Hybrid Soteria House Program Manager at Pathways Vermont

Pathways Vermont Soteria House Program Manager

The Company: Pathways Vermont is a dynamic nonprofit agency committed to permanently ending homelessness and offering innovative mental health services. Soteria House Program Manager supports a hospitalization prevention residence for individuals experiencing an early episode of psychosis/extreme state/non-consensus reality who wish to avoid or minimize their exposure to medications.  Soteria House operates as a Therapeutic Community Residence (TCR). Services are funded by the Vermont Department of Mental Health (DMH) and TCR compliance is overseen by the Department of Aging and Independent Living (DAIL).

Pathways Vermont is committed to a diverse workplace that reflects the communities we serve and is particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people interested in providing supportive social services to Vermonters including people with military experience, individuals with disabilities, and people of color.
 

The Role: The Soteria House Program Manager is responsible for ensuring excellent, consistent, and equitable services that meet program goals, funding requirements, and agency expectations.  The manager will: supervise program supervisors, ensure TCR compliance, participate in funding oversight, monitor services quality and outcomes, and work in collaboration with teams and agency leadership to suggest and implement changes and improvements.

Available Positions: 1

Location: In Person (Burlington, Vermont)

Schedule: Full time, exempt salaried employee (35-40 hours per week)

Supervisor: Alternative Mental Health Services Director

Application Requirements:

A Cover Letter and Resume are required with your application.

Responsibilities:

Oversight of Service Provision

• Ensure excellent and high-quality services are provided to Soteria residents 

• Supervise three Shift Supervisors, a Services Team Lead, and an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN). 

  • Meet weekly for individual supervision, to review role expectations and provide feedback

  • Provide ongoing support for job completion 

  • Complete introductory and annual reviews

  • Support Soteria House employees experiencing challenges by participating in work improvement plans, written warnings, joining supervisions, etc.

  • Provide coverage for supervisors in their absence, including ability and willingness to complete jobs held by the Shift Supervisors and Services Team Lead 

• Work in partnership with the APRN and contracted psychiatrist to oversee medical and psychiatric services for residents

  • Support the APRN in their role of prescribing medications, as needed 

  • Support the APRN in their role of training staff in medication assistance 

• In partnership with APRN and/or community providers determine appropriate responses to non-emergent medical events at the house including sickness, injury, lack of sleep, etc.

• In partnership with APRN, oversee COVID-19 (or other public health emergency) response and best practice and compliance with state regulations and direction

• In partnership with APRN and contracted psychiatrist, discuss emergency situations that may warrant a resident’s emergency exit from the Soteria program 

• Oversee and provide final approval of incident reporting internally, to licensing, and external parties as needed (per TCR guidelines and Pathways policies and practices)

• Maintain and regularly update program policies and procedures; and participate in review, creation, and updating of agency policies

• Work with the Intake Team for eligibility criteria/referrals/admissions; assist with outreach and ensure timely completion of required documentation

• In collaboration with the Services Team Lead, oversee and ensure Soteria residents receive excellent services, including: 

  • Individualized Service Plans 

  • Monitoring utilization of services, including duration, medication, incidents, external connections, etc.

  • Occasionally assist with development of specialized plans to diminish harmful behaviors and support residents with goals and graduations 

  • Review and approve program exits and transitional services provision 

• In collaboration with the Services Team Lead, oversee and ensure Soteria Transitional Resident services are offered as they transition to the community, including: 

  • Individualized Service Plans 

  • Weekly meetings are adhered to and appropriate community referrals are made and followed up with 

• Provide on-call support for urgent or emergency situations, including in person coverage when the shift supervisors are on leave 

Therapeutic Community Residence Management

• Ensure Soteria is in compliance with all Therapeutic Community Residence (TCR) regulations. The Soteria House Manager is also the TCR House Manager for the Disability of Aging and Independent Living (DAIL): 

  • Responsible for knowing the TCR regulations and adhering to stated guidelines 

  • Be present at least 22 hours a week at the house

  • Ensure proper handling, utilization, labeling and safekeeping of medication

  • Oversee the disaster preparedness plan including planned evacuations and responses to emergency events

  • Ensure qualifications and training of all Soteria staff 

  • Support the 2nd Shift Supervisor and 3rd Shift Supervisor with kitchen oversight and compliance 

  • All other responsibilities as outlined in Vermont’s current TCR regulations

• Ensure program participation in community meetings with the Department of Mental Health and with other community providers as requested 

Program Management

• Oversee all Soteria staff training systems, including the Learning Management System in ADP, Google tracking sheets, etc. 

• Develop an annual Quality Improvement (QI) Plan:

  • Create annual QI goals ensuring cohesion with program values and objectives

  • Monitor services, incidents, outcomes etc. to assess for QI plan compliance

  • Suggest training, program changes, staffing support etc. to improve upon QI goal achievement

• Attend and co-facilitate weekly team meeting and leadership meeting

• Attend any union related meetings, as requested or scheduled 

• Attend monthly co-reflection meeting; and willingness to facilitate co-reflection meetings  

• Prepare and/or assist in preparation and delivery of regular reports to funders and regulatory bodies quarterly or as requested

• Participate in program budget management: 

  • Assist in development of annual budget

  • Approve program expenditures

  • Regularly monitor spending and make adjustments as needed

• Participate in local, national and international conversations and training related to Soteria House, day-to-day operations, best practices, etc.

• Attendance at the annual All Staff and Programmatic Retreats is an expectation of employment with Pathways Vermont, unless excused by the employee’s manager/HR. Retreats are held on workdays, during normal working hours, and are fully paid.

• Other Duties as assigned

Requirements:

• Per the TCR regulations: An Associates Degree (or higher degree) in the area of human services OR three (3) years of general experience in a human services-related field. 

• At least three years of management or leadership experience preferred

• Experience supervising a team preferred 

• Experience in residential programs preferred 

• Knowledge of psychiatric alternatives and psychosocial approaches to mental health and wellbeing preferred and considered an asset 

• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to Pathways’ mission

• Patience, creativity, flexibility, compassion, and sensitivity to diverse populations including people of color, persons with disabilities, individuals who have experienced trauma, and persons who have been oppressed

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Strong organization skills and facilitation skills 

• Strong interpersonal skills - the ability to network with funders and community stakeholders

• Valid driver’s license, a reliable personal vehicle available for work purposes and current automobile insurance

• Ability to share one’s own personal transformative life experiences

• Personal experience of homelessness, mental health, extreme states or other life challenges considered an asset

• Willingness to self-reflect, learn, and practice new ways of being in relationships

• Risk and discomfort tolerance 

Working Conditions/Physical Demands:

• Almost constant operation of a computer and other office machinery

• Regular, repetitive movement of hands and fingers including substantial movements of wrists, hands and fingers for typing and/or writing, grasping paperwork, using technology equipment and other tasks

• Frequent talking and participation in exchanging ideas through spoken word as well as ability to hear and receive detailed information through oral communication

• Significant amounts of sedentary work in a seated position

• Moderate levels of standing, walking, stooping, kneeling or crouching, reaching with hands and arms and light lifting while participating in daily activities at the house

• Rarely lifting and carrying 20-30 pounds for participating in daily activities at Soteria house, etc.

• Frequent utilization of close visual acuity and reading from a computer screen, must be able to read information captured in type and free hand form

• Possible need to run and ambulate at a fast speed while following resident

• Additional benefits