Director of Children's Residential Programs (38282) (Brooklyn)

Director of Children's Residential Programs

Birch Family Services is a leading provider of education, employment, and community support services for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities and their families in New York City. Every year, the organization supports more than 2,000 people across 31 locations in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. From preschool to graduation, employment, housing, and beyond, Birch Family Services provides fully integrated programs and services to support individuals in achieving their goals across their lifetime.

Help young lives thrive as the Director of Birch Family Services' Children's Residential Programs! We are seeking a Director of Children's Residential Programs to oversee two specialized residences in Bushwick, Brooklyn supporting 12 adolescents with autism and developmental disabilities. You'll lead an interdisciplinary team of clinicians, managers, and direct support professionals to create a therapeutic environment where young people build independence, develop their skills, and connect with their communities.

You'll guide treatment planning, coordinate care across residential and school settings, and champion a person-centered, strengths-based approach. This is more than a management role. It's an opportunity to shape futures, support families through life transitions, and be the kind of leader that changes lives every single day.

If you're ready to lead with heart and clinical expertise, we'd love to hear from you.

Position Summary:

The Director of Children's Residential Programs (CRPs) is responsible for the clinical, supervisory, and overall management of Birch Family Services' two residential programs designed to support 12 adolescents with autism and other developmental disabilities in two adjacent 6-bed residences. The Director is responsible for providing direct oversight, guidance, supervision and support to the clinicians, frontline managers, and direct support staff of the CRPs. Additionally, the Director is responsible for facilitating communication and ensuring the coordination and integration of services and supports including but not limited to parent and family engagement; treatment plan implementation at the residence and school; healthcare service providers with follow-up interventions; and other service providers for the children supported in both residences. The Director serves as the Team Leader focused on a holistic person-centered approach that is strengths based and supported by sound clinical and therapeutic interventions that facilitate each person's growth and enhance their independence. The Director plays an integral role in creating a therapeutic home environment that builds skills in self-care, communication, adaptive behavior, health, behavioral support, recreational, and community inclusion while coordinating with Birch's educational services. The Director works with individuals and their families through various life stages and develops future transition planning initiatives.

Essential Functions:

• Assesses, designs, manages, coordinates, and implements quality service activities necessary to meet the needs of adolescents with autism and others supported within their residential, educational and community environments.
• Plan for the provision of staffing that are necessary to ensure the safety, well-being, required level of supervision, oversight, protection, and clinical needs of residents 24 hours a day.
• Collaborate with education staff to ensure each person's needs are met and appropriately coordinated at school and vocational settings.
• Direct supervision of Managers, Nurse, Behavior Intervention Specialist, QIPD, and ensures regular supervision for all staff in the residences.
• Implement active treatment and programming documentation along with billing following state requirements and agency protocols.
• Advocate for the individuals as appropriate; and encourage and facilitate self-advocacy and person-centered treatment planning.
• Serve as a positive role model, leading by example and demonstrating clinically appropriate interactions with adolescents supported in the residence.
• Manage all services in compliance with OPWDD and agency regulatory standards.
• Report incidents and occurrences in a timely fashion and ensure appropriate protective, preventive measures are implemented.
• Communicate important, significant information to stakeholders (i.e., parents/families; healthcare and other service providers; internal residential and educational/vocational staff etc.). Information may include but is not limited to achievements, medication changes, hospitalization/ER visits, behavior changes, incidents, and family matters.
• Facilitate communication with stakeholders to ensure information regarding the health, progress and overall well-being of each person supported. This includes but is not limited to immediate notification of injuries, illness or other significant events that may impact the person's quality of life.
• Lead the activities of the Interdisciplinary Treatment Team (IDT) to ensure that each person has a service plan that is designed based on a comprehensive assessment and addresses what is important to and for the individual and enables him/her to enjoy a quality life and achieve his/her full potential.
• Conduct regularly scheduled team meetings to share information and ensure consistent, effective, and efficient communication.
• Conduct program observations to assess quality of activities and staff performance so additional training, resources, and support may be provided.
• Complete performance evaluations on staff initially and at least annually thereafter.
• Review all systems on a routine schedule to ensure proper implementation and adherence to the regulatory and agency policies.
• Collaborate with the clinical team and ensure that all health needs are met through appointments, referrals, follow-up appointments, and care plans/protocols.
• Ensure that appropriate referrals for any recommended services not provided by the clinical team are secured in a timely manner.
• Work with the team to develop opportunities for recreation, socialization, education and skill building with an emphasis on becoming fully participating members of the community.
• Facilitates and assists individuals and their families through life stages and service transitions in coordination with our education program.
• Collaborates with Human Resources on recruitment functions and assists with site visits and interviews. After the onboarding processes, trains, supervises, mentors and evaluates all staff employed in the residence and those who support service integration with the school. This includes direct support professionals, managers, supervisors, clinical, and support staff.
• Mentors and trains employees to ensure that each staff member can perform his or her job functions.
• Works with the Facilities team and ensures the facility is a safe and supportive home that is clean, safe and well maintained.
• Provides financial oversight by maintaining accounts for each person's personal allowance, bank accounts, deposits, withdrawals and receipts.
• Ensures the adequate supply of food, household supplies, medication and medical supplies, and any other items necessary for the appropriate care of individuals in the residence.
• Adheres to all rules outlined in the policy and procedure manual.
• Attend and participate in meetings outside the program that includes departmental and organizational leadership such as Coordinator, Manager, and other cross departmental meetings.

Completes other tasks and duties as may be delegated or assigned that are necessary and appropriately related to other job responsibilities.

Qualifications

Education:

• Master's degree in special education, social work, psychology or related human services field is preferred. Candidates should have clinical and managerial experience working with adolescents and young adults with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5-7 years' clinical and managerial experience working with adolescents and young adults on the autism spectrum.
• A minimum of 3 years' of managing residential programs certified by OPWDD and working with individuals with autism and other behavioral support. Experience working in residential treatment centers or education programs a plus.
• Experience in TEACCH and ABA methodologies and SCIP-R a plus.

Skills and Competencies:

• Compassionate and experienced mission-driven leader capable of building strong teams.
• Sound clinical skills with expertise in autism, behavioral support, and dual diagnosis.
• Excellent management, communication and organizational skills.
• Capable of supporting families and individuals during transition through various life stages and service options.
• Able to develop strong working relationships with all stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively with all stakeholders both verbally and in writing.
• Effectively integrate and coordinate services between school/vocational settings and residences.
• Demonstrated competency in written, verbal and computational skills to present and document records in accordance with program standards.
• Proficiency with basic computer usage and Microsoft Office products.
• Demonstrates respect for all people.
• Demonstrates professional demeanor, reliability, flexibility, and aligned with policies.
• Demonstrate responsiveness and collaboration with people supported, their families, and service providers, other Birch staff as well as external oversight entities.
• Demonstrate]]>