About Us

Good Shepherd Services is a leading multi-service agency with more than 85 programs that serve over 30,000 youth and families each year – and builds on their strengths to help them gain skills for success. At Good Shepherd we respect the dignity and worth of every person and reject intolerance, inequity and injustice in whatever form it may take. Voted one of the top 100 places to work in NYC by Crain’s New York, Good Shepherd Services offers a fantastic work environment, a collaborative team dedicated to fulfilling our mission, and an amazing array of benefits. Join our team and help make a difference! 

NOTE: As a NYC contracted agency all positions at Good Shepherd Services fall under the NYC vaccine mandate. All employees, volunteers and interns must show proof of vaccination upon hire.

Benefits

For Full Time Employees Benefits/Perks:

• Tuition Assistance Program
• Generous paid time off (Including 5 Self-Care Days/Floating Holidays, 12 Sick Days, 15 Vacation Days, and 11 Holidays)
• Healthcare Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, and Pet Care)
• 403(b) Plan (GSS contributes 3% of your salary to your 403(b) plan after 3 years of service, with contributions increasing over time) 

Candidates hired in this position will work in person but will have the flexibility to work remotely when program need allows.

Overview

Good Shepherd Services is seeking a results-driven, energetic, and compassionate team player who will exercise bold leadership overseeing our Residential program for adolescent girls. In the context of youth-centered, family-focused practice to promote permanency, safety, and well-being, and reduce length of stay in Foster Care, the Program Director will maintain effective delivery of services consistent with agency philosophy and policy, COA as well as with the city and state mandates.

The Program Director will continuously monitor and assess program strengths and opportunities and have a strong working collaboration across all departments within the program, support departments, and external entities such as ACS and OCFS. He/She will develop and apply strategies and bring innovation to assure program performance measures are met, elevating best practices in the program and utilize clinically sound, trauma-informed, evidence-supported/based therapeutic modalities. The Program Director will work closely with the Day Program Director and Social Services team to ensure services and documentation are being fulfilled and consistent with Good Shepherd Services’ philosophy and within city and state mandates. He/She is responsible for the overall good functioning of the Residential Life program. He/She will lead his/her team to be responsive to the needs of the youth, family and program in collaboration with the Residential Life leadership.

REPORTS TO: Division Director, Child Welfare Residential programs

LOCATION: 337 East 17th Street, New York, New York 10003

HOURS:  35 Hours/Week (evening hours); Exempt

Our superstar Candidate:

• Passionate about providing high quality services to youth in child welfare
• A lifetime learner, continuously developing your clinical skills
• Dedicated to modeling strength-based, trauma-informed practice with staff and youth
• Committed to providing high quality supervision with a coaching and growth mindset
• Focused on developing all levels of staff
• Strong focus on performance management in order to ensure program regularly exceeds expectations
• Possess cultural humility and a commitment to the Good Shepherd Services mission, vision and values

Program Director Major Duties:

• Oversee and monitor the creation and implementation of a therapeutic program milieu by integrating Child Welfare initiatives, trauma-informed practices, and evidence-informed models to ensure on-going development, fidelity and adherence of these best practices (including Families First, Medicaid Managed Care, Sanctuary, Integrated Treatment Model, Youth and Family Development, Preparing Youth for Adulthood, and other trauma informed models)
• In conjunction with the Day Program Director, hire, train and directly supervise the Residential Life team to ensure a safe, functional treatment milieu; responsible for the development and retention of staff
• Assist with stabilization, respite and crisis management and facilitate on-call services throughout the evenings and weekends, when necessary
• Participation in (or facilitation of) inter-disciplinary team, program planning meetings and other relevant meetings to assure robust integration of residential delivery in the therapeutic milieu
• Collaborate closely with Senior Director of Clinical and Social Services to ensure maintenance of census, intake process and overall social services delivery
• Meet regularly with Health Services, Social Services, DOE staff, Sanctuary, ITM and other related departments to ensure overall integration and effectiveness
• Ensure all City and State mandates and regulations are communicated to and followed up by all team members.
• Respond to significant incidents and collaborate with the GSS Compliance Department, Human Resources, ACS Office of Shared Response and OCFS Justice Center on necessary measures to assure adequate response and oversight.
• Ensure that mandated paperwork and recordkeeping remains in compliance with ACS, OCFS, Human Resources, Compliance Risk Management and GSS Program Evaluation and Planning Dept.
• Collaborate closely with Division Director and Residential Leadership team to ensure close communication and collaboration between all disciplines within the team. Responsible for effective and efficient use of resources, including regular monitoring of the budget in collaboration with the Division Director.
• Communicates and collaborates effectively with GSS peer and support departments (e.g., Development, Finance, Government Contracts, Human Resources, IT, Program Evaluation and Planning and Training)
• Participate with Program Evaluation and Planning Department (PEP) in fulfillment of the program evaluations processes, including documentation/collection, development and monitoring of program data in Connections and outcomes.
• Lead the implementation of the Sanctuary Model of trauma-informed practice and other models within the Residential programs.
• Encourage and advance the use of the Sanctuary Model tools: safety plans, community meetings, psycho educational groups, team meetings, red flag reviews, treatment planning conferences (or similar), and self-care in the program to create a non-violent and trauma sensitive culture
• Promote and model the seven Sanctuary Model commitments to create a non-violent and trauma sensitive culture.
• Integrate the Sanctuary Model SELF (Safety, Emotional Management, Loss and Future) framework into the daily practice to ensure quality care and an effective work environment
• Utilize Sanctuary Model principals in the supervisory practice.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Program Director Qualifications:

• Master's in Social Work ; Psychology; and/or relevant field preferred
• New York State LMSW or LMSW preferred (but not required)
• Experience working with adolescents and their families in residential setting required.
• Child Welfare experience preferred
• Minimum of 5 years supervisory experience with exceptional managerial skills.
• Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI) preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and writing skills required.
• Exceptional organizational skills with a key attention to detail required.
• Must be a team player with strong people skills that promote a collaborative work environment.
• Knowledge of New York State Department of Social Services and NYC ACS/OCFS regulations helpful
• Knowledge of HR compliance and risk management
• Experience with CNNX (Connections) and other industry supported tracking systems helpful.
• Computer proficiency, particularly with MS Office.
• Proficiency in managing multiple priorities and achieving project deadlines, while maintaining flexibility and adjusting priorities as needed.
• Must have a commitment to work from a trauma-informed, strength-based and youth and family development perspective.
• Ability to complete and maintain certification in the program’s chosen behavior management/de-escalation method.
• Flexibility to (two/three) evenings a week until 8pm. 

Additional Information

Good Shepherd Services is an equal opportunity employer that is proudly committed to becoming an anti-racist and multicultural organization that stands up for justice and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse backgrounds, for administrative support and direct service and leadership roles, who will join us on that journey, uphold our values and approach, and believe in our mission. Additionally, we aim to have a racially representative leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Good Shepherd Services is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.