Direct Care Supervisor

About Walker

Since 1961, Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs has been a trusted partner for children, youth, and families, navigating some of life’s most difficult challenges. Based in Needham, our mission is to nurture hope, build strengths, and develop lifelong skills in partnership with the children, youth, families, and communities we serve. We provide comprehensive, trauma-informed residential, educational, and clinical services to children and youth with complex social-emotional, behavioral, and learning needs, while supporting their families every step of the way. Through three specialized divisions—Residential & Educational Programs, Behavioral Health & Community-Based Services, and Walker Solutions—we deliver relationship-based care and capacity-building that makes a lasting difference. Today, we serve children, youth, and families from more than 150 communities across Massachusetts.

Make a Difference Every Day—and Gain Skills You Can Use for Life

As a Direct Care Supervisor at Walker, you'll work directly with children and youth who are navigating social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. You'll be part of a supportive, multidisciplinary team that helps youth feel safe, connected, and ready to grow. As your career continues to grow in the human services field, this is a chance to build valuable experience while making a real impact. 

Under the guidance of the Director of Res Ed Milieu Services, the Supervisor will be responsible for supervising and providing a therapeutic milieu within their assigned unit in the Res Ed program, including managing the daily schedule for clients and ensuring therapeutic recreational programming occurs, as well as directly managing the performance of assigned staff, including individual/group supervision and staff evaluations. The Supervisor is expected to provide crisis management within the program and across the Needham Campus.

Essential Functions

• Perform in a way that is aligned with the agency mission and core values. This includes but is not limited to services that are trauma informed, relationship based, family involved, developmentally focused, competence centered, and ecologically oriented.  
• Work as part of a multi disciplinary team to further the emotional, behavioral and educational development of children in the Res Ed program. 
• In collaboration with Res Ed leadership, assess the structure and schedule and develop plans for supporting and training staff in planning and carrying out different parts of the schedule (meals, activities, homework, etc.). 
• Understand and adhere to licensing standards within the unit. 
• In collaboration with Res Ed Directors and clinicians, increase the staff’s understanding of and ability to develop, implement, and evaluate individual behavioral support plans for kids. 
• Work with unit leadership to increase the use of TCI philosophy and language including early intervention and de-escalation techniques in the day-to-day running of the program. 
• In collaboration with direct leadership, identify the strengths and areas of growth for individual staff members and teams of staff. The areas to be evaluated should include individual work with children, group management techniques, understanding of child development, work with families, completion of tasks, and teamwork. 
• Attend Multi Disciplinary Team meetings, and treatment meetings as needed, to discuss youth’s progress.  
• Manage the activities schedule for the assigned unit when on shift. 
• Work with the campus supervisory team to identify issues in need of discussion for supervisor meetings. 
• Assist with communication across shifts (i.e. school and overnight supervisors, Res-Ed leadership etc.) 
• Coordinate with other supervisors to meet any needs that arise and support the entire campus with leadership and crisis support as needed, including being in the rotation for Supervisors Running Campus and administering medication to youth as needed. 
• Participate in staff interviewing and hiring process as assigned. 
• Assist with conducting training for staff as assigned. 
• Supervise direct care staff as assigned. 
• Additional duties as assigned 

Skills and Abilities

• Must be able to successfully pass and apply Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) training
• Must be able to successfully pass and apply First Aid/CPR training
• Must successfully pass medication training
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to remain calm and make safe decisions in high-pressure situations
• Capacity to work effectively in a stressful and fast-paced environment
• Ability to learn, retain, and apply principles taught in training and supervision
• Physical stamina to participate in activities with children
• Ability to stand, walk, and run for extended periods, perform frequent bending, stooping, stretching, lifting, sitting, stairs, typing, and looking at a computer screen
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and computer experience is required
• Ability to meet deadlines and follow through with multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to work flexibly and collaboratively as part of a team, including during times of high stress
• Ability to transport clients in company vehicles

Schedule:

• Bi-weekly rotating schedule with every other weekend on – additional flexibility may be required based on operational and business needs

Qualifications

Education and Certifications

Required:

• High School diploma or GED required

Preferred: 

• Associate Degree or higher in related field
• MAP Certification

Experience

Required:

• Experience working in a residential setting required, preferred supervisory experience in a residential setting

Preferred

• Previous experience working in a similar setting preferred

Other Requirements: 

• Successfully complete all background check suitability requirements
• Must have reliable transportation 
• Valid MA driver’s license preferred

Reports to: Director of Residential and Educational Milieu Services

Supervises: Team of direct care counselors as assigned

Equal Opportunity Statement

Walker is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon an individual's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, national guard or reserve unit obligations, participation in discrimination complaint-related activities, or membership in any category protected by federal or state law.

Salary : $24 - $30