability, mental illness, homelessness and other ongoing traumas, continues to grow. We are committed to cultivating a culture where all employees can bring their authentic and best selves to the workplace. Our DEI-B initiatives are designed to support and build a more equitable, inclusive and diversified workplace, one which exemplifies true respect and dignity.

Position Overview:

The Training Specialist provides classroom style and virtual training, on-the-job mentoring, and assist with organizing, scheduling and conducting required TCI Core training, refresher training, Medication Administration and First Aid/CPR/AED certification training for staff in the residential and school programs. The Training Specialist will also assist with facilitating completion of all required online trainings for new employees, as well as updates and refresher trainings for existing employees, as necessary, to meet program compliance standards.

Duties & Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Together with the Training Manager, Director of Human Resources, and the TCI Implementation Team, the Training Specialist ensures that agency standards and practices for TCI training and update trainings comply with the standards set forth by Cornell University’s TCI training guidelines.
• Ensures that agency standards and practices for all other trainings, including, but not limited to: First Aid/CPR/AED, HIPAA, Medicaid Compliance, Sexual Harassment Prevention, Infectious Disease Prevention, Mandated Reporter (both Reporting Child Abuse/Maltreatment and Neglect and the Justice Center Requirements) and the Residential Medication Administration training, are compliant with all requirements of our governing/regulatory bodies.
• As one of the agency’s professional development trainers, provides training in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), First Aid/CPR/AED, Medication Administration and other related agency trainings, as needed.
• Assists with designing training agenda updates for TCI, Medication Administration, and other trainings as needed tailored to specific and current needs of each program. This will be accomplished in collaboration with the Training Department Team.
• Assists with oversight of evaluation/testing procedures for TCI, First Aid/CPR/AED and Medication Administration certification of staff.
• Assists the Training Manager with scheduling the required TCI, First Aid/CPR/AED, & Medication Administration trainings. This includes the coordination of an annual training calendar, which is updated quarterly and includes the trainings necessary to enable staff to meet the training requirements specific to their positions, and improve service delivery to our clients.
• Coordinates/oversees/facilitates completion of all required online trainings for new employees, and updates/refreshers for existing employees, to meet compliance standards.
• Assists with facilitating additional program-related trainings (i.e. Trauma-Informed Care, characteristics of children in our care, writing critical incident reports and debriefing techniques, etc.).
• With the Training Manager, communicates the results of training certifications to the Director of Human Resources and Program Managers; brings to the attention of these individuals any concerns or deficiencies noted during training as well as notable strengths.
• Assists with notification of training needs to employees, department heads, and the Director of Human Resources, on a monthly basis, or more frequently if needed, to ensure proper communication of training needs is being provided with proper followed through.
• Responsible, with the Training Manager, to maintain a current record of all training completed and in need of completion, in advance of expiration so that no employee is behind in trainings and St. Catherine’s remains compliant with the regulations of its governing bodies.
• The Training Specialist will be assigned to work, a portion of their time, in residential and school programs, in addition to providing regularly scheduled trainings. During their time spent in program settings, the Training Specialist will provide in-person coaching, both on the spot in real time, as well as through individualized coaching sessions.
• The Training Specialist acts as a role model and resource for direct care staff regarding TCI, First Aid/CPR/AED and Medication Administration best practice concepts, and role-models behavior management and crisis de-escalation strategies for Agency staff.
• Under the direction of the Training Manager, and under the oversight of the Director of Human Resources, and the Deputy Executive Director for Continuous Quality Improvement, ensures that training needs identified through the quality assurance program are addressed, including (but not limited to) carrying out restraint reduction initiatives.
• Seeks and maintains fluency in program evidence-based practice initiatives to the extent that they are necessary to inform the delivery of agency trainings.
• Additional position-related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Training Manager.

Organizational Relationships:

• The Training Specialist reports to and is supervised by the Training Manager.
• The Training Specialist works closely with the Training Manager on departmental and Agency objectives to ensure successful outcomes.
• Collaborates with Management Teams, program managers, agency trainers, and program staff in coordinating and scheduling agency trainings.

Essential Functions:

• Capacity to communicate by oral, written and electronic means in a clear and coherent manner.
• Ability to speak publicly with confident, articulate and professional speaking aptitude.
• Ability to present, demonstrate, assess and constructively critique all TCI, First Aid/CPR/AED, Medication Administration skills, strategies and techniques.
• Ability to model behavior management and crisis de-escalation strategies for staff.
• Ability to provide in-person coaching for program staff, both on-the-spot in real time, as well as through individual coaching sessions. Coaching would not only be focused on TCI techniques and implementation, but also trauma-informed care, and other strategies that are woven throughout both school and residential programs.
• Ability to understand the importance of this role on the Agency-wide TCI implementation team, and its value with Agency-wide TCI planning.
• Above average computer skills in the areas of data entry and tracking, uploading training materials, and computer applications: Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Workspace (Google Sheets, Docs, Meet, etc.), Gmail and the Internet.
• Capacity to travel to various agency locations to provide training activities.
• Capacity to deliver training content based on the audience’s skill level.
• Ability to carry out written documentation required by St. Catherine’s policy and as required by regulating agencies who have oversight responsibility for St. Catherine’s programs.
• Ability to organize and effectively manage in a timely fashion the varied tasks of the position.
• Must be able to perform well under crisis conditions, with the capacity to demonstrate proper techniques used to carry out TCI strategies; and competently provide a supportive response to staff following crisis conditions, as needed.
• Ability to understand, communicate, represent and carry out the mission, values, philosophy and policies of St. Catherine’s Center for Children.
• Ability to interact with a wide range of people, including those who are culturally and socio-economically diverse, as well as people with various developmental and functional levels.
• Ability to conduct themselves in a manner that is becoming of an employee of St. Catherine’s Center for Children.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion, and also work effectively in a shared decision-making model as a team member.
• Ability to work collaboratively with other personnel and service providers or professionals.

Position Requirements:

• Associate’s degree required; Bachelor’s degree preferred. Relevant combination of education and experience may be considered.
• TCI Trainer certification and experience using TCI strategies and techniques with children who exhibit emotional and behavioral difficulties is preferred.
• Current Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED Instructor Certification preferred.
• Demonstrated training and group presentation skills required.
• Must have a Clean and Valid New York State Driver’s License for at least one year.
• Looking for: Reliability and dependability, flexibility and adaptability.
• Proficiency in various computer applications: Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Workspace (Google Sheets, Docs, Meet, etc.), Gmail and the Internet; Experience with AWARDS, a plus
• Highly desired: A compassionate, positive, warm and caring mindset.
• Flexibility to work hours outside of regularly scheduled work hours, within reason, as needed.
• Must possess excellent communication skills, including the use of telecommunications system as well as face to face.
• Must have the ability to pass required pre-employment background checks.

What We Offer:

• Competitive Pay with an Excellent Benefits Package
• Health Insurance options*: Medical, Dental and Vision
• Generous Combined Leave Time and loads of PAID Holidays* Calendar B = 10 Paid Holidays
• $500 Employee Referral Bonus*
• Professional Development & Career Growth Opportunities
• We are a 501(c) (3) agency, which is a qualifying employer for eligible staff under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program*
• Pension Plan with Aggressive Agency contribution*
• Life Insurance – Automatic Benefit, at no cost to you
• Paid Training* including TCI and CPR/AED/First Aid Certification Update courses, if role appropriate
• Tuition Reimbursement*
• Travel/ Mileage Reimbursement*
• Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
• The Comfort of a Business Casual Environment.

*To qualify, certain conditions may apply; See Human Resources for additional details.

EEO Statement: St. Catherine’s Center for Children is committed to creating a diverse environment and are 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 and pregnancy, family history and genetics, disability, age, military status, veteran status, politics, or other beliefs, and any other characteristics protected by law.

Background Checks: We run a thorough and complete pre-employment background check on all candidates being considered for a position, this includes fingerprinting. All candidates must successfully clear the pre-employment background check process, which follows NYS/DOJ requirements. We pay for all pre-employment background checks

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