Director of Medical Respite Care

CITY CARE INC•Oklahoma City, OK

18d•Onsite

About The Position

City Care is seeking a builder, connector, and experienced leader to help launch and grow its Medical Respite Program. This role will be instrumental in establishing a 40-bed facility where individuals experiencing homelessness can safely recover post-hospitalization while maintaining connections to essential services. The Director will lead the Medical Respite team, manage day-to-day operations, develop necessary systems and partnerships, and shape the future of medical respite care in the community. This is a non-clinical leadership position that requires close collaboration with a contracted clinical provider to ensure a coordinated, person-centered program.

Requirements

A strong commitment to serving people experiencing homelessness with dignity, respect, and belief in their autonomy.
At least five years of progressively responsible experience in homeless services, healthcare, behavioral health, public health, human services, or a related field.
At least three years of experience supervising staff, leading teams, or managing programs.
Experience launching, building, or significantly growing a program, facility, service, or community initiative.
Experience managing budgets, performance measures, policies, partnerships, and complex day-to-day operations.
Working knowledge of trauma-informed care, harm reduction, housing-focused services, and the barriers faced by individuals without stable housing.
Ability to build strong relationships across healthcare, homelessness response systems, and community organizations.
Strong communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, including navigating difficult or urgent situations calmly.
Ability to work closely with clinical professionals while maintaining clear boundaries between clinical and non-clinical responsibilities.
Willingness to lead through change, learn as the program grows, and build systems for continuous improvement.
A bachelor's degree in social work, public health, healthcare administration, nonprofit management, human services, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience with medical respite.
Experience with hospital discharge planning.
Experience with managed care.
Experience with supportive housing.
Experience with shelter operations.
Experience with integrated healthcare.
Experience with 24-hour residential programs.
Experience with quality improvement.

Responsibilities

Lead the launch, stabilization, and growth of the Medical Respite Program, from a nine-bed pilot to a permanent 40-bed facility.
Develop and strengthen policies, procedures, workflows, staffing structures, and operational systems for a safe and effective program.
Establish program goals and priorities aligned with City Care's mission and the Housing First approach.
Identify and address program gaps, solve problems, and drive continuous improvement.
Ensure the program operates with trauma-informed care, harm reduction, dignity, autonomy, and respect.
Oversee non-clinical day-to-day operations, including staffing, facility management, guest experience, and program quality.
Coordinate admission, transition, and discharge processes with hospital partners, the clinical provider, Housing Navigation, and community partners.
Ensure consistent review of referrals based on established eligibility criteria.
Maintain clear processes for guest orientation, transportation, meals, safety, incident response, grievances, accommodations, housing navigation, and resource connections.
Collaborate with internal City Care teams (Facilities, Nutrition, Safety, HR, Finance) to ensure operational needs are met.
Lead non-clinical emergency preparedness and incident review in partnership with leadership and the clinical provider.
Prioritize housing as a central component of the work, integrating medical recovery and housing navigation.
Lead, supervise, and develop the non-clinical Medical Respite team, establishing clear roles, expectations, and accountability.
Recruit, onboard, and retain a skilled and compassionate team.
Provide regular supervision, coaching, feedback, recognition, and professional growth opportunities.
Foster a workplace culture of collaboration, learning, psychological safety, and staff well-being.
Ensure staff receive ongoing training in trauma-informed care, harm reduction, de-escalation, boundaries, confidentiality, cultural humility, incident response, and collaboration with clinical personnel.
Create channels for guests and staff to raise concerns and provide feedback.
Serve as the primary operational partner to the contracted clinical provider, managing roles, communication, escalation pathways, and expectations.
Build and maintain strong relationships with hospitals, health systems, discharge planners, managed care organizations, public health agencies, medical providers, and community partners.
Develop clear referral pathways and communication practices for smooth transitions into and out of Medical Respite.
Collaborate with partners to identify care gaps and strengthen connections between healthcare, housing, and community services.
Represent City Care in community discussions related to medical respite.
Support the development and stewardship of institutional partnerships for long-term program sustainability.
Establish and monitor program outcomes, service standards, and performance measures.
Utilize data, feedback, and trends to inform program improvements.
Provide accurate and timely program information and reports to leadership, the Board, funders, and partners.
Develop and manage the Medical Respite operating budget in partnership with Finance and the Chief Programs Officer.
Monitor staffing, expenses, contracted services, supplies, and program revenue, making necessary adjustments.
Support financial and operational planning for program growth.
Partner with Advancement and executive leadership to provide information for fundraising and sustainability efforts.