DIR - CRISIS STABILIZATION SERVICES II - HORIZON

UHS

4h•Onsite

About The Position

Horizon Health Corporation is seeking a Director of Crisis Stabilization Service to oversee the walk in Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center in Richmond, VA. The Director of Crisis Stabilization Services provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for a 24/7 crisis stabilization continuum (e.g., Walk-In, 23-Hour Observation, Crisis Stabilization Unit/Center, Mobile Crisis Response, and/or Short-Term Residential). This role ensures high-quality, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented services that emphasize rapid engagement, least restrictive care, safety, and seamless connection to ongoing treatment and community resources. The Director partners closely with internal and external stakeholders (e.g., 988/911, EMS/Law Enforcement, EDs/Urgent Care, payers, community providers, and county/state authorities) to optimize patient flow, outcomes, compliance, and fiscal sustainability. Scope Walk in Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center 24 Chair 23-hour, 59-minute observation unit (psychiatric ER) 66-75 staff Projected Annual Revenue – 5 to 8 million As a member of the agency Leadership Team, the Director of Crisis Stabilization Services supervises management and clinical staff, ensures fiscal and operational integrity, and represents the agency within the community in a professional and collaborative manner.

Requirements

Master’s Degree required
Must have 10+ years of related work experience
One of the following in good standing (or state equivalent): LCSW, LPC/LPCC, LMFT, Licensed Psychologist, RN (BSN strongly preferred) or APRN/PMHNP with behavioral health leadership experience required
BLS required; CPI (or equivalent de‑escalation) required within 60 days of hire required
Minimum of 10 years progressively responsible experience in behavioral health or crisis services, including a minimum of five years in leadership (program management, service line leadership, or clinical operations)
Demonstrated experience running 24/7 environments and managing multidisciplinary teams
Crisis assessment and stabilization across diagnoses (mood, psychosis, SUD, co-occurring disorders, neurodiversity, and medical comorbidity)
Suicide risk and violence risk assessment; least restrictive alternatives; brief therapeutic modalities (MI, CBT/DBT-informed, safety planning)
Medication basics for acute stabilization; collaboration with prescribers; understanding of EPS/SEs and medical clearance considerations
Regulatory expertise (HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, EMTALA context, restraint/seclusion rules, state mental health statutes, patient rights)
Familiarity with 988 ecosystem, law enforcement co-response, and ED diversion models
Strategic planning, budget/P&L management, staffing models, and throughput optimization
Data-driven management: KPIs, dashboards, variance analysis, and QI methodologies (e.g., PDSA, root cause analysis)
Contract/grant stewardship; payer relations and utilization management
Must obtain and maintain a fingerprint clearance card and pass a background check
Proven track record with regulatory accreditation (Joint Commission/CARF/state licensing), quality improvement, and budget management
Trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, culturally responsive leadership with commitment to health equity
Expert communicator with stakeholders, patients/families, clinical teams, payers, law enforcement, community partners)
Extensive knowledge of Psychiatric Observation and Stabilization Units
Change management and resilience-building in high-acuity settings
Proficient with EHRs, incident/risk platforms, scheduling tools, and telehealth workflows
Intermediate to advanced skills in Excel/Sheets and dashboarding/analytics tools
Staff development, performance management, and accountability
Valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record, reliable transportation, and home telephone
Ability to prioritize workload and manage competing demands
Sound judgment and effective decision-making

Nice To Haves

Addiction credential (e.g., LCDC/LCAS) or experience; C-SSRS proficiency; trauma-informed care certification preferred
Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred

Responsibilities

Develop and execute annual strategic and operational plans for crisis programs (access, throughput, staffing, quality, budget, partnerships).
Oversee 24/7 operations, ensuring adequate coverage, safe staffing ratios, acuity-based assignments, and surge planning.
Lead program design and continuous improvement for walk-in/observation, stabilization unit, mobile crisis, and step-up/step-down pathways.
Manage budgets (P&L), revenue cycle touchpoints, and key vendor agreements (e.g., labs, pharmacy, security, transportation).
Own revenue cycle performance (pre‑auth, concurrent review, denials, coding, collections) and payer relationships.
Manage budgets, labor productivity, staffing matrices, throughput, and bed utilization to target.
Establish and maintain evidence-informed clinical pathways for rapid triage, suicide risk assessment, medical/behavioral clearance, de-escalation, medication management, and brief therapeutic interventions.
Chair or co-chair clinical risk/safety committees; oversee incident review, root cause analysis, and corrective action plans.
Ensure compliance with applicable regulations and standards (e.g., state licensing, CMS, The Joint Commission or CARF, EMTALA where applicable, 42 CFR Part 2, HIPAA, workplace violence prevention).
Implement measurement-based care and quality dashboards (e.g., time-to-triage, LOS, restraint/seclusion rates, readmissions/returns within 7 or 30 days, follow-up appointment adherence).
Recruit, develop, and retain a multidisciplinary team (LCSWs/LPCs/LMFTs, RNs/LVNs, peers, care coordinators, psychiatrists/PMHNPs).
Model trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and recovery-oriented care; promote just culture and staff well-being.
Provide regular supervision, performance evaluations, competency assessments, and succession planning.
Lead training in crisis intervention, suicide prevention, de-escalation, and violence mitigation; maintain competencies (e.g., CPI or equivalent).
Build strong referral pathways with 988 call centers, law enforcement/EMS, EDs, inpatient psych, SUD providers, shelters, and community-based organizations.
Oversee diversion and least-restrictive placement strategies; reduce avoidable ED utilization and inpatient admissions.
Coordinate care transitions: warm handoffs, discharge planning, transportation, and rapid outpatient follow-up (24–72 hours).
Integrate peer support specialists; elevate lived experience voices in program design and QA/QI.
Ensure services are accessible and culturally/linguistically appropriate; address social determinants of health (housing, transportation, benefits navigation).
Lead market positioning and business development in collaboration with corporate leadership.
Ensure accurate, timely documentation in the EHR; monitor documentation quality and coding integrity.
Produce and present regular reports (operational, clinical, financial, and outcomes) to executive leadership and funders.
Steward grants and contracts (deliverables, reporting, audits) as applicable.
Performs other duties as assigned/required by this position.