CBAT Milieu Specialist

About Walker Since 1961, Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs has been a trusted partner for children, youth, and families, navigating some of life’s 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 As the CBAT Specialist at Walker, you'll work directly with children and youth who are navigating social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. You'll be part of a supportive, multidisciplinary team that helps youth feel safe, connected, and ready to grow. As your career continues to grow in the human services field, this is a chance to build valuable experience while making a real impact.

Under the guidance of the assigned unit supervisor, Specialists are responsible for providing leadership within the therapeutic milieu for clients within the CBAT program. This includes assisting program leadership with assigned tasks and directly providing and modeling for direct care staff the close supervision of all youth, basic caretaking functions, supporting youth through a daily schedule of activities, and crisis management as needed.

Essential Functions Perform in a way that is aligned with the agency mission and core values. This includes but is not limited to services that are trauma informed, relationship based, family involved, developmentally focused, competence centered, and ecologically oriented.

Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to support the emotional, behavioral, and educational development of youth.

Fulfill all expected duties of direct care staff on shift with you, including providing supervision and basic caretaking.

Act as the point person for the unit when the supervisor is not present, including ensuring that all responsibilities are complete (e.g., youth’s basic needs are met, written reports are complete, programming is followed, physical space in the residence is safe).Provide leadership, training, and mentoring to other team members on the shift.

Assist the unit supervisor with onboarding incoming staff.

Oversee the planning and implementation of social and recreational activities for youth on the unit.

Assist with crises across campus as needed.

Run unit meetings when the supervisor is not present.

Supervise an intern on the unit.

Participate in Walker medication training in order to administer medications to youth as needed.

Maintain spaces in accordance with Walker and licensing standards.

Attend Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings, and treatment meetings as needed, to discuss youth’s progress.

Collaborate with staff and supervisors across shifts and campus programs to ensure smooth operations and consistent treatment of youth.

Additional duties as assigned.

Skills and Abilities

Must be able to successfully pass and apply Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) training

Must be able to successfully complete First Aid/CPR training

Must successfully pass medication training

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to remain calm and make safe decisions in high-pressure situations

Capacity to work effectively in a stressful and fast-paced environment

Ability to learn, retain, and apply principles taught in training and supervision

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…