Social Work Clinical Program Manager

Job Title: Social Work Clinical Intern Program Manager
Location: Chicago, IL
Reports To: Network Director of Clinical Services
Salary: Starting at 80K
Position Type: 1.0 FTE
Employee Type: Regular Full Time
Start Date: Fall 2025

Distinctive Schools creates diverse, joyful, welcoming communities rooted in social justice and rigorous learning. We support all learners to be engaged, curious, and to achieve their full potential. Our students become confident advocates, creative problem-solvers, and collaborative leaders.

Overview

The Clinical Program Manager works collaboratively with the school-based student support teams as well as the administrative and Network staff to supervise and guide interns’ provision of clinical services. The role helps provide a safe and supportive learning environment for all clinical interns in order for them to establish and reach their goals. The Program Manager will also collaborate with local universities to cultivate enduring partnerships that support the DS Clinical Intern Program.

Responsibilities

Culture

• Build and foster a culture of belonging and positive climate
• Honor stakeholder perspective as key to the decision-making process
• Cultivate a strengths-based and, equity-focused mindset
• Celebrate individual and collective growth towards goals
• Promote a safe and supportive working environment with an equity-conscious mindset
• Establish professional rapport with and maintain visibility with stakeholders
• Maintain a student-centered perspective in decision making
• Contribute to the equity work of the campuses, region, and network and engage in culturally responsive decision making
• Develop positive and professional relationships

Program Management

• Serve as a collaborative member of network and school-based teams
• Partner with School Social Workers to understand intricacies of intern’s caseload
• Provide weekly, individual, reflective clinical supervision to clinical interns, deepening one's understanding and improving implementation of clinical practice
• Manage the provision of services by interns, ensuring they meet all legal and ethical requirements
• Provide onboarding for clinical interns in collaboration with the Network Director of Clinical Services
• Provide ongoing training for clinical interns in both clinical practices and DS policies and procedures
• Reviews and refine all pertinent Diverse Learner and/or Clinical documentation in a timely manner (e.g. reports, eligibility documents, FBA/BIPS, pertinent sections of IEPs, progress reports, Mental Health Assessments, Individualized Treatment Plans, etc.)
• Supervise interns in Crisis Intervention/Prevention practices within each school which includes preventative measures such as mental health screenings for possible social-emotional or behavioral issues and following the network protocol in cases of risk or emergencies (e.g., school violence, deaths, suicide and homicide assessments)
• Communicate and maintain robust relationships with local universities with whom to partner to provide clinical interns
• Attend mandated CPS trainings in order to stay with compliance laws
• Fulfill role of the mandated reporter and investigate and report all incidents of child abuse and neglect to Department of Family and Child Services
• Attend pertinent district trainings in order to keep up-to-date on current practices, procedures, and policies in regard to student services and specific clinician domains
• Continue membership in professional organizations in order to keep up-to-date on current practices, procedures, and policies in the area of school mental health practices as well as network with colleagues
• Collaborate with school student support teams and school leadership to identify areas of need within the school
• Interview clinical intern candidates, and effectively match intern candidates with campuses based on school needs and candidate strengths
• Analyze feedback data from intern cohorts to inform program improvements
• Communicate effectively with all related stakeholders (school-based staff, interns, and families) both preventatively and to problem-solve any issues that arise
• Maintain a detailed and comprehensive weekly/daily schedule in order to meet all deadlines and responsibilities in an effective and efficient way

Requirements (minimum)

Education

• Masters Degree in School Social Work (MSW)
• Valid State Certification required (IL PEL)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) requ