Lead Psychologist

Position Summary

The Lead Psychologist is a strategic leadership position responsible for providing clinical leadership to Psychotherapy Services and Behavior Intervention Services (BIS). The position ensures that all clinical services are delivered in compliance with applicable Agency policies and procedures, contractual obligations, regulatory requirements, and accreditation standards. Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership and Operations

• Actively promotes the mission, vision, and values of the Agency.
• Provide clinical supervision for Psychotherapy Services, psychological evaluations, and Behavior Intervention Services (BIS).
• Provide clinical leadership to the Interdisciplinary Team when clinical or behavioral challenges arise with the individuals and programs the Agency supports.
• Promote a person-centered approach to service planning and delivery.
• Monitor the effectiveness of clinical systems and procedures through the review of plans, data sheets, and reports, and through periodic site visits.
• Participate in interviewing, ongoing training, and annual performance evaluations of Psychotherapists, part-time and per diem Psychologists, and BIS Supervisors. Clinical Responsibilities and Documentation
• Lead the Agency Human Rights Committee, Human Rights Subcommittee, and pre-Human Rights Committee meetings.
• Organize, review, and document the use of restrictive interventions.
• Aid with clinical and legal documentation, including, but not limited to, Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST), the MIPS approval system, guardianship applications, and Surrogate’s Court documentation.
• Promote self-advocacy among the individuals the Agency serves. Leadership and Supervision
• Evaluate and monitor program needs to ensure that support and services meet the changing needs of the individuals the Agency supports.
• Conduct and attend regular clinical meetings with supervisors and directors, with documented agendas and minutes. Compliance and Audits
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards.
• Ensure internal quality assurance, compliance with all regulatory requirements, and quality performance on all internal and external reviews, including OPWDD Division of Quality Improvement (DQI) audits.
• Assist the Director of Behavioral Services with the timely submission of Plans of Corrective Action (POCAs) for DQI and Department of Health (DOH) audits. Incident Management and Prevention
• Assist and cooperate with the Agency and the Justice Center in the investigative process related to incidents.
• Actively participate in Agency incident review meetings.
• Ensure that all staff complete annual training on incident reporting, the Code of Ethics, and abuse prevention.
• Ensure that Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) are followed up on and submitted in a timely manner. Staff Training, Development, and Retention
• Ensure that all staff complete mandatory training in accordance with OPWDD and Agency requirements.
• Coordinate with the Agency Training Department and program leadership to develop training curricula.
• Provide clinical training to programming and clinical staff. Communication
• Maintain open lines of communication with the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Program Officer, the Vice President of Nursing, the Senior Vice President of Quality, the Vice President of Human Resources, the Director of the Article 16 Clinic, the Director of Behavioral Services, and other senior Agency leadership.
• Maintain open lines of communication with the Consumer Advisory Board (CAB), Mental Hygiene Legal Service (MHLS), OPWDD staff, care managers, and clinicians who support the individuals the Agency serves.
• Gather feedback from staff, management, individuals served, and families, and share this feedback with management and leadership for appropriate action or a plan of correction.
• Demonstrate strong listening and negotiation skills when communicating with labor unions, staff, and families. Policy Development
• Assist in the drafting and review of Agency policies and procedures. Outreach
• Participate in community relations and fundraising activities as time permits.
• Represent the Agency at industry events, Developmental Disabilities Council meetings, and conferences, as needed. Other Duties
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.
• Occasional travel to program sites.

Qualifications

Education

• Doctoral degree in Psychology (Ph.D. or Psy.D.).

Licensure

• Current license and registration as a Psychologist issued by the New York State Education Department.
• Maintenance of an active New York State license and registration is a condition of continued employment. Experience
• A minimum of two years of employment or practicum experience in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).