Becoming part of the Sweetser family means you can make a difference in the lives of Maine children, adults, and families every day. As a nationally recognized and accredited leader, we offer competitive salaries, a wide range of benefits and the opportunity to join a passionate team of more than 700 employees.
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Rare opportunity to join a passionate not-for-profit leadership team for one of Maine’s most comprehensive behavioral healthcare organizations. Bring your expertise, enthusiasm and dedication to supporting promising futures for kids, adults and families throughout Maine. We are looking for the right partner to support Sweetser’s mission and vision as the Director of Children's Residential Services. Our ideal candidate will have all required qualifications, along with strength of character, compassion and a sense of humor.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
• Demonstrates leadership by coordinating all residential program components.
• Integrates the work of the school by routinely coordinating residential and educational interactions.
• Provides a safe, structured therapeutic group living milieu by ensuring the physical safety and welfare for residents, including hygiene, clothing, food and medical care.
• Ensures positive job results for residential staff by monitoring and appraising job performance.
• Achieves organization financial objectives by providing input into the budget for the program. Upon approval, implements and monitors the budget(s) throughout the fiscal year. Develops and implements Level 3 corrective action plans for budgets as necessary.
• Works with families by demonstrating thorough understanding of the family-centered practice, communicating understanding of the systems, facilitating contact with the primary’s family system and being personally familiar with all involved families.
• Develops, implements, evaluates, and enforces policies, business rules, programs, standards, and management plans for the area(s) of responsibility and ensures that all are in compliance with accreditation, licensure, federal, state and local statutes and/or requirements. Is knowledgeable of and ensures proper application all human resource and organization policies.
• Actively monitors productivity expectations of the programs, implements as necessary interventions to address productivity deficiencies and keeps Chief Program Officer aware of productivity outcomes.
• Involved in hiring direct reports and monitoring and continuously evaluating their performance to ensure the effective recruitment, selection, orientation, and training of staff and volunteers. Ensures that the program/department organizational structure is continually consistent with organizational requirements.
• Assures that each direct report has a valid and accurate job description. Reviews these job descriptions on at least a bi-annual basis for relevancy and appropriateness.
• Oversees and evaluates staff performance by planning performance goals, coaching/counseling, and monitoring staff behaviors at all times. Regularly assesses the work and time required to accomplish assigned tasks and responsibilities of all direct reports and adheres to standards of best practice. Manages employee relation issues in her/her area(s) of responsibility. Guides the work of staff through his/her demonstrated knowledge, experience, and program expertise. If supervising a volunteer, provides him/her with regular, professional supervision.
• Provides professional leadership to all direct reports. Supports staff by transmitting technical knowledge and skills; teaching work management, communication, and conflict management skills; and determining when staff need to acquire additional skills for performance improvement. Demonstrates competence in addressing interpersonal barriers and strengths in direct reports; cultivating job performance; empowering those supervised; using criticism in a constructive manner; and complying with employment and labor laws.
• Communicates the importance of and implements risk management efforts throughout assigned area(s) of responsibility.
• Participates in community groups in an effort to increase personal awareness of community conditions and the persons served.
• Collaborates with other directors to ensure effective performance and integration organization-wide.
EDUCATION:
• Master's degree (MA) in clinical/social work preferred
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:
• Must pass the competency tests of a Youth & Family Counselor Level I, II, and III.
• Must obtain certification as an Behavioral Health Professional within three (3) months of assignment.• LCSW/ LCPC, conditional license preferred.
• Must maintain a valid state driver’s license.
EXPERIENCE:
• At least five (5) years of related direct service in the Youth and Family field.
• Demonstrated track record of success in supervising a team of professionals.
• Demonstrated knowledge/experience in an organization’s CQI process.
• Demonstrated experience with utilizing trend data in management planning efforts.
• Demonstrated experience utilizing technology on a day-to-day basis for communicating by e-mail, preparing reports, and conducting research.
