Associate Director for Crisis Services/Clinical Assistant or Associate Professor of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences (Clinician Educator)

Los Angeles, California

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC seeks an Associate Director for Crisis Services within USC Student Health, Counseling and Mental Health (CMH) to join a diverse and dynamic multidisciplinary team who are strongly committed to providing excellent multiculturally and trauma-informed clinical treatment, training, advocacy, prevention, and outreach services. We are seeking candidates who have strong leadership skills/experience/potential and thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, diverse, collegial, professional environment.

Position Description (Purpose and Scope)

The Associate Director for Crisis Services will develop, oversee, and organize crisis services at CMH. The position will lead the development and implementation of strategies to improve clinical assessment and treatment of students at risk across the Counseling & Mental Health clinic. The position will partner with leadership at the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to coordinate the work of the Mental Health Assistance and Response Team (MHART).  The position will also work with other campus partners and case managers at Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Services (PBHS) to ensure effective management of students at highest risk and those needing a higher level of care.

This is a full-time faculty position with an academic appointment in the Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and clinical service assignment as the Senior Associate Director/Clinical Director of CMH. Salary is competitive and contingent on experience. A generous benefits package includes: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term care, disability, malpractice coverage, significant retirement benefits (USC makes a 10% contribution when you contribute 5%); tuition assistance for you and your family; paid professional days and parental leave; access to free continuing education credits through our Grand Rounds lecture series; and generous paid time off.  Information about benefits can be found here. The schedule for this position will reflect a hybrid of virtual/remote and in-person functions (this is not a fully remote position).

Description of USC Student Health,  Counseling and Mental Health (CMH)

USC Student Health provides a comprehensive campus health program including mental health services, medical services, prevention and health promotion, health communications, the student health insurance plan, and public health services to improve the health of the USC population. Mental Health services support students so that they may achieve their academic and personal goals through the Department of Psychiatry’s Counseling and Mental Health Division (CMH). CMH services include: individual, couples and group counseling; assessment and referral to other professionals and institutions; crisis intervention (including some after-hours coverage); biofeedback; psychiatric evaluations and medication follow-up; consultation; outreach and prevention; and training and supervision. 

Specific Duties and Responsibilities: 

Under the direction of the CMH Director, the Associate Director for Crisis Services will:

• Oversee the crisis services of Counseling and Mental Health by providing strategic leadership to ensure prompt access, quality, and effective clinical outcomes for students presenting at risk.
• Develop and lead the Mental Health Assistance & Response Team (MHART) program in cooperation with the Department of Public Safety.
• Serve as liaison to community psychiatric hospitals / LPS designated service providers.
• Coordinate or assign coordination with hospital discharge planners for students returning from psychiatric hospitalization.
• Monitor, track, evaluate, and report on the effectiveness of the crisis and MHART services that we offer.
• Support development and expansion of the My Mental Health (CAT-MH survey) initiative through clinical consultation and coordination of after-hours response to students at high or acute risk.
• Monitor the center’s adherence to the High-Risk Policy related to safety consultation and the safety consultation list.
• Supervise the Assistant Director of Crisis Services, the Crisis Coordinator, and crisis team clinicians.
• Serve on the university-wide Student Concerns Team, Threat Management Team, Health Leave Appeals Team, and Interim Action Team.
• Serve on the CMH Directors Team; serve as a “Director-of-the-Day (DOD)” once per week or as needed; attend weekly CMH Directors Team and Clinical Operations meetings.
• Represent CMH, USC Student Healt