Director of Integrated Behavioral Health

Job Type Full-time Description

 Join Elica’s mission and become a part of a team where every day is an opportunity to make a positive impact in your community!

At Elica Health Centers, we share a common goal: provide the best possible patient care to our growing community! Our passion extends throughout Elica, from the exceptional healthcare services we provide to our underserved patients at our Community Health Clinics and state-of-the-art mobile medicine program, Health on Wheels, to our Resource Center where we empower patients and members of the community to connect with resources to help them build healthy and full lives. 

 WHAT YOU'LL DO:  

The Director of Integrated Behavioral Health leads a large department of interdisciplinary behavioral health professionals and support staff, providing strategic direction, clinical input, and operational oversight for all integrated behavioral health-related services at Elica Health Centers. This team encompasses behavioral health clinicians and staff, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners and physician assistants, addiction medicine clinicians, substance use disorder (SUD) counselors, referral coordinators, behavioral health coordinators, and similar staff. Their leadership is fundamental in ensuring high-quality, patient-centered behavioral health care within an integrated setting. 

The Director of Integrated Behavioral Health collaborates closely with clinic leadership, primary care providers, and other stakeholders to seamlessly integrate mental health care and SUD treatment into the patient experience. They focus on optimizing workflows, enhancing clinical protocols, and advocating for evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction. Moreover, the Director of Integrated Behavioral Health fosters a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement within the mental health team. They are tasked with recruiting, training, and developing a diverse and skilled workforce while promoting a supportive and inclusive work environment.

 

Leadership & Strategy: 

• Provide strategic direction and leadership for the behavioral health department, including overseeing sustainability and growth.  
• Provides consultation to Elica’s Administration in planning behavioral health services and in developing operating budgets, including but not limited to reimbursement, payer mix, sliding fee scales, salaries, expenses, etc. to ensure the long-term sustainability of the behavioral health services. 
• Recruits and selects behavioral health providers and support staff to ensure that Elica maintains an ongoing operation that can meet the demands of the clinic and its patients.
• Implementation of major organization-wide initiatives pertaining to trauma-informed care, patient experience, empathic communication, and risk management.
• In conjunction with the executive management team, develops standards of care and workflow procedures that facilitate and enhance quality, efficiency, employee and patient satisfaction and support the organization's fiscal health.
• Establish policies and procedures for behavioral health services to meet all regulatory/licensing requirements; Ensure the smooth operation of behavioral health services to meet standards of care.
• Establishes Standards of Care and Quality Assurance & Improvement Program for Behavioral Health Services. 
• Recommends and interprets Behavioral Health clinical and quality objectives and oversees the Behavioral Health quality program, including, but not limited to, the behavioral health clinical measures required by regulatory agencies for grants, certifications, and health plan participation or incentive payments.
• Represents behavioral health perspectives and opinions in administrative matters and advises on information system needs.
• Advocates for the organization and serves as a liaison to local and state professionals, as appropriate.
• Participates in provider meetings, QA meetings, leadership team meetings, and advisory board meetings as requested by the Chief Medical Officer.

Clinical Responsibilities:

• Provides direct patient care service as a part of a regular weekly schedule,  including psychosocial assessment and referral, behavioral interventions, education, and short-term psychotherapy to adult and pediatric primary care patients with mental health, substance abuse, and medical compliance issues.
• Oversees all clinical supervision of clinical staff to ensure a high quality of care related to behavioral health services and to establish and maintain behavioral health department policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Ensures the department’s and providers' cultural humility and culturally responsive treatment are part of quali