Milieu Lead
Nexus Family Healing
Summary
Nexus-Woodbourne is seeking an inspiring Milieu Lead to oversee daily residential programming while promoting a culture of empathy, safety, and trauma-informed care for youth with complex needs. Through staff mentorship, real-time coaching, and collaboration with clinical teams, the role ensures consistent therapeutic support that encourages healing, resilience, and growth.
Job description
Position Summary
The Milieu Lead is responsible for leading and ensuring that the daily programming of the milieu is carried out in a safe and productive manner by leading the shift, providing mentoring and coaching of team members, ensuring effective interventions are implemented, supporting and ensuring that all care professionals are proactively following youth Individual and Family Guidance Plans and that the team is working toward youth treatment goals and supporting a trauma-informed milieu environment.
Primary Responsibilities
Trauma Informed Care
- Serves as a mentor and role model for Youth Care Professionals by following trauma-informed practices.
- Ensures client safety and collaborates with co-workers to maintain an environment that is positive, respectful, clean, and therapeutic.
- Regularly assists in training and development processes for new Youth Care Professionals.
- Leads the shift and ensures that all related daily shift activities occur as planned; coordinates daily decision-making and problem-solving as needed during the shift.
- Counted as part of the staff/client ratio and performs all duties of a Youth Care Professional.
- Leads and directs youth daily routine and coordinates changes and the deployment of staff in order to meet youth and milieu needs.
Milieu Leadership & Coordination
- Watches over the milieu culture and instills interventions for the establishment of a healthy, safe, and effective residential culture.
- Assumes a leadership role among Youth Care Professionals to support trauma work in the milieu.
- Participates in the planning and implementation of trauma-informed, strengths-based treatment plans, restorative approaches, and therapeutic services.
- Mentors and coaches other Youth Care Professionals on ways they can better respond to situations in alignment with the agency's treatment philosophy and the individual guidance plan.
- Provides in the moment feedback in the milieu and intervene and/or redirect all Youth Care Professionals interactions that are not within the trauma response framework.
Agency Policy & Procedure
- Leads staff in ensuring compliance with all emotional and physical safety policies and procedures involving living areas, buildings, campus grounds, and while attending off-campus activities.
- Coaches and mentors Youth Care Professionals to increase and enhance de-escalation skills and reduce the need for physical restraints.
- Takes an active role in establishing and maintaining a work environment consistent with the agency standards and organizational values; carries out the vision of the agency and program leadership in supporting staff and youth.
- Works effectively with client families and/or support networks to reinforce positive partnerships, engagement and involvement techniques.
- Remains cognizant of clients' individual guidance plans and their individual needs while providing in the moment coaching and mentoring for optimal interactions and relationship building.
- Collaborates with the clinical team to address concerns, strengths, and recommendations to the Individual and Family guidance plans.
- Responsible to ensure that key communications have been completed related to significant events according to best-practice and policy.
Compliance & Licensing
- Ensures compliance with licensing, regulatory and accreditation bodies during scheduled shifts.
- Complies with all documentation and standards in a timely manner and ensures the completion of all documentation and shift duties are completed by the end of the shift.
- Conducts debriefing activities with Youth Care Professionals and youth regarding significant events in order to provide continuous quality improvement as needed.
- Provides ongoing encouragement and verbal recognition of Youth Care Professionals, while also providing feedback about Youth Care Professionals' work performance on formal evaluations and for the purpose of employee development as necessary.
- Attends all staff meetings and remains current on all company policies, assigned trainings and/or certification requirements.
Requirements
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- Some previous work experience
- Valid driver's license required
- Maintains state regulating agency and company driving requirements
- Associate degree or bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or clinically related field preferred
- 2 years previous residential and youth mental health experience strongly preferred
Benefits
- 4 Weeks PTO First Year
- 7 Paid Holidays
- Spring, Summer, Winter Breaks
- Health Insurance Options
- No-Cost Life Insurance
- Short/Long-Term Disability
- 401(k) Matching
- Talkspace Therapy Benefit
- Hinge Health Benefit
- Carrot Fertility Benefit
- Tuition Assistance
- Training Opportunities
- Advancement Pathways
Company overview
Nexus Family Healing is a specialized mental health care organization focused on providing comprehensive therapeutic services for children, adolescents, and families. The organization operates as a healthcare provider in the mental health sector, offering evidence-based treatment programs designed to address complex emotional and behavioral challenges. Nexus Family Healing employs a family-centered approach to healing, recognizing that sustainable recovery often requires addressing systemic family dynamics alongside individual therapeutic needs. Their services typically include residential treatment, outpatient therapy, family counseling, and specialized programs for trauma recovery. The organization is dedicated to creating safe, supportive environments where young people can develop coping skills, build resilience, and work toward emotional wellness. With a commitment to clinical excellence and compassionate care, Nexus Family Healing serves as an important resource for families navigating mental health challenges, providing structured therapeutic interventions that promote long-term healing and family reunification when appropriate.