Enhanced Step Down Program-Specialty Critical Time Intervention Team Leader

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc•Old Bethpage, NY

12d•Onsite

About The Position

POSITION SUMMARYThe Specialty CTI Team Leader provides clinical and administrative oversight of the Enhanced Step-Down Program’s Critical Time Intervention services and supervises a multidisciplinary team. This role ensures that individuals with co-occurring Mental Health (MH) and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) receive evidence-based, time-limited support as they transition from inpatient and emergency psychiatric settings to community-based living. The Specialty CTI Team Leader works in close coordination with the Transitional Residential Setting (TRS) team to ensure continuity of care, facilitate shared treatment planning, and support stabilization and permanent housing placement. This position plays a pivotal role in fostering cross-system collaboration with OMH, OPWDD, hospital systems, and community providers.DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Establishes community relationships and serves as liaison to community partners such as Emergency Departments (ED), inpatient psychiatric units both Article 28 and 31, and Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Programs (CPEP). Maintains relationships with Nassau County Department of Mental Health, Chemical Dependency, & Developmental Disabilities and Services, Suffolk County Department of Health Services, the Division of Community Mental Hygiene, the Office of Mental Health (OMH), and the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD). Collects feedback from and collaborates with clinical team members and specialists in the community to identify, design and implement training/support needs of the community. Assists in the development and implementation of ESD Specialty CTI best practices and policies and procedures. Assists with growth of the ESD program via networking internally and externally in conjunction with other departments. Maintains communication with other regional CTI teams for the purposes of collaboration. Works with FREE’s Accounting Department and leadership team to ensure all required reporting occurs as required. Ensures the collection of required data and documentation on consumer access and utilization of Specialty CTI services. Works with the leadership team to ensure the continuity and consistency of enrollment of individuals for services. Reviews and approves diagnostic evaluations, treatment plans, discharge plans, and behavioral support plans for individuals served. Ensures all clinical interventions are trauma-informed, strength-based, and culturally responsive. Attends hospital rounds, case conferences, and discharge planning meetings to ensure early identification and engagement of eligible individuals. Provides crisis intervention in response to individuals’ behavioral and emotional needs, including support to individuals, families and team members, in-person and virtually. Provides supervision, guidance, and direction to all assigned team members on an ongoing basis. Ensures all team members are fulfilling their roles and responsibilities and addresses performance issues through performance improvement or corrective action measures. Interviews, hires, develops and retains high quality staff. Meets consistently with TRS Residential Clinical Coordinator to jointly plan and monitor cases shared between Specialty CTI and TRS. Participates in all TRS clinical case conferences to align strategies for behavior management, medication compliance, and housing readiness. Coordinates Specialty CTI transitions for individuals moving from TRS into community-based settings, ensuring step-down planning and natural support linkage. Serves as the primary bridge between residential and Specialty CTI-only service tracks. Collaborates with ESD Program Director to manage team members’ time worked in the program while ensuring there are sufficient team members to meet the needs of the people served at all times. Addresses emergency situations as they occur in the program according to established policies and procedures, and ensure communication of such situations in a timely fashion. Attends in-service training programs, clinical and academic conferences and workshops and other educational presentations to maintain current knowledge of relevant clinical issues and techniques. Prevents, recognizes, and reports abuse toward the people we support. Ensures that all required documentation (paper and electronic) is completed /processed appropriately, in a timely manner, and meets quality and compliance thresholds. Performs other duties as assigned.Responsibilities of All FREE Employees Always communicates in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community. Complies fully with FREE’s confidentiality policies by holding in strictest confidence all information pertaining to members, residents, the people we support and their families, clients, providers, contractors, and employees. Meets all safety training requirements; adheres to all safety policies and reports any and all unsafe conditions; takes measures to prevent accidents and/or eliminate conditions that pose a safety or health risk. Coordinates, supports, attends and participates in all required events/ meetings/ reviews/ committees, including ones outside of standard working hours. Meets all job requirements and stays in compliance. Adheres to FREE’s standard of ethical behavior as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct as well as applicable laws and regulations.Responsibilities of FREE Employees in Leadership/Management Positions: Ensures compliance with FREE policies, procedures, and operating standards. Implements a continuous quality improvement process for department services and administrative functions. Assists in the development, implementation and administration of Human Resources policies and programs including compliance with Equal Employment Opportunities and Affirmative Action Programs.Please note the above duties, responsibilities, and essential functions are a non-exhaustive list, and may be changed by FREE at any time, with or without notice to the employee.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or other human service field required
At least 3 (three) years of supervisory experience required
At least 3 (three) years of post-licensure experience working with individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Mental Health Diagnoses, and/or Substance Abuse
Supervisory experience can be concurrent with post-licensure experience
LCSW, LMHC, LMSW, LCAT, or Licensed Psychologist licensure required
Licensed Practitioner of the Healing Arts (LPHA) required
Complete the CTI certification process within 12 months of hiring
Complete 9.58 designation certification within 6 months of hiring
Knowledge of OMH and OPWDD practices, policies and regulations
Computer literacy required; familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite
Must be able to motivate, lead and coach others
Must be efficient, well organized, and have excellent communication skills
Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment with flexibility, keeping others informed and anticipating needs is essential
Expertise in navigating eligibility and referral processes for OMH, OPWDD, and other programs serving individuals with co-occurring behavioral health conditions and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
A current PPD (tuberculosis) test or equivalent screening (will be administered upon hire if needed)
A physical examination completed within the last year by a licensed healthcare provider
Up-to-date immunization records, which may include (but are not limited to) MMR, Varicella, Tdap, Influenza, and COVID-19, in accordance with hospital system protocols and applicable public health guidelines
Valid Driver’s license and satisfy criteria to be an agency driver required
Ability to work a standard, full-time schedule of five (5) days per week and eight (8) hours per day, with flexibility as needed to meet program needs.
Ability to provide 24/7 coverage and support to ESD Specialty CTI team.
Ability to be on call

Responsibilities

Establishes community relationships and serves as liaison to community partners such as Emergency Departments (ED), inpatient psychiatric units both Article 28 and 31, and Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Programs (CPEP).
Maintains relationships with Nassau County Department of Mental Health, Chemical Dependency, & Developmental Disabilities and Services, Suffolk County Department of Health Services, the Division of Community Mental Hygiene, the Office of Mental Health (OMH), and the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).
Collects feedback from and collaborates with clinical team members and specialists in the community to identify, design and implement training/support needs of the community.
Assists in the development and implementation of ESD Specialty CTI best practices and policies and procedures.
Assists with growth of the ESD program via networking internally and externally in conjunction with other departments.
Maintains communication with other regional CTI teams for the purposes of collaboration.
Works with FREE’s Accounting Department and leadership team to ensure all required reporting occurs as required.
Ensures the collection of required data and documentation on consumer access and utilization of Specialty CTI services.
Works with the leadership team to ensure the continuity and consistency of enrollment of individuals for services.
Reviews and approves diagnostic evaluations, treatment plans, discharge plans, and behavioral support plans for individuals served.
Ensures all clinical interventions are trauma-informed, strength-based, and culturally responsive.
Attends hospital rounds, case conferences, and discharge planning meetings to ensure early identification and engagement of eligible individuals.
Provides crisis intervention in response to individuals’ behavioral and emotional needs, including support to individuals, families and team members, in-person and virtually.
Provides supervision, guidance, and direction to all assigned team members on an ongoing basis.
Ensures all team members are fulfilling their roles and responsibilities and addresses performance issues through performance improvement or corrective action measures.
Interviews, hires, develops and retains high quality staff.
Meets consistently with TRS Residential Clinical Coordinator to jointly plan and monitor cases shared between Specialty CTI and TRS.
Participates in all TRS clinical case conferences to align strategies for behavior management, medication compliance, and housing readiness.
Coordinates Specialty CTI transitions for individuals moving from TRS into community-based settings, ensuring step-down planning and natural support linkage.
Serves as the primary bridge between residential and Specialty CTI-only service tracks.
Collaborates with ESD Program Director to manage team members’ time worked in the program while ensuring there are sufficient team members to meet the needs of the people served at all times.
Addresses emergency situations as they occur in the program according to established policies and procedures, and ensure communication of such situations in a timely fashion.
Attends in-service training programs, clinical and academic conferences and workshops and other educational presentations to maintain current knowledge of relevant clinical issues and techniques.
Prevents, recognizes, and reports abuse toward the people we support.
Ensures that all required documentation (paper and electronic) is completed /processed appropriately, in a timely manner, and meets quality and compliance thresholds.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Always communicates in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community.
Complies fully with FREE’s confidentiality policies by holding in strictest confidence all information pertaining to members, residents, the people we support and their families, clients, providers, contractors, and employees.
Meets all safety training requirements; adheres to all safety policies and reports any and all unsafe conditions; takes measures to prevent accidents and/or eliminate conditions that pose a safety or health risk.
Coordinates, supports, attends and participates in all required events/ meetings/ reviews/ committees, including ones outside of standard working hours.
Meets all job requirements and stays in compliance.
Adheres to FREE’s standard of ethical behavior as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct as well as applicable laws and regulations.
Ensures compliance with FREE policies, procedures, and operating standards.
Implements a continuous quality improvement process for department services and administrative functions.
Assists in the development, implementation and administration of Human Resources policies and programs including compliance with Equal Employment Opportunities and Affirmative Action Programs.