Team Lead

Transitions Mental Health Asso•San Luis Obispo, CA

20d•$116,160 - $133,320

About The Position

The Team Lead directs the day-to-day clinical and operational work of the Mobile Crisis Team in San Luis Obispo County. The program provides 24/7 crisis triage, dispatch, psychiatric placement and transportation coordination, and community-based mobile crisis response for people of all ages experiencing behavioral health crises. It coordinates crisis-system services and resources and provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive care in the least restrictive setting. Under the direction of the Clinical Director and in collaboration with San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health and Central Coast Hotline leadership, the Team Lead oversees program administration, clinical oversight, operations, integration, and continuous improvement. Responsibilities include 24/7 staffing and coverage, supervision and training, quality assurance, documentation, WIC section 5150/5585 designation processes, contract compliance, data and reporting, budgets, partner relationships, and critical incident response. The Team Lead provides clinical consultation within the scope of licensure and supports crisis assessment and disposition decisions, coordinating dispatch and field response. This licensed clinical leadership role may also provide direct crisis services when operationally necessary and within the scope of licensure and designation. This is a full-time, exempt position. The anticipated hiring range is $116,160–$124,430 annually; the full salary schedule is $116,160–$133,320. The position works a regular management schedule and participates in on-call coverage. Evening, overnight, weekend, and holiday work may be required based on operational needs or critical incidents. Work takes place in office and community settings, including hospitals, behavioral health facilities, partner-agency locations, residences, and public settings. Frequent driving and local travel may be required. The role involves moderate physical activity, potential lifting or moving of up to 50 pounds, moderate risks requiring safety precautions, and contact with people experiencing acute psychiatric, substance-use, behavioral, or safety crises. Transitions–Mental Health Association (TMHA) is a nonprofit agency providing mental health services and support to individuals and families. Its mission is to eliminate stigma and promote recovery and wellness for people with mental illness through work, housing, community, and family support services. TMHA describes its workplace as supportive and inclusive and promotes trauma-informed care, collaborative communication, equality, respect, and diversity.

Requirements

Current, active California license in good standing as an LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, or Licensed Psychologist; the license must remain active and in good standing throughout employment.
At least two years of professional behavioral health experience working with serious mental illness, behavioral health crisis, co-occurring substance-use disorders, or other high-acuity behavioral health needs.
At least one year of experience in crisis intervention, mobile crisis, emergency psychiatric services, crisis stabilization, or a comparable high-acuity setting.
At least one year of leadership or supervisory experience, including staff supervision and program operations.
Working knowledge of crisis assessment, de-escalation, safety planning, WIC section 5150/LPS processes, psychiatric placement, and community behavioral health crisis systems.
Meet the qualifications of an eligible Medi-Cal Mobile Crisis provider under DHCS BHIN 23-025 and successfully complete required Medi-Cal Mobile Crisis, M-TAC, County, TMHA, and program-specific training.
Be eligible and willing to complete County WIC section 5150 designation training and maintain the designation required for the position.
Ability to manage complex 24/7 staffing and scheduling, including on-call coverage, relief, surge staffing, vacancies, training coverage, and concurrent service demands.
Experience with program development and implementation, policies and procedures, quality assurance, data collection and reporting, contract monitoring, and continuous quality improvement.
Strong supervisory and leadership abilities, including coaching, supporting, evaluating, and holding staff accountable in a collaborative, trauma-informed environment.
Strong interpersonal skills, collaborative work style, and oral and written communication skills.
Well-defined organizational and time-management skills.
Prioritization and problem-solving skills and ability to manage urgent and long-range priorities simultaneously.
Ability to work independently and flexibly and respond to urgent operational needs outside regular business hours while on call.
Ability to handle intense situations, exercise sound judgment, and remain calm and clearheaded under pressure.
Strong computer skills and ability to learn and use SmartCare, dispatch software, call systems, databases, spreadsheets, and other program technology.
Ability to work effectively with people of varied ages, backgrounds, identities, and socioeconomic levels; maintain a professional, respectful attitude and work well within a team.
Ability to possess and maintain good physical and mental health.
Willingness to work with supervisor oversight and direction.
Ability to meet attendance requirements for face-to-face interaction with clients and/or employees.
Ability to promote equality and respect diversity, and to deliver culturally and linguistically responsive services; knowledge of dimensions of diversity, including mental health, gender, race, and ethnicity.
Use reasonable precautions and follow applicable safety rules to maximize safety for oneself, coworkers, clients, and others encountered through TMHA business.
If providing clinical supervision toward BBS licensure, meet applicable California Board of Behavioral Sciences supervisor qualifications, training, and documentation requirements.
Participate in the program’s on-call supervisory rotation and support the operational requirements of a 24/7 crisis service.
Be at least 18 years of age; possess a valid California driver’s license, at least two years of driving experience, and a DMV record meeting TMHA vehicle-insurance requirements. Reliable personal vehicle and auto insurance may be required.
Comply with a TB assessment (and, if needed, TB testing) and obtain criminal-record clearance through fingerprinting.
Successfully complete First Aid and CPR training and maintain other certifications or clearances required for the position.

Nice To Haves

Experience with budget management, quality assurance, contract compliance, and/or management of 24/7 services is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Direct the day-to-day clinical, administrative, and operational functions of the Mobile Crisis Team and ensure continuous 24/7/365 mobile response availability in accordance with contracts, TMHA policy, County procedures, and applicable Medi-Cal Mobile Crisis standards.
Develop and manage staffing schedules, including two-person mobile response coverage, on-call coverage, relief staffing, and surge response.
Select, supervise, train, evaluate, schedule, and develop assigned staff, including Crisis Specialists, Peer Support Specialists, leads, administrative support, and interns.
Coordinate with the Central Coast Hotline and Crisis Dispatch Program Manager on training, workflows, team availability, staffing changes, dispatch, handoffs, and communication.
Participate in the on-call supervisory rotation and provide after-hours clinical and operational consultation within licensure scope; escalate complex clinical, risk, or organizational matters to the Clinical Director as appropriate.
Oversee psychiatric placement workflows, including referral packets, communications with dispatch, hospitals, and receiving facilities, and escalation of placement barriers.
Coordinate non-emergency transportation needs with dispatch in accordance with the County Transportation Guide and documentation requirements.
Coordinate post-hospitalization appointments and follow-up needs with dispatch and administrative staff, ensuring assigned responsibilities are completed and documented on time.
Provide clinical oversight of crisis assessment, de-escalation, safety planning, use of authority under WIC sections 5150 and 5585, disposition planning, service linkage, and required follow-up.
Manage WIC sections 5150 and 5585 training and designation processes for eligible staff and maintain designation and renewal records.
Develop and monitor staff orientation, field training, dispatch coordination training, and ongoing competency development, including required Medi-Cal Mobile Crisis, M-TAC, annual, and position-specific training.
Maintain training records and submit required documentation to the County within established timelines.
Supervise SmartCare and clinical documentation processes to ensure records are complete, accurate, timely, and compliant with applicable County, Medi-Cal, CalMHSA, TMHA, and claiming requirements.
Conduct and document quality-assurance activities, clinical and documentation reviews, case reviews, and corrective actions with TMHA Quality Assurance and the Clinical Director; identify trends and implement improvements.
Collect, monitor, and submit required County and State data, service reports, training reports, cost reports, and other contract deliverables on time.
Monitor program performance and outcomes, including response times and capacity, placements, transportation coordination, follow-up, documentation quality, and safety events; use data to guide improvements.
Develop, implement, and maintain program policies, procedures, workflows, and decision tools for crisis response, safety, high-acuity situations, placements, transportation, documentation, downtime, incidents, and demand exceeding available teams; coordinate shared workflows with dispatch.
Develop, implement, and manage program budgets and line-item expenditures with TMHA leadership.
Maintain readiness of vehicles, phones, mobile response technology, office space, safety equipment, and other resources, directly or through delegation.
Establish and maintain working relationships with County Behavioral Health, law enforcement, EMS, hospitals, psychiatric facilities, FSP and youth service teams, Drug and Alcohol Services, Public Guardian, transportation vendors, and community partners.
Lead staff meetings, clinical case consultation, debriefing, training, and operational reviews that support clinical practice, communication, staff development, accountability, teamwork, and learning.
Promote trauma-informed practices and TMHA’s Guidelines for Collaborative Communication in services and team activities.
Respond to and coordinate follow-up on critical incidents, safety events, partner concerns, complaints, and operational breakdowns, including notification, documentation, debriefing, and corrective action.
Assist the Clinical Director and TMHA leadership with program development, contract implementation, service expansion, and continuous quality improvement.
Perform other duties as assigned.