Director of Behavioral Services - Seattle, WA

Director of Behavioral Services

Setting: Skilled nursing facility

Status: Full-Time

Shift: Day Shift

Pay:  $40-$50/hourly DOE 

Location: Queen Anne Healthcare - 2717 Dexter Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109

Job Summary

A Director of Behavioral Services in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) directs, plans, and manages mental health and psychosocial programs, ensuring regulatory compliance and high-quality care. Key responsibilities include clinical oversight, conducting assessments, and improving patient outcomes for residents with behavioral challenges. 

Essential Duties and Job Responsibilities

• Identifies residents’ emotional, mental, and psychosocial needs and ensures that comprehensive care plans are in place and up to date.
• Develops and implements behavioral health policies, programs, and care plans for residents.
• Advises and collaborates patient care with nursing, social workers, therapists, and behavioral health staff. 
• Ensures services meet federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., CMS guidelines, HIPAA), particularly regarding psychotropic medication management.
• Monitors and improves psychosocial well-being, cognitive, mood, and behavioral care.
• Works with nurses, doctors, and specialists to coordinate care, participate in discharge planning, and resolve complex behavioral issues.
• Audits clinical documentation, analyzes program effectiveness, and implements corrective actions. 
• Writes Behavior Care plans for patients diagnosed with mental illness, Developmental Disabilities and/or substance use disorder.
• Conducts trainings for licensed and certified nursing staff who work with behavior patients
• Facilitates Enhanced Behavior Services meetings twice monthly.
• Documents weekly behavior progress notes in behavior patient records.
• Completes onsite evaluations of behaviors and adapts behavior care plans accordingly
• Works in coordination with Home and Community Services and onsite social services to develop discharge plan.
• Works in coordination with prescribers and therapists to coordinate Behavior Care plan.    
• Participates in facility quality assurance program and other meetings as required
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Must possess a bachelor’s degree in social work or psychology.
• Certified Behavioral Health Support Specialist, Certified Counselor or Licensed Behavioral Analyst. 
• Experience in behavioral health, with previous supervisory and or administrative experience, preferably with geriatric patients.
• Experience working with electronic medical records and computer documentation systems.
• Expertise in geriatric mental health, dementia care, psychotropic medication management, and SNF regulations. 
• Strong leadership, communication, crisis intervention, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills.  

Benefits:  At Avamere, we believe in taking care of our employees. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans. Low individual and family deductible.
• 401 (k) Plan: After 90 days of employment, with matching program.  
• Paid Time Off (PTO):  Accrue up to 4 weeks PTO per year, 6 holidays and accrued sick leave.
• EAP Canopy with unlimited telehealth mental health visits.
• Continuing Education and Higher Education Reimbursement.
• Generous employee referral bonus program.
• Flexible Spending Accounts & CERA:  Medical FSA, Dependent Care FSA and CERA (Commuter Expense Reimbursement Account).
• Professional Development: Opportunities for growth and development within the company.
• Voluntary Benefits: Life insurance, disability coverage, supplemental hospital, accident and critical illness coverage, Legal Services, Pet Insurance, discount programs and more.

Avamere is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify

 

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