Senior Residential Director

Position Title: Residential Program Director

Department: Residential Treatment

Reports to: Vice President of Residential Treatment

Direct Reports: Dorm Supervisor(s)

Position Objective and Summary:

Under the direction of the Vice President for Residential Treatment Services, the Program Director manages the overall programming and functioning of all residential units to ensure appropriate clinical programming for the residents as well as compliance with all internal and external regulatory guidelines. The Residential Program Director works as a member of the Residential Leadership team to ensure consistency and cooperation across all Residential departments and dorms. The Residential Program Director facilitates healing through Trauma Informed services and Positive Youth Development while utilizing UCAN’s Clinical Philosophy and Positive Youth Development.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Monitoring Service Delivery

• Oversees Dorm Supervisors’ management and planning of all programming and scheduling.
• Works with treatment team to assist in the overall treatment and discharge planning for all program residents relative to the milieu treatment.
• Works in conjunction with the Clinical Director to guide the development of planning and implementation of clinical and therapeutic programming for the residents.
• Makes recommendations related to the overall treatment and discharge planning for each program resident.
• Provides follow-up with residential dorm staff and supervisors to ensure resolution of all critical incidents, unusual incidents, crisis situations and hotline reports for residents.
• Provides regular individual supervision to Dorm Supervisors to ensure resident’s needs are being met in accordance with program standards.
• Monitors completion and appropriate content of case notes and other service documentation on a regular basis.
• Monitors that all data entry is complete, accurate and updated in Evolv and RTOS as required by program standards.
• Makes critical case decision around issues of: safety and risk; milieu management and client issues

Identifying and Addressing Program and Client Needs

· Provides consultation and direction for client interventions and problem resolution.

• Guides all program employees to base interventions on clinically appropriate, best practice, and ethical considerations.
• Guides and directs employees during crises to minimize trauma for the client and to support the employee’s efforts.
• Uses the Mental Health diagnoses of clients to assist employees with appropriate interventions.
• Considers any cultural factors that may be impacting the client or the appropriateness of services, and proficiently addresses them to provide needed services.
• Manages the program staffing needs in order to achieve maximum utilization of personnel.
• Assists Dorm Supervisors with development of and ensures implementation of clinical and therapeutic programming for the residents.
• Leads employees to cooperatively work with other Residential dorms and departments to create and maintain the therapeutic milieu.

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.

• Makes work assignments and provides appropriate level of direction.
• Sets and evaluates clear and collaborative individual performance goals for employees.

· Provides regular individual supervision and performance feedback to employees.

• Coaches and mentors employee development around professional interests and career goals.

· Recognizes and rewards employee performance, initiative and decision-making.

• Completes meaningful Performance Reviews for all employees and submits as required.

Program Administration and Planning

• Plans for acuity levels, staffing changes and ratio requirements to hire accordingly to meet program needs
• Implements programming that will increase the efficiency of the program and improve the delivery of services to clients.
• Develops and maintains a program schedule that ensures timely interventions for residents.
• Maintains current knowledge and acts as a resource for employees on updated DCFS, ucan, TCI, COA and legal requirements for service delivery and documentation.
• Explains ucan, TCI, COA 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 develop and plan 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 departmental budget by following Finance Dept. procedures in approving petty cash, payments, check requests, mileage and expense reimbursements and other program 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.
• Ensures the physical safety of residents, staff and plan by ensuring compliance with all internal and external regulatory guidelines.

Quality and Accountability

• Uses UCAN AAA processes to ensure quality and accountability in the work done by team.
• Follows all applicable regulatory standards, including but not limited to: COA standards, IDCFS licensing regulations, IDCFS policy and procedure, CPS regulations, and Medicaid procedures.
• Strategizes with other management staff, 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 program in accountability, quality and compliance through example and modeling behavior.
• Ensures compliance with ucan Continuous Quality Improvement initiatives and corrective plans.
• Implements policy, practice and procedural changes to better serve clients and to comply with regulations.

Networking and Team Building

• Builds strong interpersonal relationships with team and among the team members
• Facilitates regular weekly and productive team meetings and encourages team member participation
• 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.
• Works as a member of the Residential Management team to create a consistent and cohesive program across dorms.

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 and staff.
• Reports to work, meetings, training, and job related activities prepared and as scheduled
• 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:

• MSW or MA/MS in a Human Service field
• LCSW or LCPC or eligible preferred
• Five (5) years experience in Residential treatment or similar setting
• Three (3) years of supervisory experience in Residential treatment or similar setting
• Experience working in residential facilities or psychiatric facilities.
• Certified in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and First Aid/CPR within 60 days of employment.

Special Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Has an understanding of trauma-informed practice
• Has an understanding of Positive Youth Development.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership and problem solving skills.
• Maintains relevant current knowledge of the field by participation in training sessions, seminars and conferences
• Is open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and is willing and competent to work with a diverse client population.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Working knowledge of the child welfare system.
• Ability to work both independently and a part of a high functioning team.
• Experience and ability to use computers for data entry, communication and report writing
• Car and valid Illinois driver’s license and insurance required.

Work Environment:

• Crisis prevention and behavior management interventions 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.