Assistant Program Manager

ASSISTANT PROGRAM MANAGER

WESTSIDE DMH

REPORTS TO: Senior Program Manager

HOURS: Full-Time

CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

SUMMARY:

The Assistant Program Manager (APM) is responsible for the daily program operations of Step Up’s DMH programs. The APM leads, administers, and oversees program services and team members who assume responsibility for providing direct services to transition-aged youth and adults experiencing serious mental health issues. All programs provide DMH/Medi-Cal services: comprehensive mental health services and psychosocial rehabilitation, targeted case management, medication management, and crisis intervention in field and office-based settings. The program provides 24/7 on-call coverage to clients and family members to provide the highest quality of life in the least restrictive community setting possible.

Benefits and What We Offer:

• Opportunities for growth and professional development.
• Generous paid time off (13 paid holidays, 10 days of EPTO, 12 sick days).
• Competitive salary and benefits package. Health, dental, vision, Aflac, and life insurance $25,000.00
• 403(b) retirement plan available on the first day of work. After working 1000 hours, Step Up matches 3% of the 6% the employee contributes.

DUTIES:

The following reflects essential functions for this job but does not restrict other tasks, which may be assigned:

Leadership, Administration, Oversight

• Directs day-to-day clinical operations. Supervise, manage, and support team members to ensure appropriate coverage and quality clinical services to the client census.
• Oversees program outcomes to meet contract budgets and revenue requirements.
• Signature Authority for direct reports, timesheets, mileage, check requests, and performance evaluations.
• Participates in DMH, QA, Continuum of Care committees and meetings as requested. Liaise with Mental Health and Homeless Network providers and communicate with non-Step Up providers to engage in interventions strategies.
• Attends regular Step Up management level meetings as well as local service area meetings as assigned.

Direct Service and Support

• In collaboration with the Senior Program Manager, takes a lead role in staff hiring and onboarding processes. Ensure team members have proper training and understand their job and role on the team. Connects staff to Quality Assurance or clinical supervisors as needed for additional training and guidance.
• In coordination with management, communicates with County DMH and community referrals and coordinates client outreach and admission process.
• Coordinates day and on-call schedule and coverage. Provides clinical direction and guidance to team members on progress for all cases.
• Assumes responsibility for any outside communication, written or verbal, with team members.
• Provides clinical support and supervision to team members, referring any administrative and/or clinical issues outside scope of practice to supervisor and upper management.
• Coordinates nursing and psychiatrist services with Director of Nursing.

Documentation and Data Collection

• In coordination with the Quality Assurance Manager, implements and follow quality assurance activities to meet medical standards and protocols; monitors electronic and paper documentation and charts; determines and reviews appropriate use of program services, accuracy of documentation and third-party payment requirements compliance and ensures staff mastery of QA requirements. If licensed, authorize and co-sign paperwork as warranted.
• Will become or is LPS designated for program for emergency psychiatric assessments, 5150 evaluations, and hospitalizations. Serve as backup on-call and assume primary on-call as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

SKILLS:

Leadership, motivation, and management experience preferred; strong clinical assessment, interpersonal, and intervention skills required.

Accuracy in charting and documentation required documentation.

Ability to train or guide staff to achieve confidence and ability to work independently in the field and in the milieu setting. Ability to engage and work effectively with both adult and TAY populations. Strong organizational skills and ability to delegate tasks to staff and monitor outcomes.

QUALIFICATIONS:

LCSW or LMFT preferred. If an ASW or AMFT, all supervisory hours towards licensure have been completed with at least 2 years of clinical experience working with adults recovering from chronic mental illness and/or homelessness. Candidate must have their own transportation and current CA driver’s license and insurance. Position requires coverage for evenings and weekends for after-hours emergencies. Strong computer skills required.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

Work with people experiencing homelessness whether on the streets, in shelters or other places of habitation or services, may present inherent challenges and difficulties such as: exposure to bed bugs or other infestations, unpleasant smells or odors, individuals who may have poor hygiene or unclean homes due to homelessness, mental health symptoms, or poverty. Additionally, in working with our members, employees may encounter instances of profanity, sexually explicit or derogatory language, or verbal or physical expressions of anger and trauma. Very rarely do these situations ever escalate to physical contact, and negative or derogatory communication patterns can often be negotiated successfully. All direct care staff are provided adequate training to develop skills to deescalate crisis situations that may arise and Step Up has established procedural safeguards for all employees to mitigate (but not eliminate) these inherent risks of employment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands and fingers; handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk; and hear. The employee is frequently required to walk, balance, stoop, kneel, and/or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Keyboard data entry required.

Step Up utilizes the principles of trauma-informed care and mental health recovery. These principles inform our Core Values of Hope, Wellness, Voice and Choice, Respect, and Collaborative Relationships. As representatives of Step Up, employees agree to adhere to these values in their interactions with members, colleagues, supervisors, and associated community members.

STEP UP CORE VALUES

HOPE – We believe all people have the capacity for positive growth and change. We use hope to inspire and motivate ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

WELLNESS – We believe in promoting a culture that supports healthy and fulfilling lives. We use a supportive environment to foster well-being for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

VOICE AND CHOICE – We believe in the right to choose and be heard. We use voice and choice to create meaningful outcomes and empowerment for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

RESPECT – We believe in promoting interactions that are non-judgmental, transparent. We use respect to guide all of our words and actions with ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS – We believe in forming partnerships to share resources, knowledge, and experiences. We use collaborative relationships to strengthen accomplishments for ourselves, our members, our colleagues, and our community.

Step Up is committed to providing quality services that adhere to the highest ethical standards and principles. All Step Up employees agree to adhere to the ethical policies and codes of conduct, as outlined in the Employee Handbook and those specified for this grant.

Step Up provides equal employment opportunities regardless of age, ancestry, color, creed, mental or physical disability, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

STEP UP IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER