Director of Behavioral Health

Position Summary:

Directs the day-to-day operations of the Behavioral Health Program by providing the best supports to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are experiencing high behavioral and mental health needs. and implements programmatic and administrative policies and procedures to attain program goals and objectives.

The goal of the program is to help people to reach their goals and dreams by providing education, role modeling and encouragement. This includes supporting people to have a meaningful day and a rich life while coping with their mental and behavioral health. You will work closely with the person, the family, external case management, behavior support specialist contracted psychologist, psychiatrist, and behavioral analyst. Additionally, this position works with and supports the person's team by modeling, coaching and teaching skills that will improve their ability to be effective in supporting the person to achieve success.

Supervises the staff, evaluates employee performance, and makes recommendations for further growth or improvement. Oversees quality assurance in the program’s service delivery including clinical care and documentation. Makes programmatic and administrative recommendations to provide best services and supports to adults with disabilities with high behavioral and mental health needs to the vice president in accordance with the agency/program goals and objectives.

Education and Experience:

• Graduate degree required, preferably in psychology, behavioral health, occupational therapy, social work, nursing, mental health, human services, social services or related field from an accredited college or university.
• Experience in and knowledge of behavior consultation, crisis intervention, the effects of medications on behavior and teaching skills are also preferred.
• Additional experience preferred in working with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, and/or other disabilities with significant mental health needs.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to pass drug test.
• Ability to pass criminal background test.
• Proven capability to effectively manage a wide range of responsibilities.
• Proficiency in budget management and financial oversight
• Valid driver’s license with insurability and a clean driving record required.
• Candidates must have the ability to pass a qualifying criminal background check and drug test.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Prolonged periods of standing, reaching, and bending.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds at times.
• Physical agility in being able to move quickly in response to a crisis situation.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Provide direct supervision of leadership staff in the homes to include orientation, monitoring, feedback, training/retraining, performance evaluation, problem solving, and disciplinary action along with developing strengths of leaders.
• Support and coach program coordinator and behavioral health technicians to support the homes to include development of work schedules, supervision of the home, and development of the team providing feedback and discipline, as needed.
• Provide a culture where all staff feel safe, listened to, supported and are given the tools to be successful.
• Coach and support the program coordinator to provide supervision for all administrative details of leading the teams in the homes to include details of transportation, security, operating budgets, systems management, inspections and reviews, and compliance with all regulations.
• Provide direction, support and coaching to your team to develop a culture of collaboration among and across departments, focus on empowerment and decision making at the lowest level, open transparent communication that focuses on team building and collaborative work.
• Work collaboratively with the nursing department to develop systems in the home to ensure quality medical supports. This includes problem solving with the nurses, teaching and supporting nurses about residential systems along with being open minded and supportive about implementation of nursing practices in the home.
• Rule out environmental/physical/medical issues that may be contributing to behavior
• Oversee the homes profit and loss statements and work with the individual teams to most effectively and efficiently manage the budget.
• Complete detailed job inspections (DJIs) on leadership team members in their job functions and support them to complete on their team members.

Crisis Response:

• Assess and intervene in emergency incidents and events, days, evenings, and weekends, as needed, to ensure an effective outcome during crises.
• Determine appropriate response or intervention strategy by following individualized behavior support strategies or facility procedures.
• Effectively diffuse explosive and/or potentially explosive behavioral situations.
• Ensure for individual safety of all parties.
• Participate in debriefing after interventions.
• Continually upgrade knowledge and skill in best practices for positive behavior support.