Director of Clinical Services

Overview

PURPOSE STATEMENT:

The Director of Clinical Services (DCS) provides leadership and clinical oversight to ensure the highest standards of clinical excellence and patient-centered care. This role exists to design, implement, and sustain evidence-based treatment programs (e.g., CBT, DBT) that drive measurable outcomes, uphold regulatory compliance, and foster recovery across the continuum of care. By championing evidence-based practices, advancing staff competencies, and embedding fidelity to proven models of care, the DCS creates a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. Through collaboration with interdisciplinary teams and leaders, the DCS ensures that high quality clinical services are provided consistently and in alignment with hospital’s mission and goals.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Leadership & Management:

• Provide strategic direction to clinical teams, including therapists, social workers, and other staff.
• Oversee day-to-day clinical operations, including budget management, developing marketing and strategic plans and independent decision making for program requiring clinical expertise
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and patient-centered care and ensures efficiency and collaboration between departments.
• Serve as a member of the facility leadership team and make independent clinical decisions to ensure quality care and alignment with organizational goals.

 

Clinical Staff Oversight, Development and Supervision:

• Provide direction and oversight to staff members.
• Provide clinical consultation, oversight of case planning and care coordination.
• Direct crisis intervention efforts and intervene as required
• Supervise, mentor, and support clinical staff, promoting professional growth and competency.
• Provide clinical supervision to clinical staff as needed, ensuring all clinical staff are trained on and consistently implement evidenced-based practices – including assessments, implementation of measurement-based care, and evidenced-based interventions.
• Engage in regular fidelity monitoring of clinical programming and groups delivered by clinical staff to ensure alignment with evidenced-based practices and provide ongoing trainings when drift occurs.
• Manage hiring, development, training, and performance management of staff to ensure effective operations.
• Conduct regular reviews of caseloads to optimize utilization of services.
• Ensure staff are current on all certifications and regulatory requirements.

 

Program Development & Implementation:

• Develop and implement clinical programs based on evidence-based models (e.g., CBT, DBT) and integrate evidence-based practices into treatment plans.
• Evaluate clinical performance metrics, including service-delivery models, patient-reported outcomes, satisfaction scores, length of stay, treatment completion, and discharge effectiveness.
• Conduct regular clinical audits to ensure high-quality documentation, fidelity to care models, and appropriate levels of care.
• Champion best practices in suicide risk assessment, safety planning, and risk mitigation, ensuring standardized application across facilities.
• Facilitate the continuum of care, partnering with outpatient facilities to develop robust step-down processes.
• Provide clinical oversight of other programs and levels of care as needed.

 

Quality & Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and accrediting bodies (e.g., Joint Commission, CMS, CARF, state licensing boards).
• Monitor clinical performance metrics and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Oversee documentation and reporting to maintain accurate patient records.
• Ensure safety and infection control requirements are met

 

Collaboration & Communication:

• Work with hospital or facility leadership to align clinical services with hospital-wide initiatives.
• Work with hospital or facility leadership to ensure alignment of clinical services with organizational initiatives and values.
• Serve as a liaison between clinical staff, administration, and external partners, fostering clear communication.
• Engage with community organizations and healthcare providers to enhance patient access to services.

 

Additional Responsibilities:

• Direct crisis intervention efforts and oversee case planning and care coordination.
• Maintain a limited caseload when