Executive Director for Adolescent Services

Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH); Worcester (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) seeks an Executive Director for the Adolescent Continuing Care Unit (ACCU) at Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital. The role directs day-to-day operations for youth ages 13-18, ensuring trauma-informed, recovery-focused care and strong family engagement.

Responsibilities include leadership across committees, budget development, quality improvement, and ensuring Joint Commission and CMS standards are met.

Qualifications

• Must hold an independent clinical license (LICSW, LMHC, LADC I, psychologist or RN).
• Experience in supervisory or managerial roles within behavioral health settings.
• Knowledge of Joint Commission, CMS, and licensing standards related to inpatient youth services.

Responsibilities

• Oversee patient care operations and champion a resiliency-focused, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed environment.
• Coordinate with WRCH leadership and medical management structures including pharmacy, therapeutics, and medical records.
• Participate in budget development for assigned cost center and monitor expenditures.
• Ensure policies reflect CYF values and evidence-based, developmentally responsive care.
• Collaborate with DMH CYF leadership and ensure program outcomes meet mission and standards.
• Represent ACCU in DMH CYF network activities and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.

Skills

LICSW

LMHC

LADC I

Licensed Psychologist

RN

Job description

The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) sets the standards for the operation of mental health inpatient facilities and continuing care services provided in the community for adults, children, and adolescents with serious mental illness and/or emotional disturbance. Through state appropriation, DMH allocates funds and provides an array of inpatient and community-based services, such as residential and intensive residential services, case management, and community support.

The Executive Director within Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital's Adolescent Continuing Care Unit (ACCU) is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the specialized service for 30 youth ages 13-18 who are admitted under MGL Chapter 123 Section 10/11, or 7&8, or for court ordered evaluation and treatment (e.g., ss 15, 16, 17, 18a). This includes ensuring the following:

A. A clear treatment philosophy and model of care for the ACCU consistent with specialty nature of the unit that is youth-guided/family driven..

B. Treatment provided to youths and families is youth-centered/family-driven, trauma informed and responsive, resiliency/recovery oriented and centered on skill building and evidence-based programming.

C. The service provides active treatment programming and a robust daily patient schedule of activities/groups/school and physical activity

D. Quality Assurance and Utilization management activities are embedded into the structure of the unit through dedicated utilization management staff, standing UM and performance improvement [PI] meetings, quality/PI/UM reporting, active treatment teams/planning, and other forms of oversight and communication.

E. Regular reports are provided to the CEO and/or designee including but not limited to: (1) active treatment hours per week per patient; (2) school attendance/participation by patient; (3) staff training reports, etc., and (4) restraints/seclusions/forced medications and associated amendments made to treatment plans to address/reduce/prevent youth’s acuity and deescalation in the future.

The ACCU Executive Director has thorough knowledge of the admission criteria and governing statues for psychiatric commitment, their related processes and procedures; familiarity with managing an inpatient program including deescalation techniques, dispute resolution/negotiation/conflict management, ability to establish a positive culture of care with strong crisis prevention, deescalation, milieu activities/recreational programming, family engagement, rehab. activities and quality improvement approaches to address issues raised thru critical incidents, complaints, acuity, codes and restraint/seclusion/exclusionary procedures.

The incumbent is also responsible for ensuring that the program adheres to all applicable WRCH policies and procedures, CYF principles, values and practices, and that all licensing and accreditation standards are met. It is also important that the ACCU Executive Director interacts with staff from Central Office, areas, child-serving state agencies (DMH/DCF/DYS/DESE), local community services (LEA, PPAL) and provider/service networks in a manner that enhances the operations of the ACCU and the public relations of the facility. This position is part of Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital's (WRCH) Executive Committee.

Please Note:

This is a full-time, 40-hour position.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Provides oversight of patient care operations and champions a resiliency focused, recovery oriented, trauma informed and responsive environment that adheres to evidence based practices and nationally recognized standards of care for youth in inpatient settings.
• Ensures that the ACCU is seamlessly integrated with WRCH including representation and active participation on all identified leadership / operational committees and/or subcommittees.
• Coordinates with key committees and medical management structures including but not limited to pharmacy, therapeutics, medical records, infection control, QMPCA, EOC, and other required hospital committees.
• Participates in the development of the budget for assigned cost center; monitors, evaluates, and recommends
• Ensures that policies and procedures reflect CYF values/principles, and the population served, are developmentally responsive, evidenced-based, trauma informed/trauma responsive, youth-guided/family driven, and consistent with the CYF direction/practices.
• As part of a larger CYF network of secure services, the ACCU Program Directormust also function in collaboration with DMH CYF leadership and ensure all clinical and operational practices meet service requirements and fulfill the mission, vision, and values of CYF services.
• Acts as a primary contact for DMH in relation to CYF network activities, CYF statewide program service integration and DMH CYF service management.
• Collaborates with the WRCH and adolescent nursing and medical leadership in determining staffing mixes and levels needed to meet schedules, reassign personnel as required, and oversee attendance records.
• Represents that ACCU units at the QMPCA contributes relevant information regarding adolescent standards of care to protocol, procedure and process development and implementation.
• Evaluates the ACCU’s staff compliance with hospital wide policies, procedures, and processes
• In collaboration with WRCH leadership, ensures all operational and clinical practices meet the standards for the Joint Commission, CMS, developmental and clinical needs of youth served, addresses the program’s evolving mission and demographics while adhering to regulatory agency requirements, including but not limited to required documentation, nursing/hospital protocols and other measures.
• Ensures that staff is trained in the use of the Accreditation Management Process, and they regularly utilize this process to evaluate compliance.
• Participates in Joint Commission Mock surveys and collaborate with ACCO for Quality to develop and implement corrective plans of actions when indicated.
• Designs and advocates for staff development opportunities for direct care staff that offers growth and career advancement potential.
• Establishes quality and efficiency standards in all areas of responsibility and ensure that these standards are measured and reviewed on an ongoing basis
• Participates in regular human rights meetings and follows up as necessary. Investigates related incidences and complaints, prepares follow-up reports, and implements corrective action plans.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Must have an independent clinical license - LICSW, LMHC, LADC I, Licensed Psychologist, RN.
• Knowledge of the Joint Commission standards, Center for Medicaid Services requirements, and Board of Registry in Medicine/Nursing/Psychology Standards
• Familiar with relevant professional codes of ethics, DMH fundamental rights, youth/family/patient rights and documents and processes and the laws and regulations that govern both clinical practice and inpatient service delivery requirements.
• Ability to engage, supervise, coach/teach to advance skill development, uphold expectations and ensure accountability for performance.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Understanding of the assessment of mental health, substance use disorders, adolescent behavioral health, evidence-based practices, emerging best practices, current therapies/approaches in working with youth/families, permanency, trauma responsive care/treatment, and the toxic impact of polypharmacy on youth physical health/BMI and social/emotional health.
• An understanding of the relationship between mental health/behavioral health issues, trauma and substance use.
• An understanding of the impact of social media and the growing technology platforms that youth engage in.
• Promote and enhance staff’s knowledge about the symptoms of psychiatric illness and trauma.
• Ability to facilitate individual and group meetings and speak before large groups.
• Ability to establish functional parameters, understand rules that require enforcement and those that can be reasonably adapted to meet patient/family needs.
• Must understand boundaries and ethics.

About Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital (WRCH):

Located on over 20 acres in Worcester, Massachusetts, Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital (WRCH) is part of an integrated network of effective, efficient, and culturally competent mental health services. It provides intermediate and long-term inpatient care for individuals with serious and persistent mental illness who live in Massachusetts, as well as individuals requiring specialized court ordered evaluations.

WRCH provides inpatient services to 290 adults and 30 adolescents, inclusive of a Deaf Inpatient Mental Health Service program for 10 patients.

Learn more about WRCH: Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital (WRCH) | Mass.gov

DMH Mission Statement:

The Department of Mental Health assures and provides access to services and support to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages, enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities. The Department establishes standards to ensure effective and culturally competent care to promote recovery. The Department sets policy, promotes self-determination, protects human rights and supports mental health training and research.

A criminal and tax history background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines,

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

ADA Reasonable Accommodation: If you require a reasonable accommodation with the application/interview process, please contact us at: EOHHS Candidate ADA Requests

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact Employment & Staffing at 1 [phone], Option 4.

Qualifications

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) six (6) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in a particular specialty (i.e. scientific, professional, or technical) and must possess current license and/or registration requirements established for the performance of the position, of which (B) at least two (2) years must have been in a supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

Substitutions:

I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.

II. A Bachelor’s degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.

III. A Graduate degree or higher in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.

IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

Title 101 CMR 23.00 (“Regulation”) requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-18 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-18 and Influenza.

An Equal Opportunity / Aff nitive Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.