Behavioral Health Clinical Director

In the Departments of Correction and Mental Health and Addiction Services this class is accountable for directing multiple clinical programs in a facility or Local Mental Health Authority or directing statewide clinical support services and programs in the Central Office.

• This position is necessary to safely maintain the direct operation of the SWCMHS F.S Duboise Center Site that provides services to almost 500 clients and to provide adequate supervision and support to the Triage, CSP, and CSU Supervisors and a Clinical Manager who provide some of the most intensive services in the SWCMHS service system. 
• Directs the overall administrative and clinical operations of SWCMHS F.S Duboise Center Site including direct oversite of the site’s physical environment of care and the Triage, CSU, and CSP outpatient clinical services. 
• Provides clinical consultation to Outpatient staff and clients within the Lead Mental Health Agency (LMHA). 
• Provides clinical and administrative consultation to the YAS Outpatient team and collaborates with the YAS Director. In collaboration with managers and supervisors, triages internal outpatient transfers and transfers from state operated inpatient units. 
• Provides oversight of admissions and discharges to state hospitals, other state facilities and community hospitals, tracks Length of Stay and barriers to admissions and discharge.
• Provides oversight, supervision and direct clinical liaison interface to state hospitals, other state facilities and community hospitals. Assures that services and staff operate within DMHAS, and SWCMHS policies and procedures.
• Responsible for oversight of outpatient risk management and directly participates in the SWCMHS Risk Committee Meeting. 
• Coordinates and participates in high-risk treatment planning, case conferences, etc.
• Participates in the allocation and management of human resources.
• Attends to complaints from Commissioner’s and Governor’s Offices. 
• Manages, directs, and implements clinical initiatives with the LMHA and in the community service system.
• Attends and participates in scheduled contract agency meetings and serves as a clinical liaison to contract agencies as needed. 
• Provides education and training to community contract agency staff as requested. 
• Collaborates with substance abuse providers to integrate substance abuse with mental health services.
• Provides clinical supervision and training to SWCMHS managers, supervisors and staff as needed. 
• Facilitates problem identification and resolution at case conferences and critical incident reviews.
• Manages the annual DMHAS satisfaction survey process for the Bridgeport service system. 
• Serves as a member of assigned committees. 
• Develops and implements innovative and cost-effective services to meet client need. 
• Facilitates SWCMHS Operations Meeting.
• May represent SWCMHS in grievance and/or other hearings. 
• May provide training and/or direct group supervision regarding individual, family, and group psychotherapy or other interventions to enhance staff competence. 
• Promotes cultural and gender diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, sensitivity to client's needs, and assures clients rights.
• Participate in crisis intervention as indicated. Attend all assigned and required meeting. Investigates, respond to and report incidents as delineated by SWCMHS policy.
• Participate in Critical Incident Debriefings as necessary. 
• May represents the SWCMHS on statewide policy and development groups.
• Assures compliance with quality information management findings and recommendations. 
• Promotes collaborative relationships with City and State Police and provides feedback specific to the needs of DMHAS clients. 
• Participates in performance improvement activities.
• Complies with ethical standards and DMHAS work rules.
• Maintains client and program safety.
• Utilizes an electronic health record, computer technology and data to perform job functions and inform management and supervisory practices. 
• Performs safe work practices. 
• Observes all confidentiality and client’s rights regulations. 
• Provides CPR and first aid as necessary. 
• Performs other duties as required. 
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• Considerable knowledge of
  • and ability to apply management principles and practices;
  • relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
  • behavioral health policies and systems;
  • principles and practices of public and/or health care administration;
  • recent developments in designated field and ability to translate knowledge into practice;
  • recovery principles and practices;
  • resources available to client population;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
  • clinical skills;
  • analytical skills;
• Considerable ability to
  • develop strategic plans;
  • negotiate, mediate and resolve conflicts;
  • manage staff in a clinical in-patient and outpatient setting;
  • collaborate within department, agency and community.

A Master's degree in a clinical discipline, public health administration, health care administration or hospital administration and six (6) years of professional experience in behavioral health care.

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a managerial or supervisory capacity directing clinical operations or the delivery of behavioral health care services including the supervision of professional behavioral health care staff.  

NOTE: For State Employees, this is at the level of Behavioral Health Clinical Supervisor.

• Experience monitoring and meeting regulatory requirements and benchmarks.
• Experience in a supervisory or management position, overseeing discipline specific or multi-disciplinary clinical staff.
• Experience providing clinical and administrative oversight to multiple programs.
• Experience working in a behavioral health setting.

Incumbents in this class must maintain the appropriate current license for clinical social work, marital and family therapist, professional counselor, registered nurse, psychologist or alcohol and drug counselor.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.