Assistant Clinical Director

Job Description

Are you ready for a new rewarding career and a $1,000 hiring bonus? Then now is the time to join the staff at Aurora Plains Academy/Dakota Reach!!! We are currently seeking qualified, caring individuals to have a positive impact on the well-being of area youth.

Dakota Reach is a new ICF/IDD program located on the Aurora Plains Academy Campus, designed to provide intermediate care for youth with developmental/intellectual delays.

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Primary objective

Ensure a quality therapeutic program through a multidisciplinary treatment team approach.

Essential job functions

1. Responsible for provisional Director Duties in the event, the Executive, Clinical, and/or Finance Director are absent. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

a. Read, approve, and sign off on all reports including, but not limited to, ESPI reports medical reports, etc.

b. Act as point of contact on campus in the event a matter cannot be handled remotely.

c. Conduct Clinical Meeting in the event the Clinical Director is absent.

2. Provide quarterly updates to the Clinical Director and Clinical and Family Therapists regarding new research, trends and therapeutic modalities which may be utilized at APA to improve or enhance therapeutic treatment.

3. Responsible for orientation of new Clinical and Family Therapists, including:

a. Provide instruction and support to learn the Kaleidacare system.

b. Provide guidance regarding clinical documentation.

c. Ensure understanding of the overall responsibilities of the Clinical and Family Therapist position.

d. Review basic campus expectations and ways to help enforce these expectations.

4. Assume a clinical role with Unit Managers, Youth Development Specialists, Therapeutic Support Staff, Shift Supervisors and Case Managers.

5. Continue to display mastery in the essential functions of the Clinical and Family Therapist position, including:

a. Ability to make and document sound clinical judgment regarding the care and treatment of all youth

b. Develop and conduct specialized group therapy sessions for a cross-section of youth in addressing current and specific treatment needs.

c. Provide weekly individual therapy for each resident assigned.

d. Provide group therapy for the youth of the assigned unit(s) up to five times weekly.

e. Assess and provide family therapy as prescribed in the Individual Treatment Plan.

f. Correspond, schedule, and determine the appropriateness of home visits with placing agency, family, and staff.

g. Appropriately identify the need for and request assistance in problem-solving/supervision regarding clinical issues with youth.

h. Through the multidisciplinary team approach, develop and implement Individual Treatment Plans for each assigned resident in a timely manner and in conjunction with the referring agency, parent/guardian, and the child.

i. Coordinate the treatment process of each assigned resident through effective communication with all service areas. (Education, Medical, Psychiatric, psychological, nursing, unit/recreation, and crisis intervention)

j. Active involvement in the development and implementation of each resident’s Individualized Education Plan.

k. Chair multidisciplinary team (MDT). Responsible for the case service plan, discharge plan and treatment plan conforming to Intensive Residential Treatment rules.

l. Act as a liaison and maintain professional relationships with placing agencies and families of youth. Identify with each agency and family the frequency and mode of communication desired. Academy expectation is that the frequency is to be no less than a twice-monthly basis, and often weekly.

m. Provide quality services to placing agencies by maintaining effective verbal and written communication with the identified frequency and, additionally, in the event of special occasions.

n. Conduct clinical staffing and treatment plan reviews on at least a quarterly basis for each resident assigned.

o. In cooperation with the Director of Clinical Services assist in supervising the Clinical Department which may include supervision towards licensure.

p. In cooperation with the Case Manager, select, supervise, evaluate, and train residential treatment workers regarding the clinical operation of assigned units.

q. Minimum of one hour per week of face-to-face clinical supervision. This supervision includes a review of documentation (staffing reports, individual treatment plans, discharge summaries, and progress notes), review and discussion of active cases, direct observation of treatment, and adherence to job description expectations. The primary focus of clinical supervision is to ensure that each resident has an individualized treatment plan and is receiving quality care.

r. Other primary responsibilities as assigned.

Additional responsibilities

• Serve on committees as assigned.
• Attend Clinical staff meeting, unit meetings, and other meetings, as assigned.
• Complete paperwork assignments on time.
• Chart therapy contact (group, individual, and family therapy, and occasional case management contact) daily.
• Perform duties of courtesy coverage for other therapists as assigned.
• Provide supervision of youth during, before, and after individual therapy, and in other settings to contribute to the therapeutic milieu.
• Maintains professional growth by participating in the Staff Development Program.
• Insures continued training appropriate to the needs of the population served.
• Integrate policies and program within the overall Aurora Plains Academy philosophy of treatment.

10. Have working knowledge of and implement all expectations pertinent to resident care from entities such as South Dakota licensure Ch 67.

11. Be a team member and develop positive and professional relationships with all staff.

12. At all times represent Aurora Plains Academy in a positive and professional manner.

13. Complies with all policies, rules, and regulations established by Aurora Plains Academy as a condition of employment.

14. Exhibit knowledge of abuse risk management and peer to peer abuse prevention policies.

15. Demonstrates and practices use of abuse risk management strategies and peer to peer abuse prevention to help maintain a safe environment.

• Assist with nursing coverage and authorizing verbal orders for physical restraints.
• Other additional responsibilities as assigned.

Experience: Preference given to those with experience working in a youth behavioral residential treatment setting, particularly at APA and those that have experience with being an approved clinical supervisor. .

Supervisory responsibilities: May be directly responsible for supervision of Unit Manager and indirectly responsible for supervision of other unit workers, including, but not limited to Unit Lead Worker(s) and all Youth Development Specialists.

Knowledge and skill requirements

1. Must have a Master’s Degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or other behavioral science or a Bachelor’s Degree in an accredited social or behavioral science and at least three (3) years working with difficult adolescents.

2. Must hold current licensure or certification if such is available in the staff member’s applicable field of practice. LPC or LPCMH with 2 years of clinical experience preferred.

3. May not have on record a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect.

Job Type: Full-time