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Key/Essential Functions & Responsibilities
Oversees all day-to-day activities and operations of program staff providing support and implementing therapeutic and socialization activities for the youth we support, ensuring appropriate supports are in place to implement therapeutic programming in collaboration with clinical team and facilitates the planning and scheduling of activities that support community integration.
Ensures all services are delivered in accordance with agency philosophy and department practices and in compliance with Federal, State, Local and regulatory requirements, specifically NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH).
Provides effective leadership and develops a team that provides quality care and positive outcomes by establishing a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination and fostering an open-door policy, using participatory management to maintain direct relationships with staff and bolster morale.
Regularly collaborates with the clinical team, promoting and maintaining the excellence of the program and ensuring implementation of person-centered treatment and individual service plans (ISPs) and coordination of medical care, medication administration and other necessary services, including with community and external providers, as needed.
Directly supervises Therapeutic Youth Support Specialists and Shift Leads, regularly directing program operations to ensure the needs of the youth supported are met by assigning responsibilities, monitoring activities, supporting therapeutic interventions and ensuring appropriate, therapeutically documented levels of supervision to protect the health and/or safety of children at all times.
Organizes daily activities for all children, identifying and scheduling socialization activities that align with individual preferences and interests while supporting community integration and engagement, creating activity schedules and ensuring participation in mandatory activities, such as school, appointments, etc.
Maintains appropriate 24/7 staffing and coverage for the program, actively participating in the hiring process, selecting and developing qualified staff and scheduling staff accordingly, with consideration for scheduled time off, unscheduled absences and operational needs, including community or off-site activities.
Provides and/or supervises direct care to youth including assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as personal or intimate care, planning and/or preparing meals or snacks in accordance with dietary restrictions and guidelines of modified diets and transporting or escorting individuals on recreational activities, medical appointments or to mandatory activities, as necessary.
Ensures adherence with all individualized plans based on youth needs, including individual service plans (ISPs) treatment, safety and/or crisis plans, regularly monitoring implementation, data collection, charting and activity schedules and responses to therapeutic interventions, sharing information regarding behaviors, signs, symptoms, setting events, triggers and effective interventions, escalating concerns or changes to director and clinical team.
Oversees facility maintenance and upkeep and maintains adequate inventory of food, hygiene, general and therapeutic supplies, escalating maintenance and safety concerns accordingly for resolution.
Develops a strong understanding of and effectively demonstrates adherence to the Children’s Crisis Residence models of care through interactions with youth and during supervisions, coaching staff to improve outcomes for youth.
Communicates and consistently applies all rules, standards and policies with staff, regularly assessing work performance and providing feedback through ongoing supervision, observation and development, ensuring completion of all applicable training and education to support provision of compliant, quality service.
Initiates, reviews or approves staff status, work hour, promotions, demotions, transfers and/or other adjustments for staff, ensuring changes are appropriately submitted in Workday in a timely manner.
Ensures timekeeping records and approvals through Workday are completed accurately and on a timely basis to support payroll processing; identifies concerns with attendance, work hours and/or time tracking, resolving with staff or coordinating resolutions and coverage with director, when needed
Facilitates hands-on training in leading socialization activities and supporting therapeutic or crisis interventions for program staff, ensuring that staff are appropriately observed, trained and materials are available as needed.
Ensures the timely and accurate completion and maintenance of all paperwork and written records related to individual treatment and compliance with all relevant laws, rules and/or regulations including, but not limited to medical and medication management records and auditing, treatment records, progress, behavior and incident reports, data collection, billing records, charting and daily notes.
Provides de-escalation and intervention supports for youth experiencing stress in accordance with crisis plan, which may include assisting staff with implementing effective techniques, redirecting and/or prompting youth or escalating to clinical team or director.
Coordinates regularly with director and clinical team regarding admissions and discharges, receiving and sharing information regarding supports, facilitating operational needs and preparing space and schedules in collaboration with applicable parties and communicating updates to team and other stakeholders as needed.
Appropriately documents all interactions with YAI support or other departments and with any external entity with whom the program interacts regarding the youth we support and/or program operations in accordance with established processes and procedures and escalates concerns to director.
Facilitates development of professional, empathetic relationships with families, service providers and community members, acting as a representative of the program, advocating for the youth we support and fostering interagency collaboration and communication between relevant supports.
Documents and reports errors, incidents and corrective actions, in compliance with all applicable requirements, including making notifications to OMH, families, director, clinical team and others as appropriate for emergencies and incidents and assists with the investigative process, as required.
Continuously monitors and evaluates operational needs, identifying unmet needs, trends, inefficiencies and opportunities, proposing solutions and implementing authorized revisions to correct issues and deficiencies or to improve the quality of services.
Convenes and facilitates regular staff meetings to share information regarding admissions, discharges and/or updates with staff and/or clinical team and ensures Shift Leads are regularly communicating pertinent information to staff during transitions, as needed.
Serves as Administrator-on-Call (Available/On Call Supervisor) with other program leadership on an as needed basis and provides on-call support to staff including answering calls, questions and securing coverage as needed; reports to program to assist with significant issues, if required.
Participates in case conferences and other operational and individual-specific meetings with director, clinical team and applicable stakeholders, providing and receiving updates and ensures communication to therapeutic youth support staff.
Complies with and ensures that staff complies with all Federal, State, Local and other relevant regulatory agency requirements, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and ensures cooperation with appropriate entities in any inspection, inquiry or investigation.
Performs all other duties, as assigned, including providing coverage for Therapeutic Youth Support Specialists and/or Shift Leads, as needed.
Minimum Qualification Requirements including education, experience, licensure/certification, etc. and essential physical capabilities (e.g. lifting, assisting lifting, standing, etc.)
Bachelor’s degree in a human services field and one (1) year of experience overseeing or directly supervising day-to-day activities for a social services program serving individuals with mental or behavioral health needs and/or individuals in crisis; or
High School Diploma or its educational equivalent and five (5) years of experience as described above; or
Satisfactory equivalent combination of education, experience and/or training.
Valid driver’s license.
Familiarity with behavioral/mental health diagnoses.
Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to represent YAI with external partners and providers and to build positive relationships with staff at all levels, youth supported and with external stakeholders.
Commitment to maintaining and ensuring staff maintain the highest levels of ethical standards and integrity and a desire to work with children.
Solid supervisory and leadership skills and ability to effectively manage, coach and support teams through hands-on support.
Ability to work in a stressful environment and to support team, youth we support and/or families with behavioral/mental health crises as they occur.
Must be well-organized and flexible with superior attention to detail and able to manage multiple priorities while quickly addressing changing needs to plan and effectively meet programmatic needs.
Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills, especially during unanticipated challenges and in ambiguous situations relating to safety and security issues.
Ability to respond to calls and programmatic needs beyond regular work hours/be on-call as needed, including as Administrator on Call on a regularly scheduled/recurring basis with other program leadership.
Proficiency with computers and Microsoft Office Suite and ability to quickly learn electronic systems including Workday and electronic medical record/documentation systems to complete tasks.
Ability to report regularly to assigned Children’s Crisis Residence program(s) and to travel to Manhattan Headquarters or other or YAI locations, if requested.
Ability to meet essential physical demands of position including frequent walking, sitting, standing, bending, twisting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing, pulling and reaching with hands and arms; use hands to handle, finger or feel objects, tools or controls; assisting with lifting/moving individuals of any weight with assistance of mechanical lifts or other equipment and/or pushing individuals in wheelchairs; lifting and/or moving up to 25 pounds on occasion; having the physical capacity to work with and implement emergency interventions as per the person’s Individual Service Plan if/as needed, including lifting/moving individuals of any weight with or without assistance of equipment and/or other staff, which may include running.
Preferred Qualification Requirements (desired requirements beyond MQRs above)
Familiarity with Federal, State, Local and/or NYS OMH regulations relating to services for children.
Experience working with children in crisis or with mental/behavioral health needs and/or in a residential services setting.
Previous experience as a manager in human services, including three (3) to five (5) years supervising and creating staff schedules to maintain coverage.
Compensation:
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or status as a Vietnam or disabled veteran. YAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
To ensure fairness, safeguard transparency, and promote an equitable workforce environment, YAI Network prohibits the practice of nepotism in the workforce and hiring process.