Clinical Director for Residential Adolescent Care

A BETTER LIFE RECOVERY LLC•Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

About The Position

The Clinical Director is a senior clinical leader responsible for ensuring high-quality, ethical, and compliant clinical care across Mission Prep’s Los Angeles adolescent residential program. This role provides clinical leadership, supervision, and program oversight, while maintaining a small caseload and collaborating closely with Operations, Nursing, Admissions, Utilization Review, Compliance, and Outreach. The Clinical Director ensures that all clinical services align with Mission Prep’s philosophy of connection over control, empowerment, identity development, and trauma-informed, evidence-based care, while supporting program stability, family engagement, staff development, and strong clinical outcomes. This is a highly relational, hands-on leadership role for a clinician who can balance clinical depth, systems thinking, and team development in a 24/7 residential environment. PROGRAM OVERVIEW Mission Prep is an adolescent specific treatment program under the AMFM Healthcare family. Mission Prep aims to provide support and sustainable change for adolescents and families who are challenged by primary mental health struggles. Mission Prep Los Angeles is an established adolescent residential treatment program serving clients ages 12–17. The region currently operates four residential homes with a total census of approximately 24 clients and has been providing care for nearly three years. The Los Angeles program is entering a next phase of maturity and clinical excellence. The Clinical Director will play a critical role in elevating the clinical experience, strengthening clinical culture, deepening family engagement, and refining systems, while also supporting potential future growth and expanded leadership oversight within the region.

Requirements

Licensed clinician (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, PsyD, PhD or equivalent) eligible to practice in California.
Possess valid driver’s license with ability to be insured by our auto insurance policy which includes, but not limited to, the following requirements: 4 continuous years of driving experience, 21 years of age or older, less than 3 moving violations in the last 3 years, and no more than 1 major violation in the last 3 years.
Significant experience in adolescent residential or intensive treatment settings.
Demonstrated strength in clinical supervision, family systems work, and crisis leadership.
Strong collaborator with the ability to work effectively across disciplines.
Grounded, relational leader who balances warmth with accountability.
Interest in program excellence, stability, and potential regional growth.

Responsibilities

PROVIDE WEEKLY INDIVIDUAL SUPERVISION AND GROUP SUPERVISION TO ASSIGNED CLINICIANS IN ACCORDANCE WITH LICENSURE AND PROGRAM STANDARDS
OFFER REAL-TIME COACHING AROUND COMPLEX CASES, CRISES, FAMILY DYNAMICS, AND RISK MANAGEMENT.
MODEL AND REINFORCE MISSION PREP’S CLINICAL PHILOSOPHY, INCLUDING: Relational care over containment Agency, identity development, and healthy risk-taking Integration of CBT, DBT, ACT, trauma-informed, and family systems approaches
Maintain a manageable caseload, including individual therapy, family therapy, and group facilitation as assigned.
Conduct biopsychosocial assessments and risk assessments; develop and monitor measurable, individualized treatment plans.
Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, and clinical consultation as needed.
Collaborate with psychiatry, medical providers, and external specialists to support integrated care.
Ensure consistent, high-quality family involvement throughout treatment, including orientation, family therapy, and ongoing clinical communication.
Facilitate the weekly regional Family Support Group, providing psychoeducation and support around: Communication and repair Co-regulation and boundaries Adolescent development and identity formation
Partner with case management and aftercare planning to ensure family readiness for discharge and step-down care.
Ensure group programming is clinically sound, developmentally appropriate, and consistently implemented across all houses.
Support and refine core programming pillars, including: Identity development Digital wellness Emotion regulation Experiential, somatic, and relational interventions
Oversee group schedules, observe groups as needed, and provide feedback to facilitators to strengthen depth and engagement.
Collaborate closely with Operations, Nursing, Direct Care, Admissions, Case Management, and Compliance.
Ensure the clinical lens informs: Milieu structure Behavior plans Crisis response Daily routines and expectations
Support staff understanding of trauma histories, triggers, and translating treatment goals into day-to-day interactions.
Ensure all clinical documentation meets program, state, and accreditation standards.
Monitor documentation quality and timeliness across the clinical team; provide corrective coaching as needed.
Participate in chart audits, incident reviews, and quality assurance processes.
Complete peer-to-peer reviews with payors in collaboration with Utilization Review, supporting medical necessity, authorizations, and length-of-stay determinations.
Uphold and train staff on ethical and legal standards, including mandated reporting and scope of practice.
Identify clinical training needs and facilitate in-services on key topics (e.g., risk assessment, family systems, documentation, boundaries, burnout).
Provide coaching around countertransference, clinical judgment, professional boundaries, and sustainability in residential work.
Partner with leadership on program development, curriculum refinement, and model evolution.
Monitor and respond to clinical metrics such as: Family engagement Incidents and hospitalizations Length of stay trends Discharge outcomes
Support clinical eligibility determinations and pre-admission consultations as needed.
Collaborate with Utilization Review to provide strong, clinically sound justifications for authorization and continued stay.
Ensure treatment planning aligns with realistic length-of-stay expectations and proactive discharge planning.
Model Mission Prep’s values in all interactions.
Foster a clinical culture that is warm, accountable, feedback-driven, and developmentally attuned.
Address clinical culture concerns proactively and partner with leadership to support morale, alignment, and retention.
Serve as a steady, trusted presence for clinicians navigating high-acuity adolescent work.
Participate in the clinical on-call rotation, providing consultation, documentation support, and follow-up as needed.
Support onboarding and orientation of new clinicians.
Contribute to special projects, system-wide initiatives, or potential regional expansion efforts as requested.
Provide input into clinical staff performance evaluations and development plans.
Engage in ongoing professional development to remain aligned with best practices.
Attend or lead morning clinical or interdisciplinary huddles/rounds.
Provide real-time clinical consultation and support to clinicians and milieu staff.
Deliver scheduled individual therapy, family sessions, and/or groups.
Monitor client acuity, safety concerns, and emerging risks across the program.
Review and sign off on critical documentation, incident notes, and clinical updates.
Communicate timely clinical updates to families, Utilization Review, and external providers when indicated.
Ensure continuity of clinical coverage throughout the day.
Provide scheduled individual and group supervision to assigned clinicians.
Facilitate the regional Family Support Group.
Review client progress, treatment plans, and risk status.
Monitor documentation quality and compliance.
Participate in leadership, interdisciplinary, and clinical meetings.
Support peer-to-peer reviews with payors as needed.
Provide coaching and feedback to clinicians around decision-making and professional growth.
Participate in chart audits and quality assurance reviews.
Review clinical trends and metrics with leadership.
Contribute to program development and curriculum refinement initiatives.
Provide input into clinician performance evaluations.
Facilitate or contribute to clinical trainings or in-services.
Engage in ongoing professional learning and consultation.