Position Summary:

Assists the Program Director with the overall programming and functioning of assigned residential unit(s) and provides direct supervision of the Residential Treatment Specialists in those unit(s). 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Monitoring Service Delivery

• Monitors completion and appropriate content of written documentation on a regular basis to ensure appropriateness, accuracy and timeliness.
• Assists in the planning and implementation of therapeutic activities for each resident.
• Ensures the implementation of the program schedule to ensure timely interventions for each resident.
• Makes recommendations related to the overall treatment and discharge planning for each program resident.
• Provides follow-up with RTS’s and other staff to ensure resolution of all critical incidents, unusual incidents, crisis situations and hotline reports for residents.
• Provides regular individual supervision to RTS’s to ensure resident’s needs are being met in accordance with program standards.

Identifying and Addressing Client Needs

• Guides RTS’s to base interventions on clinically appropriate, best practice, and ethical considerations.
• Role models acceptable behaviorial interventions and techniques with residents for the benefit of both the residents and staff development.
• Supervises program Residential Treatment Specialist in order to achieve maximum utilization of personnel.
• Ensures ongoing development and implementation of clinical and therapeutic programming for the residents.
• Cooperatively works with other Residential dorms and departments to create and maintain the therapeutic milieu
• Guides RTS staff during crises to minimize trauma for the client and to support the staff members
• Understands the Mental Health diagnoses of clients and assists RTS’s with interventions that consider those needs
• Considers any cultural factors that may be impacting the client or the appropriateness of services, and proficiently addresses them to provide needed services.

Developing and Leading Employees

·       Orients and trains new employees according to program and department guidelines to ensure all new employees are ready and able to perform as necessary.

• Sets and evaluates clear and collaborative individual performance goals for employees.
• Encourages employee development by supporting training, assigning challenging work, and delegating tasks when appropriate.
• Coaches and mentors employees around employee interests and career goals.
• Provides critical feedback to employees around areas of development for increased performance.
• Recognizes and rewards employee performance, initiative and decision-making (rapid rewards, employee of the month, etc.)
• Completes meaningful Annual Performance Reviews for all employees and submits on time

Program Administration and Planning

• Plans for intake levels, staffing changes and ratio requirements to hire accordingly to meet program needs
• Explains ucan and DCFS procedures to employees in order to assist them in the utilizing all available resources for clients.
• Uses clinical and population specific knowledge to provide appropriate services and programming for clients
• Accurately completes all reports and documentation required by DCFS and other contracting and regulatory bodies
• Ensures all Medicaid documentation is completed and submitted as required
• Ensures that Crisis Management protocols for the department are followed
• Manages team expenses by following Finance Dept. procedures in approving petty cash, payments, check requests, mileage and expense reimbursements and other unit expenses
• Manages employee job performance by following HR procedures and documentation requirements for: hiring; job scheduling and assignment; disciplinary actions; recommendations for salaries, raises, promotions, demotions and terminations.

Quality and Accountability

• Follows all applicable regulatory standards, including but not limited to: COA standards, IDCFS licensing regulations, IDCFS policy and procedure, CPS regulations, and Medicaid procedures.
• Gives input on program evaluation and methods for CQI measures regarding file quality, client outcomes, staff development, supervision, client services and other issues related to program quality.
• Leads team in accountability, quality and compliance through example and modeling behavior.
• Complies with ucan Continuous Quality Improvement initiatives and corrective plans.
• Recommends policy, practice and procedural changes to better serve clients and to comply with regulations.

Team Building and Agency Networking

• Builds strong interpersonal relationships with team and among the team members
• Defines each employee’s role and responsibilities within the team
• Delegates in an effective manner while considering individual skills and workloads
• Accepts feedback and ideas from team and is constructive when giving feedback
• Discusses alternative problem solving and is open to new ideas and ways of doing things
• Shares specialized knowledge and resources with team and other UCAN departments
• Coordinates services with multiple UCAN programs to ensure appropriate services for clients and teamwork between programs
• Plans for client transitions to other UCAN programs to provide seamless transition for clients and a cooperative team process.

Professionalism and Work Conduct

• Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of UCAN
• Acts in a professional manner at all times and maintains appropriate boundaries with clients
• Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitments to others
• Reports to work, meetings, training, and job related activities prepared and as scheduled
• Demonstrates openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and coworkers
• Understands and supports UCAN’s standard of cultural proficiency and strives to meet it
• Responds to clients and their families, UCAN staff, DCFS, service providers and other stakeholders in a timely manner and ensures follow up to adequately address their need.
• Performs other related tasks as required or assigned

Education/Job Experience/Certification:

• BSW or BA/BS in Human Service Field required.
• At least 3 years experience in behavioral health required.
• One year supervisory experience in behavioral health preferred.
• Experience working in residential facilities or psychiatric facilities.
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention certified or obtains within 30 days of employment.
• First Aid/CPR certified or obtains within 30 days of employment.

Special Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Ability to become a trainer in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and First Aid/CPR
• Excellent interpersonal and problem solving skills.
• Is open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and is willing and competent to work with a diverse client population.
• Experience or ability to use computers for data entry, communication and report writing
• Valid Illinois driver’s license required

Work Environment/Hazards:

Crisis prevention and behavior management techniques may include restraining, lifting, and transporting clients.  Hazards include risk of exposure to communicable diseases and risk of injury associated with emotionally disturbed residents with the potential to lose control.