Play Expert

**Position Overview**

The Play Expert position is a critical component of our treatment team at TLBC. Play Experts provide engaging and educational services to children in their homes. A step above a typical caregiver, our Play Experts are trained in child development as well as positive-behavior systems. They understand the importance of developmentally appropriate and engaging play, as well as consistent structure and boundaries. The Play Experts’ role involves three primary components: Planning, Engagement, and Treatment.

**Planning **- TLBC Play Experts are responsible for arriving at appointments with materials to keep clients engaged and stimulated for the duration of the appointment. This can include toys, books, games, arts & crafts, or other creative ideas. Prior to the scheduled session, the Play Expert consults with the child’s supervising BCBA to determine the appropriate goals, materials, and activities for the day’s session.

Specific job responsibilities include
- Review the child's individualized treatment plan and goals prior to session.
- Develop a plan for the appointment, to include creative materials and engaging activities.
- Consult with the supervising BCBA to ensure the appointment follows the designed schedule and addresses the child’s individualized goals.
- Punctuality: TLBC Play Experts are expected to arrive a minimum of 5 minutes prior to the appointment’s start time.

**Engagement **- TLBC Play Experts are experts at playing, which means they keep the client engaged for the duration of the appointment. It is the responsibility of the Play Expert to plan a fun and engaging session. This can involve toys the Play Expert brings or use of the client’s own toys and activities. TLBC Play Experts are also responsible for collecting data and submitting a comprehensive session note at the end of each appointment.

**Specific job responsibilities include**
- Maintaining a high level of engagement throughout the session
- Cell phones should be put away at the beginning of the appointment and only used to communicate with the client’s caregivers, to collect data, or in emergency situations
- Play should vary between movement play, fine motor play, artistic play, outdoor play, and other activities the client enjoys.
- Creating a welcoming, safe, and caring environment that encourages children to participate in play.
- Ensuring the safety of the child for the duration of the appointment.
- Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills as exhibited through interaction with the client’s caregiver.

**Treatment **- TLBC Play Experts are responsible for implementing the child’s individual treatment goals throughout the session. Specified targets are embedded in play and seamlessly incorporated into fun and engaging activities. Play Experts collect data on all specified targets and provide a comprehensive, narrative report at the end of each session.

**Specific job responsibilities include**
- Check-in at the beginning of each session and review individualized session goals.
- Implement programs developed by the child’s supervising BCBA to help build verbal behavior, daily living skills, and social-emotional skills
- Provide positive reinforcement to increase appropriate behaviors
- Collect data on all targets in real-time (i.e. during the session and not at the end)
- Provide an overview of the session activities to the caregiver at the end of each session
- Obtain a signature from the caregiver at the end of each session
- Include all specified information on the session note (i.e. caregivers present, start and end time of session, behavior goals, and skill acquisition goals)
- Ensure confidentiality and abide by HIPPA regulations

**About The Language and Behavior Center**:
We provide family-focused therapeutic services to children age 0-12 years old. With a focus on play-based learning, TLBC believes that language and skill development should be a positive experience for both the child and the family.
- Why Work at TLBC?_
- Local Caseloads:_ Play Experts are assigned to clients near where they live, which means less time spent in the car and more time spent with clients.
- Social Environment:_ We have frequent staff get-togethers, clinic meetings, mentorship meetings, and a central office with coffee and snacks always stocked.
- Technology_: TLBC uses electronic data collection. BCBAs are able to make immediate changes to programs and see progress in real-time, which means Play Experts are always running up-to-date programs
- Structure for personal growth:_ Play Experts are provided with a clear pathway to grow at TLBC. Within one-month of employment, and contingent on positive performance evaluations, Play Experts are offered the opportunity to obtain a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification. TLBC also supports our staff’s individual interests and provides opportunities to pursue these interests at TLBC.
- Focus on Staff: _The happiness o