Director, Social Work & Admissions

Title: Director of Admissions and Social Work Services

State Role Title: 49013

Hiring Range: $105,000 to $120,466

Pay Band:

Agency: Dept Behavioral Health/Develop

Location: Northern VA Mental Health Inst

Agency Website: https://dbhds.virginia.gov/facilities/nvmhi/

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

NVMHI is seeking an experienced and dynamic Director of Admissions and Social Work Services to provide leadership and management oversight across multiple critical departments, including Social Work, Admissions, Utilization Management, Transportation, Reception, and Interpretation. The Director will supervise a diverse team, collaborate with clinical and non-clinical leadership, and provide a key role in patient care, departmental functioning, and facility-wide strategic goals.

The Director of Admissions and Social Work Services will foster collaboration and communication between clinical and non-clinical teams to ensure optimized patient care and facility operations. They will participate in Clinical Leadership meetings, provide oversight to utilization management processes to secure increased revenue, represent NVMHI in collaborative efforts with community service boards (CSBs) and other agencies. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, they will contribute to facility goals, budget management, and strategic decisions. The role also involves supervising social work staff, managing admissions processes, overseeing discharge protocol implementation, ensuring regulatory compliance, and maintaining a service-oriented culture within the department. The Director will lead employee engagement initiatives and drive recruitment and retention efforts for social work staff while managing the coordination of bed allocations and throughput.

The ideal candidate will possess a Master of Social Work and advanced licensure in Virginia (or the ability to obtain licensure within three months of hire). In addition, the candidate will have clinical and leadership experience in a mental health or healthcare setting, with a strong background in social work and admissions management. Demonstrated experience in supervising interdisciplinary teams in a dynamic, multi-departmental environment is required. Deep knowledge of DBHDS Admission and Discharge Protocols, as well as relevant regulations. Strong organizational and communication skills are essential, as well as experience in managing budgets, vendor contracts, and fostering employee engagement and retention to build a positive work culture.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Education & Licensure:
Master of Social Work (MSW).
Advanced licensure in Social Work in Virginia.

2. Experience:
Clinical experience in a mental health or healthcare setting.
Leadership experience, especially in social work and admissions management.
Experience working with interdisciplinary teams.

Additional Considerations

1. Experience:
Proven experience in managing budgets and vendor contracts.
Experience fostering employee engagement, retention, and building a positive work culture.

2. Knowledge:
Knowledge of DBHDS (Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services) Admission and Discharge Protocols.
Familiarity with relevant regulations in the mental health or healthcare field, specifically Virginia Code for civil commitments.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute only accepts online applications via PAGEUP. Resumes and other documents may accompany the application but will not serve as a substitute for an application. Faxed, e-mailed or mailed applications will not be accepted. Please refer to your PAGEUP account for the status of your application and this position. This posting will remain open for a minimum of five (5) business days. 

Commonwealth’s Alternate Hiring Process: In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their Certificate of Disability (COD) provided by a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor within the