Assistant Program Director

About the role

This position assists the Program Director in the planning, development, coordination, and supervision of Special Treatment Program (STP) services and other therapeutic programs at Sierra Vista Behavioral Health Center, a licensed Skilled Nursing Facility serving adults with chronic and persistent mental illness, including schizophrenia and psychotic, mood and personality disorders. Duties are performed in compliance with state and federal regulations and Sierra Vista policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Assist in organizing and supervising activity groups and special rehabilitative services, including assessment, certification, treatment planning, and direct treatment services.
• Support recruitment, orientation, training, evaluation, and counseling of staff, and perform other personnel tasks as needed.
• Maintain staff schedules aligned with program needs, regulatory requirements, and budgetary guidelines; assist with timekeeping and scheduling in UKG.
• Monitor timeliness, quality, accuracy, and informativeness of written documentation in residents’ medical records.
• Ensure the order and safety of STP group rooms and offices.
• Coordinate community contacts brought into the facility for STP residents (e.g., 12 Step groups).
• Maintain records of interdisciplinary professional staff hours in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Review STP hours weekly and monthly; recommend individualized, activity-based treatment actions for residents as necessary.
• Assist in reviewing appropriateness of resident referrals, including conducting on-site evaluations.
• Collaborate with the STP Director and Director of Staff Development to ensure orientation, annual education, in-service training, and continuing education for clinical staff meet compliance and support program and staff growth.
• Educate clinical staff on therapeutic and safe behavioral interventions using ProACT principles and a person-centered, compassionate care approach with least-restrictive interventions.
• Act as Program Director as needed, including periodic after-hours call coverage.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, or related field with a minimum of three (3) years’ experience in a mental health setting; or
• Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, or related field with a minimum of one (1) year of experience in a mental health setting.
• Strong communication and organizational skills to work with staff, residents, and families.
• Ability to contribute to treatment planning and documentation processes.

Qualifications

• CADC-I or higher certification (nice to have).
• Supervisory experience or experience working in a team lead role (nice to have).
• Verbal and written fluency in English and Spanish (nice to have).
• Experience with PointClickCare (PCC) or other electronic medical record systems (nice to have).
• Experience with UKG or other electronic timekeeping/scheduling systems (nice to have).