Director, Therapeutic After School Program (TASP)

About Walker

Since 1961, Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs has been a trusted partner for children, youth, and families, navigating some of lifes most difficult challenges. Based in Needham, our mission is to nurture hope, build strengths, and develop lifelong skills in partnership with the children, youth, families, and communities we serve. We provide comprehensive, trauma-informed residential, educational, and clinical services to children and youth with complex social-emotional, behavioral, and learning needs, while supporting their families every step of the way. Through three specialized divisions—Residential & Educational Programs, Behavioral Health & Community-Based Services, and Walker Solutions—we deliver relationship-based care and capacity-building that makes a lasting difference. Today, we serve children, youth, and families from more than 150 communities across Massachusetts.

Make a Difference Every Day—and Gain Skills You Can Use for Life

The Director of Walker Therapeutic After School Program (TASP) oversees the operations of a Therapeutic After‑School Program (TASP) for up to eight Department of Mental Health-enrolled youth. The Walker TASP serves youth in need of therapeutic, educational, and recreational programming that supports their social-emotional development and skill‑building. The Program Director will have primary responsibility for: recruiting, hiring, supervising, and managing TASP staff; ensuring staff coverage, including coverage during school vacations and summer break; supporting staff in implementing programming, including any new programming involving evidence‑based practices; establishing crisis intervention and back-up systems; regularly communicating with supervisees, families, schools, DMH, and other providers; coordinating transportation for youth to get to and from the program; and carrying clinical cases, as appropriate.

Essential Functions

- Lead a multidisciplinary team of clinical and milieu staff to further the social-emotional, behavioral, and educational development of youth enrolled in the program.

- Recruit, hire, supervise, and manage program staff.

- Manage program scheduling, including coverage for vacancies, vacations, and absences. Proactively anticipate scheduling issues and work with the team to address potential issues, including advance planning for snow days.

- Provide a structured therapeutic milieu that is safe and welcoming to youth and families, and promotes youth and family engagement in programming (e.g., activities and groups).

- Support the Clinician and Milieu Specialists with implementation of current and new agency-wide and or program-specific programming (e.g., trauma-informed care, CBT, wellness efforts).

- Coordinate transportation for youth to get to and from the program, including acting as a liaison between the program, school placements, families, and cab companies. Assist with transporting youth in the program vans, as needed.

- Provide clinical services to youth and families, as appropriate.

- Provide clinical consultation to families, other TASP staff, schools, and other providers to ensure that youth are working on and making progress toward identified goals.

- Ensure the collection, review, analysis, and reporting of data related to outcomes for youth and families served.

- Properly attend to administrative functions, including attending required meetings, completing assigned oral and written reports, and actively participating in supervision and professional development opportunities at Walker.

- Regularly attend weekly supervision, staff meetings, and trainings.

- Follow and implement all Walker policies and procedures.

- Additional duties as assigned.

Skills and Abilities

- Valid Massachusetts drivers license and reliable transportation required, including the ability to travel to community-based meetings and to transport clients and families to appointments, trainings, groups, and other program-related activities.

- Proof of auto insurance that demonstrates coverage levels that meet the organizations minimum requirements.

- Must have the ability to access different community locations for meetings including regularly attending meetings and trainings at Walkers Needham location.

- Ability to meet deadlines and follow through with multiple projects simultaneously.

- Ability to respond to and follow through with requests professionally.

- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

- Ability to provide new employee and ongoing staff training on topics including, but not limited to: Trauma-informed care, Behavior management, Client/family-centered practice, Clinical needs of youth served, Cultural humility and sensitivity, Professionalism, Medication Administration Program, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, Milieu Management, First Aid/CPR.

- Must be able to sit at work station for prolonged periods of time, consistent with OSHA requirements.

- Ability to perform required function of Medication Administration Program (MAP) and must pass and maintain MAP certification.

- Ability to perform required functions of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) and must pass and maintain TCI certification.

- Ability to pass and maintain First Aid/CPR certification.

- Physical stamina to participate in activities with children

- Ability to stand, walk, and run for extended periods, perform frequent bending, stooping, stretching, lifting (up to 10 lbs.), sitting, stairs, typing, and looking at a computer screen

- Strong written and verbal communication skills and computer experience is required

Schedule :

- Monday – Friday, 10:00am-6:00pm

Qualifications

Education and Certifications

Required:

- Bachelors degree

- MAP Certification (must complete within 90 days of start date if not currently certified)

Preferred:

- Masters degree

- Independently licensed as an LICSW, LMHC, or LMFT with the ability to supervise clinical staff towards licensure.

Experience

Required:

- 3-5 years of previous experience working in a similar setting

Preferred

- 5 or more years of previous experience working in a similar setting

Other Requirements:

- Successfully complete background check suitability requirements

- Must have reliable transportation

- Valid MA drivers license

- Bilingual capabilities preferred, not required

Supervisor: Vice President of Behavioral Health or Designee

Supervises: TASP Clinician, Direct Care Counselors, and Clinical Interns

Equal Opportunity Statement

Walker is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon an individual's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, national guard or reserve unit obligations, participation in discrimination complaint-related activities, or membership in any category protected by federal or state law.