DIR - CLINICAL SVCS - BH (Nursing or LCSW)

UHS•Bridgeton, NJ

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Horizon Health is seeking a Behavioral Health Director for the Behavioral Health Program at Inspira Medical Center in Bridgeton, New Jersey. The unit is a psychiatric inpatient/behavioral health program. The Director provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for behavioral health services, ensuring high-quality, evidence-based care that meets regulatory standards, is financially sustainable, and supports organizational goals. The role encompasses program development, staff leadership, quality outcomes, and integration of behavioral health services into multidisciplinary care models. The Director maintains Horizon Health’s contractual relationship with the client hospital and, in coordination with the client, oversees the administration of patient care for the program. Responsibilities include developing and maintaining a high-quality treatment program, implementing a comprehensive community relations program, strategic planning and program administration, and contributing to program nursing and hospital goals through clinical staff supervision. The role oversees behavioral health clinical programs and daily operations; develops and evaluates services, programs, and treatment models; manages budgets and resources; and uses performance, quality, utilization, and patient-outcome data to improve care and operations. The Director leads recruitment, staff development, competency, quality improvement, safety, and regulatory compliance efforts, and represents the organization in strategic planning and appropriate community, professional, and regulatory settings.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) qualification required.
Active Registered Nurse (RN) license or LCSW license in New Jersey required.
Strong licensure and regulatory background, leadership skills, and staff development experience.
Excellent clinical psychiatric knowledge and understanding of programming.
Five to eight or more years of related work experience.
American Heart Association-issued BLS and ACLS required.
CPR certification required.
Strong knowledge of behavioral health clinical standards and best practices.
In-depth understanding of healthcare regulations, accreditation, and reimbursement models.
Ability to evaluate clinical quality and implement performance-improvement initiatives.
Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams.
Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Resilient, adaptable, and mission-driven leadership style; able to manage stress appropriately and channel concerns appropriately.
Ability to build effective relationships with physicians, nurses, therapists, executives, and community partners.
Skill in conflict resolution and staff engagement.
Ability to analyze data, interpret trends, and develop actionable strategies.
Experience using metrics to improve clinical, financial, and operational outcomes.
High ethical standards and commitment to patient-centered care.
Strong organizational and time-management skills.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide clinical oversight for behavioral health programs, ensuring patient safety, quality outcomes, and evidence-based practices.
Develop, implement, and evaluate behavioral health services, programs, and treatment models.
Coordinate with the hospital to ensure compliance with federal, state, and accrediting agency regulations, including CMS, Joint Commission, and state licensing requirements.
Collaborate with medical, nursing, and ancillary leadership to integrate behavioral health services across care settings.
Direct multidisciplinary staff in process-improvement work involving patients, employees, customers, and teams.
Define the treatment program’s philosophy, goals, and objectives with hospital administration, Horizon clinical and operations staff, and the Medical Director.
Work with divisional and national support staff to help the client hospital realize maximum value from Horizon services.
Oversee day-to-day operations of behavioral health departments, including inpatient, outpatient, and/or community-based services.
Develop and manage departmental budgets, staffing models, and resource allocation.
Analyze performance metrics, patient outcomes, and utilization data to drive continuous improvement.
Lead initiatives related to access to care, patient flow, and care coordination.
Recruit, hire, mentor, and evaluate behavioral health clinical and support staff.
Promote professional growth, accountability, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Maintain appropriate staffing levels, competencies, and licensure requirements.
Support staff education, training, and competency validation.
Lead quality-improvement initiatives focused on patient outcomes, safety, and patient experience.
Respond to regulatory reviews, audits, and corrective action plans.
Ensure compliance with ethical standards, patient rights, and confidentiality requirements.
Participate in organizational strategic planning for behavioral health services.
Identify opportunities for service expansion, partnerships, and program innovation.
Represent the organization in community, professional, and regulatory settings as appropriate.
Maintain the Horizon Health/client hospital contractual relationship and administer patient care in coordination with the client.
Develop and maintain a high-quality treatment program and a comprehensive community relations program.
Contribute to program nursing and hospital goals through supervision of clinical staff.
Perform other duties as assigned or required.