INTERNAL ONLY Residential Program Director

Elk Hill Farm Inc•Charlottesville, VA

About The Position

Would you like to work for a non-profit organization where your contributions make a major impact on the lives of the children and families that we serve? Join a family of experienced mental health professionals and counselors dedicated to providing kids, and each other, the kindness, respect, and encouragement they need to succeed. Elk Hill was honored as a 2025 Top Workplace USA and 2025 Richmond Times-Dispatch Top Workplace. These awards are based solely on employee feedback and recognize the great culture that exists at every level of the organization. If you want to work for a Top Workplace USA and a Richmond Times-Dispatch Top Workplace organization where your decisions can impact youth and families of Central Virginia, then Elk Hill Farm, Inc. is the place for you! We are an organization that: Is honored as a 2025 Top Workplace USA and 2025 Richmond Times-Dispatch Top Workplace Is a Top Workplace Meaningfulness Award recipient Has talented, hardworking employees Advocates for mental health issues Offers competitive benefits, pay, and pet insurance for full-time staff Provides a generous time-off and holiday package Offers a 401(k) plan with a 5% employer match for full-time staff Provides tuition assistance Elk Hill is celebrating 50+ years of supporting youth and families across the Commonwealth of Virginia! Stability. Adaptability. Longevity. Primary Function of a Residential Program Director: Under the direction and guidance of the Residential Coordinator, create and maintain an environment that will enable youth to develop and sustain positive changes in attitude, values, and behavior while ensuring program and fiscal integrity.

Requirements

A master’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling or nursing and a combination of two years professional experience with children, in a children’s residential facility and in administration or supervision. One year must consist of clinical experience with children or adolescents; or
A baccalaureate degree in social work, psychology, counseling or nursing and a combination of three years professional experience with children, in a children’s residential facility and in administration or supervision with one year consisting of clinical experience with children or adolescents; or
A baccalaureate degree and a combination of four years of professional experience with children in a children’s residential facility and in administration or supervision
A bachelor’s degree and be grandfathered as a QMHP or received a variance of QMHP, by having met DMAS standards for qualifications through related course work and experience, and a combination of four years professional experience with children, in a children’s residential facility and in administration or supervision
Leadership abilities
Good physical health and remain current with annual TB screening and other certifications
Ability to administer all aspects of behavior management including the ability to perform physical restraints on all residents/students

Nice To Haves

Experience supervising and managing staff in a residential setting preferred with the knowledge and understanding of cultural diversity and the impact of various socioeconomic characteristics on our youth
Ability to develop, implement and analyze a budget
Substantial knowledge of group dynamics
Working knowledge of psychiatric diagnosis
Ability to orchestrate the development and coordination of a youth’s service plan and service planning needs.
Sound recordkeeping and/or case management abilities
Ability to market the facility’s program to communities and other placing agents
Fluent oratory and professional writing skills
Sense of humor

Responsibilities

Provide youth and staff with positive role-modeling of Elk Hill’s core values--respect, personal responsibility, hard-work, lifelong learning, and courage
Build and maintain positive, nurturing relationships with all youth and their families
Advocate the rights of youth
Work towards annual goals for personal, professional and educational development
Work cooperatively with staff and treatment team to improve the quality of the facility’s total program
Promote an atmosphere of openness, honesty, and understanding among residents, Elk Hill staff, and other persons associated with Elk Hill
Maintain up-to-date certification in Virginia’s Uniform Assessment Instrument (CANS)
Must have a valid certificate in an approved medication aide training class
Maintain a valid driver’s license and good standing with Elk Hill’s auto-insurance policies
Maintain up-to-date certifications in CPR/First Aid, and the facility’s Behavioral Management Program and have the ability to apply such skills as needed and required in the day-to-day interactions with youth
Demonstrate a high level of on-going competence in leadership, supervision strategies, behavioral and clinical programming, care-coordination, and service planning as well as motivation and commitment as an Elk Hill employee
Remain current in national and state trends in residential programming including best-practices, evidence-based outcomes, and public policies that affect residential placements
In alignment with Elk Hill’s model of residential programming, develop, coordinate, implement, and/or oversee that services address needs-assessments, service planning needs, staff scheduling, and supervision
Responsible for the facility and its overall maintenance and upkeep including annual fire marshal and sanitation inspections and where applicable, annual well/water testing.
Perform other duties as designated by the Residential Director
Through the training, supervision and retention of program personnel ensure the facility remains adequately staffed with qualified personnel in accordance with licensing and Medicaid standards. Work closely with the Residential Director and Human Resources regarding the hiring, dismissal, and corrective action planning needs of the facility
Provide developmental training opportunities for the facility staff while assisting them with formulating training plans and goals for professional development
Provide monthly administrative supervision and annual evaluations to all residential staff
Ensure facility staff role model Elk Hill’s core values of respect, responsibility, hard-work, education, and courage
Encourage staff and treatment team cooperation in the effective, professional, and comprehensive delivery of services
Review strengths and needs assessments (i.e. CANS) provided at time of admission for each youth. Coordinate with Case Manager to ensure service plans incorporate these and other assessment findings into youth service plans
Ensure facility youths’ service plan goals are developed and updated in accordance with FAPT recommendations and/or a youth’s FAPT’s individualized service plan
Ensure the facility’s Case Manager develops appropriate and timely needs-assessment service plans for each youth
Conduct pre/post testing and assessments that support program-specific or organization-wide efforts in monitoring program outcomes
Responsible for helping each youth meet the goals and objectives of his/her service plan as well as supervising the facility’s youth care workers to provide this same assistance
Build and maintain the highest levels of professional rapport with a youth’s parents, legal guardians, and referring agencies. In coordination with the facility’s Case Manager, ensure they are informed of their youth’s progress via routine phone contact, written reports and on-site conferences
Retain ultimate ownership in facility-wide compliance with all licensing regulations and Medicaid standards
Responsible for program evaluation, assessment, and enhancements. Analyze program outcomes and use the empirical data to enhance programming, services offered, service planning, and staff development
Assist the Admissions Director by screening referrals and by arranging and facilitating pre-placement interviews. Determine if youth are appropriate for acceptance and placement into the program
In compliance with licensing, ensure youth are enrolled in academic or vocational education programming
Ensure the facility’s structured program of care includes recreational, educational, and social enrichment-type of activities. Approve weekly programming schedules
Coordinate and/or conduct individual/group counseling sessions and peer-group meetings as needed or as programming dictates. Ensure a high standard of childcare. Supervise the House Manager in his/her responsibility of ensuring all appropriate documentation is completed in a timely manner
Coordinate with the program’s clinical consultant to ensure inclusive programming for youth
Ensure the facility has comprehensive psycho-educational materials readily available for program staff. Ensure staff have the skills and training to implement psycho-educational programming
Facilitate treatment team and staff meetings, ensuring all the needs of the facility’s youth are being addressed and that services rendered are appropriate in helping youth achieve progress on service plan goals and objectives
Ensure programming and case management services as well as outcome reports are compliant with placing agency contracts
Responsible for providing behavior support and intervention to the facility’s youth with an additional focus on ensuring facility staff provide this same assistance
Responsible for each youth’s development of acceptable habits and attitudes ensuring the facility’s staff provide an atmosphere that supports the development of these traits
Responsible for protecting the physical and emotional safety of the facility’s youth. In addition, ensure facility staff provide these minimum basic safeguards to Elk Hill’s youth
Develop and ensure adherence to program expectations for in-house and community-based employment for the facility’s youth. Develop community linkages that will assist youth in gaining gainful employment
Oversee the coordination of orientation visits, family visits, and agency visits
Provide direct-care services when programming or staffing patterns dictate the need
Capture and retain all data required for compiling monthly, quarterly, and/or yearly outcome measures
Develop and maintain a rotating AOC (administrator on call) schedule to include the Program Director, House Manager(s), Case Manager(s), or other persons qualified to provide AOC support
In supporting current state-sponsored initiatives, ensure all youth receive independent living skills training
Ensure the facility’s program addresses all the services outlined in a youth’s service plan. Adjust services as needed to ensure inclusive and comprehensive programming