Residential Lead Treatment Specialist

SUMMARY 

The Lead Treatment Specialist is responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of those we serve by coaching, educating, guiding, and actively engaging them in processes and activities designed to build the skills necessary for effective self-regulation, communication, greater attention, social awareness and flexible thinking.

In addition, the Lead Treatment Specialist will provide support, guidance, and coaching to Residential Treatment Specialists. In the absence of the Residential Team Manager, the Residential Lead Treatment Specialist will provide limited staff supervision, make necessary decisions required to maintain the safety and well-being of clients and staff, and other duties as directed by the Residential Team Manager.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs all functions of a Treatment Specialist.
• Will provide back-up team leadership in the absence of a Residential Team Manager.
• When covering for a Residential Shift Manager, will be responsible for ensuring shift coverage at or above regulatory staff-to-client ratios.

• When covering for a Residential Shift Manager, will be responsible for completing/reviewing and transferring to Administrative Assistant daily required reports, including but not limited to: restraint reports, bed sheet count, attendance data sheet, and residential bed chart. 
• When covering for a Residential Team Manager, may assist with fulfilling client intake responsibilities, especially during evening and weekend hours, while ensuring that all paperwork is signed and completed accurately and timely.
• Ensures implementation of treatment planning and programming to create a therapeutically sounds, educational, safe and nurturing environment for children, families, and staff.  
• Will implement and monitor the application of trauma informed care and all approved trauma-informed evidence-based practices and techniques.
• Contributes to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for our clients, colleagues and community partners from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Integrates principles of Trauma Informed Care in all aspects of work.
• Is sensitive to the children’s culture and socioeconomic characteristics that delivers the best possible care to the youth and families served.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of services and/or critical incidents provided in accordance with agency and regulatory standards. 
• Responsible for ensuring that the residential unit (sleeping areas, eating areas, kitchen and activity areas) are kept clean and hygienic and in good working order and safe.
• Assist with a child’s physical care and hygiene, behavior management, and treatment planning and implementation.
• Utilize approved trauma-informed and evidence-based treatment techniques.   
• Assist with planning for school, summer programming and special events.
• Promote parental involvement. 
• Provide crisis intervention as necessary.
• Assist in the facilitation of Day Treatment programming.
• Serve as a positive role model to clients while promoting pro-social behavior.
• May assist with the administration of medication for youth as needed.
• May transport children upon request of supervisor.  
• Ensure a safe, structured environment free from physical, verbal or emotional abuse for each child.
• Provide coverage for programming as needed across the agency. 
• Ensure regulatory and agency compliance is met at all times.
• Will be compliant with the agency’s Code of Conduct and other human resource/agency policies.
• Other duties as assigned or requested.

Education and/or Experience: HS Diploma plus 3 years of child care or behavioral health experience required.  Bachelor’s degree preferred in social services, psychology, or related field preferred. Possess a basic understanding of child development. 

Licenses:  A valid driver’s license, valid automobile insurance and valid automobile registration is required.  Must be insurable by St. Vincent Family Center’s insurance carrier.

Communication Skills: Must be able to communicate client and program-related information effectively through verbal, written and computer.  Must also have the ability to communicate with diverse audiences both internal and external to the agency.

Mathematical Skills: Basic mathematical skills required.

Technical Skills: Proficiency with Microsoft Office products. Ability to read and comprehend complex regulatory documents.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to multi-task and solve complex human relations matters.

Ability to Self-Regulate: Must be able to self-regulate: to manage your emotions and behavior in accordance with the demands of the situation. It includes being able to resist highly emotional reactions to upsetting stimuli, to calm yourself down when you get upset, to adjust to a change in expectations and to handle frustration without an outburst.  

­Team: Must be able to work well on a team, including but not limited to: treating co-workers with respect, supporting and encouraging co-workers, moving quickly to resolve conflicts or issues that threaten to undermine the team, and maintaining a focus on the team’s goals and objectives.

Additional Abilities: Must be able to maintain client and staff confidentiality pursuant to HIPAA and agency policy. Must be trustworthy, demonstrate consistency and reliability engender the respect of staff, be self-aware, and demonstrate an interest in your personal and professional development.