Licensed Assistant Program Director Outpatient Services

Alvarado Parkway Institute • La Mesa, CA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Alvarado Parkway Institute (API) is a free-standing psychiatric hospital in La Mesa, California with three Intensive Outpatient/Partial Hospitalization Programs. API provides comprehensive adult inpatient behavioral health and addictive disorders services in a 66-bed hospital setting. API is committed to improving the mental health and well-being of our community and is San Diego County's leading provider of comprehensive mental health and substance abuse care. API offers a variety of Outpatient Services designed to assist patients in functioning at the highest level, emphasizing symptom management, community integration, and prevention of hospitalization or re-hospitalization. Value-added services enhance the patient's treatment experience. API is currently seeking a qualified individual to join our team as the Licensed Assistant Program Director of Outpatient Services. This position is responsible for providing quality clinical supervision, training and education to Behavioral Health Therapists, Interns, Associates, Postdocs, and trainees in the Outpatient Services Department. The OPS Assistant Program Director oversees documentation to ensure it is clinically relevant and meets appropriate regulatory standards. They will provide quality patient care and serve as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, supporting the organization’s treatment program and philosophy, and assure the delivery of quality treatment to adult psychiatric patients and their families/caregivers. The OPS Assistant Program Director will assist the Program Director with entering data relevant to program, facilitating treatment team meetings and wrap-up meetings for Outpatient Services, making staff announcements, ensuring that staff meets annual and other requirements of API and regulatory boards (e.g., registration/licensure), assigning caseloads to Behavioral Health Therapists in Outpatient Services. They will assist with communication to OPS Admissions Team regarding admissions to Outpatient Services when indicated and will assist with communication to OPS Program Director regarding management/personnel issues. The OPS Assistant Program Director will assist the OPS Program Director in other duties as assigned, including oversight of the work of Behavioral Health Therapists, Lead Behavioral Health Therapists, Mental Health Workers, Office Coordinator, Nursing Staff, and other program staff.

Requirements

• A strong working knowledge of the most current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), including the ability to engage in differential diagnosis.
• Ability to facilitate and supervise group, individual, family therapies, including curriculum development and treatment planning.
• Knowledge of and ability to teach and/or implement best practices treatment interventions common to those experiencing mental illness, specifically those with severe and persistent mental illness, substance use disorders, and acute mental illness.
• Basic knowledge of abnormal psychology as typically found in the adult psychiatric population and application of this knowledge to intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization treatment.
• Basic familiarity of psychopharmacology and the use of psychotropic medication with the adult psychiatric population.
• Basic understanding of developmental psychology.
• Understanding of and the implementation and training of trauma informed care.
• Experience with adult psychiatric or geriatric patients; in addition to skills in teaching or assisting with activities of daily living.
• Knowledge of and commitment to principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion as applied to clinical populations and employees.
• Basic computer knowledge/ability to develop and provide staff training.
• Good understanding of the English language.
• Basic knowledge using audio-visual equipment.
• California laws regarding abuse and abuse reporting.
• Demonstrates sound leadership skills and utilizes these skills in organizing the activities and schedules for the adult patient population and the staff who work with that population.
• Sound teaching and training skills; and problem-solving, organizational, time management and crisis intervention skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Skills in supervising all levels of clinical staff.
• High quality clinical and interpersonal skills, including acting as an exemplary role model to others.
• Organizes, directs, supervises, and evaluates professional and ancillary personnel.
• Excellent observations skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Trauma informed care.
• Curriculum development.
• Documentation auditing.
• Providing staff feedback and evaluation of performance.
• Must be able to multi-task and have great communication/observation skills.
• Maintain highly confidential information.
• Skilled in prioritizing and managing time; and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to exercise self-control in potentially volatile situations, such as verbally or being physically confronted in a threatening or aggressive manner.
• Must be able to work and concentrate amidst distractions such as noise, conversations, and foot traffic.
• Ability to handle frequent interruptions.
• Must be flexible and not easily frustrated in dealing with different opinions and challenging patient and employee situations.
• Master’s Degree or greater in a recognized mental health field (e.g., Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Clinical Counseling, and/or Social Work).
• Licensed by California Board of Behavioral Sciences or the Board of Psychology.
• Must possess and maintain a BLS CPR Certificate for Healthcare Providers issued by the American Heart Association.
• Must possess and maintain a crisis prevention/intervention certification.
• Experience working in a behavioral health environment (inpatient or outpatient).
• Understanding of psychiatric illness and its treatment, and knowledge of psychotropic medication.

Nice To Haves

• Eligible to provide clinical supervision through reporting board to license eligible staff/licensed with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for 2 years or California Board of Psychology (must be licensed 2 years if supervising BBS registered associates).
• Supervisory experience.
• Experience working with patients with severe, persistent, and acute mental illness, substance use, and/or developmental disabilities.
• Experience working with patients in an intensive outpatient program and/or partial hospitalization program.
• Experience implementing evidence-based therapies.
• Experience with curriculum development.
• Leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the Interviewing process for new hire candidates.
• Reviews and assists with the completion of documentation of Behavioral Health Therapists, Interns, Associates, Trainees, and/or Postdocs to ensure clinical appropriateness, completeness, and adherence to regulatory standards.
• Completes qualitative and quantitative medical record chart audits.
• Assists with review of program forms and policies and procedures to ensure they are up to date and adhere to regulatory and/or Joint Commission Standards.
• Oversees the provision of and/or provides individual, group, family process-oriented therapies as well as oversees the facilitation of and/or facilitates psychoeducation/didactic groups for patients using various professional treatment modalities.
• Provides consultation and guidance for Behavioral Health Therapists, Interns, Associates, Trainees, and Postdocs who provide services for Outpatient Services and other clinical departments when indicated.
• If licensed and eligible to supervise, will provide clinical supervision to Behavioral Health Therapists.
• May provide clinical supervision if eligible to do so per California Board of Behavioral Sciences/Board of Psychology regulations.
• Assist in training of Behavioral Health Therapists, creating and administering staff competencies, and regularly updating Behavioral Health Therapist treatment manual.
• Provides clinical consultation, supervision (if eligible to do so), and support regarding abuse and Tarasoff reporting and other legal, clinical, ethical issues as indicated.
• Provides crisis/milieu management for patients requiring intervention, including risk assessment, ability to initiate and coordinate involuntary assessment and treatment.
• Demonstrates crisis management skills as training for Supervisees.
• Attends and facilitates regular treatment team meetings to provide clinical perspective to total case management of the patient and communicates any state or local agency legal requirement for case management with the interdisciplinary team.
• Ensures all relevant parties participate in and sign the Master Treatment Plan and Treatment Plan Updates.
• Provides oversight of the staffing schedule, group therapy schedule, data entry, and tracking logs for various department functions.
• Facilitates end of the day wrap-up meetings to review admissions, discharges, clinical concerns, and staff announcements.
• Assists in the hiring/termination process of employees.
• Assists with the employee evaluation and disciplinary processes.
• Serves as back up to program director and will meet regularly with director to ensure that program is operating as necessary.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Background/Reference Check & Licensure/Certification
• Employee signed employment non-compete/confidentiality agreement
• Covid-19 and Flu Vaccinations; Medical
• Annual Flu vaccination is required as a condition of hire and ongoing employment.
• Pass drug and alcohol test performed by Concentra.
• Clear TB skin test or Chest X-Ray at Concentra.
• Complete a satisfactory physical examination at Concentra designed solely to determine your ability to perform the duties of the position being offered.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level