1. SCOPE OF ROLE:  

Lead the S:US Developmental Disabilities Division with efforts to direct and mentor the behavioral health clinical staff and therapists working in the programs to achieve positive behavior health with the focus on specific behaviors that disrupt, exclude, or otherwise negatively impact the person or group. The Vice President of Behavioral Services is a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and management of behavioral health programs and services within the organization. The Director of Behavioral Services is expected to deliver high quality, coordinated counseling clinical services while practicing within the requirements of the scope of each professional discipline and the NYS Education Department Office of the Professions standards. 

Philosophy:  

Treat all people with respect and dignity and to utilize person centered supports designed to mobilize self-determination and independence.  Thus, increasing a level of self-awareness and self-understanding to successfully problem solve and meet challenges by learning to utilize their own resources.   

1. ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Develop and implement strategic plans for behavioral health services.  The VP of Behavioral Services will be responsible for developing and implementing treatment and strategic plans for behavioral health services that align with the organization’s overall mission and vision. 

• Manage and oversee the behavioral health team including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and other mental health professionals. 

• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.  The VP of Behavioral Services will ensure compliance with regulatory requirements related to behavioral health services, including state and federal regulations. 

• Develop and manage budgets.  The VP of Behavioral Services will develop and manage budgets for behavioral health services, including staffing, equipment and supplies. 

• Develop and implement quality improvement initiatives to ensure that behavioral health services are delivered in a safe, effective and person-centered manner. 

• Develop and maintain relationships with community-based organizations to promote behavioral health services and to collaborate on initiatives to improve the health and well-being of the community 

• Arrange for clinical diminution upon request. 

• Provide guidance and support to staff and organizational leadership; including mentoring, training, and professional development opportunities. 

• Participate in Senior Leadership meetings and Executive Leadership meetings as needed to provide updates on the performance of behavioral health services and initiatives. 

• The VP Behavioral Services role is a critical position that requires strong leadership skills, a deep understanding of behavioral health services and the ability to develop and implement strategic plans for the department to improve delivery of these services. 

• Designs plans of action to address immediate dangers or threats involving the safety. 

• Coordinates services to ensure policies /procedures are implemented uniformly across residential programs as applicable. 

• Ensures ongoing compliance and service delivery from the Assistant Director of Behavioral Services, Behavior Intervention Specialists and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). 

• Ensures quality supervision of BCBAs, BCaBAs, RBTs, and those pursuing their certification to meet the guidelines set forth by the BACB and NYS Licensing Board. 

• Interprets changes/revisions of all relevant regulatory standards as they occur. 

• Revises/updates relevant divisional policies and procedures as needed. 

• Provides training to Behavior Intervention Specialists, Registered Behavior Technicians, Social Work interns and other levels of staff relating to new and/or revised relevant regulations, SED, and/or agency policy. 

• Coordinates scheduling and oversight of RBTs to ensure program and division needs are met. 

• Ensures effective clinical team collaboration, particularly when a house is in crisis and RBTs are present. 

• Chairs and/or participates in committees as assigned, including but not limited to the Human Rights Committee, Informed Consent Committee and Intake Committee. 

• Ensures compliance with consents for all restrictive interventions for the DD Division. 

• Ensures reviews of psychiatric referrals and ensures appropriate follow up.  

• Conducts quarterly internal audits for sample of residences. 

• Liaises with hospitals and CSIDD regarding behavioral and psychiatric emergencies. 

• Provides training and oversight in implementation of Mand, leisure skills, and additional principles of ABA Training. 

• Serves as the point person to address any complex psychiatric needs across divisions. 

• Ensures appropriate staffing to facilitate coverage for BIS/BCBA on leave. 

• Coordinates meetings to support high needs residences and complex persons to ensure a whole team approach is used to identify the best strategies on moving forward with care. 

• Coordinates with leadership in other disciplines and programs to streamline strategies and approaches on supporting the people living with S:US. 

• Coordinates and oversees IPSIDD billable services and training in assessment techniques and behavior counseling services. 

• Oversees the BIS responses to IRC requests and follow-ups. 

• Acts as the back-up on-call person for any behavioral and psychiatric emergencies for the DD Division. 

• Completes weekly high needs report for the division with the Nursing Department. 

• Works with intake committee and senior leadership on preparing High Needs Funding applications. 

• Participates in monthly enhanced supervision meetings to provide updates on behavioral status and opportunities for decreasing supervision. 

• Oversees implementation of restrictive interventions, including but not limited to PRN medications, GPS devices, and enhanced supervision levels. 

• Provide technical assistance as needed to all OM1 programs  

1. Key Performance Standards: 

Communication: Ability to communicate effectively with individuals and team members, appreciating their social, cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds and their age, gender and abilities. 

Integrity:  Uphold personal and professional ethics and values, considering the values of the organization and respecting the culture, beliefs and abilities of individuals we serve. 

Relationships: Ability to develop long-standing relationship with clients and their families as well national stakeholders. 

Critical Evaluation:  Ability to generate ideas for health and wellness improvement for discussion within multidisciplinary teams and with individuals and their supports. 

Teamwork: Ability to work in a team-oriented environment and contribute to the leadership that creates a fun work environment where the multidisciplinary team supports one another. 

Self-Motivated: Ability to demonstrate initiative and endeavor to maintain a stable level of productivity. 

Reliability:  Available as needed; includes attendance and punctuality. Responds to Individual needs promptly, accurately and with courtesy and respect 

Problem Solving:  Interprets relevant information to resolve problems. Effectively balances considerations and alternatives to make sound decisions. Willingness to initiate new ideas.  Consistently looks for better ways of doing things. Persists with extra effort and overcomes obstacles to get the job done. 

Time Management: work effectively within given deadlines.  Carries out orders and directives.  Organizes own time and prioritizes workload effectively.  Uses resources wisely. 

Confidentiality:  Maintains confidentiality of individuals and staff.  Restricts information to those who need to know. 

Quality Improvement: Ability to improve services, health status and care that is concrete and measured by outcome of stable health outcomes, internal reviews and excellent OPWDD audit outcomes.   

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE  

• LCSW, a Master’s Degree in social work, psychology, counseling or other human service field required.
• 5 plus years' experience working with people with IDD and behavioral health needs. 
• Good working knowledge of ICF and IRA OPWDD regulations with an emphasis on Life Safety, Incident Reporting Procedures, and Behavior Health OPWDD regulations. 
• Independent and organized work skills with strong communication and writing skills necessary.
• The ability to work cooperatively as a clinical team member. 
• Handles unexpected situations by responding effectively to challenges, deadlines and emergencies.

S:US IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 

Join a team of employees who care about the wellbeing of others. We believe in fostering a culture built on our core values: respect, integrity, support, maximizing individual potential and continuous quality improvement. From health and wellness resources to generous PTO, professional development, and more, explore all that we offer on our Benefits Page and see how S:US invests in you. 

We believe in fostering a culture built on our core values: respect, integrity, support, maximizing individual potential and continuous quality improvement.  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information and including all other statuses protected by Federal, State and Local laws. S:US is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities, including allowance of the use of services animals. To request reasonable accommodation or if you believe such a request was improperly handled or denied, contact the Leave Team at MyMedicalLeave@sus.org.