Behavioral Health Director

South Central Family Health Cent•Los Angeles, CA

1d•$140,000 - $165,000

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Director provides direct patient care, including psychotherapy, assessments, psychological testing, evaluation of statutory questions, substance abuse interventions, and crisis interventions. The role also develops and maintains positive relationships with clinic staff to support integration of behavioral health into medical services, and works with regional school counselors and administrators to provide prevention, education, and supportive behavioral health services. The director manages staff, budgets, contracts, program development, implementation, and evaluation across Behavioral Health Services. The role ensures that services comply with applicable professional, legal, ethical, contractual, and regulatory standards, and supports integrated care within the Patient Centered Medical Home. The director facilitates patient access to substance-use, psychiatric, and specialty mental health services through community collaboration and referrals. The position oversees documentation and data collection, including use of NEXTGEN and other charting systems; leads development and implementation of behavioral health policies, procedures, and training; prepares reports, publication articles, and grant or proposal requests; and leads emergency preparedness activities with the Chief Medical Officer and department leads. The director collaborates with clinic operations and administrative staff on documentation and reporting, supervises and develops employees, maintains patient care protocols and standards in coordination with the Chief Medical Officer, audits operations for compliance, and reviews behavioral health patient complaints and grievances.

Requirements

Bachelor of Arts degree required.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Psychologist with an appropriate clinical background required.
Current on professional continuing medical education (CME) requirements.
Knowledge of clinical objectives, programs, methods, procedures, and standards within the area of expertise.
Skill in developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.
Ability to use independent judgment and manage and impart information to a range of clientele and/or media sources.
Knowledge of related accreditation and certification requirements.
Ability to supervise and train employees, including organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments.
Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.
Outstanding interpersonal and community relations skills, and ability to communicate and work effectively within a diverse community.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral degree in a behavioral health field and extensive related clinical and administrative experience preferred.
At least three years of prior experience in a community clinic preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide direct patient care through psychotherapy, assessments, psychological testing, evaluation of statutory questions, substance abuse interventions, and crisis interventions.
Build positive relationships with clinic staff and support integration of behavioral health services with medical services.
Work with regional school counselors and administrators to provide prevention, education, and other supportive behavioral health services.
Manage staff, budgets, contracts, program development and implementation, and evaluation for all Behavioral Health Services components.
Ensure services and programs adhere to applicable professional, legal, ethical, contractual, and regulatory requirements.
Manage services to facilitate integrated care as part of the Patient Centered Medical Home.
Ensure patients can access substance-use, psychiatry, and specialty mental health services through community collaboration and referrals.
Ensure staff document services, encounters, insurance coverage, and billing details in NEXTGEN or other charting and data-collection systems.
Lead development, evaluation, and implementation of behavioral health policies, procedures, and training and education modules related to contract activities.
Work with subcontractors, as applicable, to develop and implement behavioral health policies and procedures consistent with prime contract requirements.
Prepare written reports, articles for publication, and requests for proposals or grants related to behavioral health.
Lead emergency preparedness activities with the Chief Medical Officer and department leads.
Collaborate with clinic operations management and administrative front-office staff to meet data-collection and documentation requirements, and jointly oversee statistical and program reports.
Select, orient, train, assign, schedule, coach, counsel, and discipline employees; communicate expectations; monitor and appraise performance; recommend compensation actions; and follow policies and procedures.
Review, establish, and maintain patient care protocols and standards in coordination with the Chief Medical Officer, ensuring compliance with federal and state requirements.
Coordinate monitoring and routine audits of clinic operations to ensure compliance with contractual and regulatory mandates.
Review and determine outcomes for patient complaints and grievances regarding behavioral health care.
Maintain working knowledge of the health care environment as it relates to clinical programs.