DIRECTOR in Oak Ridge, New Jersey at Catholic Charities-Dept For Persons With Disabilities (DPD)

Are you passionate about making a difference in others' lives? Then come join the DPD team!

Department for Persons with Disabilities (DPD) is one of the largest Catholic Charities Agencies providing care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the United States. We are looking for dedicated, caring and compassionate people to work in our Group Homes.

Program Director - Columbus House

REPORTS TO: Associate Executive Director

SUPERVISES: Program Staff, Residents and Volunteers

Hours: Monday - Thursday (7:00am - 3:00pm), Fridays (1:00pm - 9:00pm)

This is an exempt full-time position, generally requiring 40 Hours, flexibility is required to meet the needs of the program and includes on-call time.

WORK LOCATIONS: Columbus House Group Home, other Catholic Charities-DPD residential programs as needed and in the community.

JOB SUMMARY: The primary responsibility of the Program Director is to provide quality services to the people living in the home, and to uphold the agency philosophy in carrying out the day-to-day tasks. The job includes interviewing, hiring, supervision and scheduling of staff in order to maintain the highest possible quality of life for the people in the home. It includes the planning/coordination of the Individualized Service Plans (ISP) with the individuals’ Support Coordinator and the supervision of the ISP implementation and documentation. Many administrative tasks are involved, including but not limited to, approving staff schedules, reviewing payroll, petty cash and client fund reports, ensuring accurate and timely documentation and review of notes related to Medicaid fee for service. The Program Director’s job also includes home management responsibilities such as facility and vehicle maintenance, monitoring health issues and clothing needs, and ensuring that the home is meeting agency and governmental standards of operation. The Director works some hours of direct care and acts as a role model for those in the residential counselor position. The Program Director must be able to meet and complete all physical requirements of the job. The job requires a significant amount of written documentation and use of the computer. The employee will cooperate with the agency's administration and/or Catholic Charities, Diocese of Paterson, the Division of Developmental Disabilities and the NJ Dept. of Human Services staff in any inspection, investigation or inquiry.

PLACE IN ORGANIZATION: This is a Department Head position. This position carries authority over employees working in the home and people living in the home.

PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS: This position requires working cooperatively with the Administration, other Directors and Associate Directors, volunteers, family members, representatives of outside agencies, and medical professionals. Must always represent the agency in a positive, professional manner.

PERFORMANCE AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (PQI): To be an active participant in the Agency PQI process and to foster effective communication on all levels of the Agency. New and creative ideas will be communicated at staff meetings. Written suggestions for changing the job description may be submitted at any time and will be reviewed by the administration.

QUALIFICATIONS: High School diploma or equivalent required, B.A. in Special Education or related field preferred. Minimum two years supervisory experience required and one year of experience working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Must have a driver's license, which is valid in the State of New Jersey and points on license not to exceed 5 points. Required to drive agency vehicles to transport service recipients on a regular basis. Should have knowledge of, or willingness to learn computer programs.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Maturity, ability to assume a supervisory role, to use good judgment and to handle a crisis effectively, be creative, flexible, sensitive to the cultural differences present in people living or working in the program, pleasant and non-abrasive, willing to learn. Should have good health and energy.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: This home requires significant physical assistance to be provided to all residents. Employee is responsible for the care of high acuity individuals including non-ambulatory individuals. Must be able to assist with bed mobility, wheelchair use including pushing manual wheelchairs, transferring individuals in and out of wheelchairs, and securing wheelchairs in vehicles. Lifts and transfers are done using provided equipment but require employee to roll and reposition individuals into slings where individuals cannot participate in transfer, repositioning or bearing any weight. Assist with toileting of incontinent individuals including use of lifts and slings for transfer in bathrooms as well as changing incontinence briefs when soiled for both ambulatory and non-ambulatory individuals. Must be able to walk, speak the language of the people living in the home, lift and push wheelchairs, give physical assistance to people as needed. Assist in all activities of daily living (ADL’s) including but not limited to bathing/showering, grooming/personal hygiene needs, oral hygiene, dressing, meal preparation/cooking and providing individual assistance to residents in accordance with prescribed diets. Complete laundry for all residents based on their support needs. Must be able to safely evacuate all residents within prescribed evacuation timeframe including pushing hospital beds out the bedroom fire doors when needed. Must be able to meet the physical requirements of CPR.

MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be able to remain calm even in a crisis. Must be patient and supportive and treat each person living in the home with dignity. Work with individuals with behavior support plans and assure all plan provisions are carried out and documented as per agency behaviorist. Must be able to manage multiple priorities in an effective manner. Must be aware of the impact that modeling has on staff and on persons who have an intellectual or developmental disability.

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS: To complete the orientation process and to fulfill all required training within the specified time period. These include but are not limited to all state mandated trainings via the College of Direct Support, as well as agency specific/Catholic Charities/Diocese of Paterson trainings, as directed to do so by the supervisor or Human Resources staff. Must renew certifications as required. Must meet the annual continuing education training requirements. Program Directors are encouraged to participate in additional trainings that are available, including but not limited to: Supervisory Trainings offered by Catholic Charities and the College of Direct Support Frontline and Supervisory Management courses and other trainings as assigned.

JOB TASKS:

1. To provide training and supervision to staff and Volunteers.
2. A. To orientate all new staff according to agency procedures.
3. To supervise staff in all aspects of their job responsibilities and provide feedback to improve job performance.
4. To maintain job performance notes and to complete annual written staff evaluations.
5. To address issues that affect staff morale.
6. To supervise volunteers and to communicate any issue regarding a volunteer to the Director of Pastoral Care.
7. To monitor the completion and accuracy of documentation according to policy, in a timely fashion, including but not limited to: ISP documentation and notes review/approval, Behavior Plan Charts, Medication Administration record and assuring an adequate supply of medication at all times, Incident Reports, Daily Resident Log, Staff Log, Financial Vouchers, Activity Sheets, Nutritional Charting (when applicable) and Fire Drill Reports.
8. To terminate staff according to agency policy of progressive discipline, in accordance with guidance and polices from Catholic Charities Human Resources Team.
9. Ensure full compliance with all laws, Medicaid standards and other regulatory requirements.
10. To ensure highest possible quality of life for residents.