Head of Service/Clinical Director

Role SummaryMary's Path changes lives Two at a Time. Pregnant and parenting teenage moms in the foster care system are placed with us. These teen moms who have been abused/neglected/trafficked for sex find a safe place to heal from their trauma, get back on the path to finish high school, and learn to be loving parents. We aim to break the cycle of poverty and abuse and show these teen moms they can live lives of dignity, hope, and self-sufficiency.As Clinical Director/Head of Service, you are responsible for the overall clinical and programmatic functioning of the Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) at Mary’s Path. You serve as the primary clinical supervisor and are primarily responsible for all behavioral health functions to ensure that treatment quality and continuity are maintained for clients and families. You are primarily responsible for assessing the client’s mental health needs, supervising the activities and staff that provide individual, group and family therapy, and monitoring clients with mental illness and/or receiving psychotropic medications. You will oversee all specialty mental health programming at the STRTP and monitor the quality of mental health services provided to youth placed at the STRTP to ensure that each youth is receiving the services they need to reach their goals.Directly and in collaboration with your reporting team, you will identify and implement evidence-based, promising and best practices for our youth. You are responsible for ensuring compliance to all applicable laws and regulations governing the STRTP. You’ll actively promote and implement a strengths-based, trauma-informed, culturally relevant and client-centered approach to working with youth. You’ll partner closely with the psychiatrist and other contracted specialists to ensure that appropriate and coordinated care is being provided for each client. You will also partner closely with the STRTP Administrators and other staff to ensure that a consistent and collaborative approach is implemented for each individual client.As Clinical Director/Head of Service, you will contribute to the strategic planning, leadership and culture of the organization, and collaborate with the leadership team in providing a supported and inclusive employee experience.Organization and Role ResponsibilitiesGeneral ProgramOversee daily operations of the STRTP, ensuring compliance with state regulations and organizational policiesDevelop and implement program goals, objectives, and procedures to ensure high-quality service deliveryRecruit, train, supervise, and evaluate STRTP staff, including clinical, administrative, and support personnelProvide ongoing training and professional development opportunities for STRTP staffManage direct reporting staff and provide overall guidance for their teamsOversee billing and productivity, ensuring accountability to standards across the programOversee caseloads and provide direct service provision of direct mental health staffProvide clinical supervision for licensure to associate-level cliniciansEnsure that all residents receive appropriate therapeutic services and supportDevelop and oversee individualized treatment plans in collaboration with clinical staffMonitor and evaluate the progress of residents, making adjustments to treatment plans as neededEnsure compliance with all licensing, certification, and accreditation requirementsPrepare for and participate in audits, inspections, and reviews by regulatory agenciesDevelop and manage the program budget, ensuring efficient and effective use of resourcesMonitor expenditures and revenues, and prepare financial reports for the organization and funding sourcesServe as the primary liaison with community partners, stakeholders, and regulatory agenciesDevelop and maintain positive relationships with referring agencies, funding sources, and other key stakeholdersRepresent the program at community meetings, conferences, and eventsOversee and coordinate all mental health services, including appropriate crisis intervention and emergency response activitiesEnsure that staff are trained in crisis intervention techniques and that appropriate protocols are followedEnsure that all program documentation is accurate, complete, and submitted in a timely mannerParticipate in organizational strategic planning efforts, contributing to the development of long-term goals and objectives for the STRTPIdentify and pursue opportunities for program growth and developmentConduct regular evaluations of program effectiveness and client outcomes. Implement changes and improvements based on evaluation findings and feedback from clients, staff, and stakeholdersHead of ServiceMaintain a safe, healthy, and therapeutic environment at the STRTPEnsure that each child admitted to the program has a mental health assessmentEnsure that each child in the STRTP has commonality of needs with the other children in the STRTP, including whether the child’s presence is adverse to the safety or mental health needs of the child or other children admitted to the STRTPEnsure the mental health services identified on each treatment plan are provided and appropriate to meet the individual needs of the childMonitor the quality of the mental health services provided to the childrenEnsure arrangements are made, including transportation, for children to receive mental health services that cannot be provided by the STRTPEnsure arrangements are made for special provision of mental health services to children with disabilities including visual and auditory impairmentEnsure that documentation and recordkeeping requirements are metDevelop mental health staff schedules, training schedules, mental health treatment service schedules, medication schedules, and any other schedules for the operation of the STRTP mental health programAdministrationDirect and evaluate the facility within the limits of the functions and policies established by the licenseePrepare the facility’s budget and manage expenditures according to the facility’s budget limitationsOrganize the work of the facility and delegate responsibilities to staffAssess the facility’s operations and program and reporting to the licensee and make recommendations to address identified problemsRecruit, appoint, evaluate, and terminate staff. Develop a plan for the orientation, development, and training of staff, as specified in Section 87065.1Review complaints made by children or their authorized representative(s) as specified in Section 87072.2 and decide upon the action to be taken to handle the complaintDevelop the written policies, procedures, and practices for continuous quality improvement, as specified in Section 87081Observe and interact with staff, children, and other individuals, as necessary, to ensure the quality of care for children and program servicesAny other duties that may be necessary to manage and administer the short-term residential therapeutic programRequired Qualifications and ExperienceMaster’s degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Counseling from an accredited university or collegeLicense with California BBS with two years’ post-licensure experienceMinimum 4 years’ experience providing services to adolescents, preferably current and/or former foster youth involved in the children’s services or juvenile system and their familiesMinimum two years’ experience working within a MediCal funded programMinimum 3 years’ experience managing budgetsMinimum 5 years’ experience in the following: developing and managing programs, managing direct reports and employee life cycle, and managing scheduling and assignmentsStrong knowledge of therapeutic modalities and evidence-based practicesExcellent leadership, communication, and organizational skillsSpanish fluency, written and oral, preferredAbility to work effectively with diverse populations and communitiesDemonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities, with the agility to flex across competing priorities while maintaining clear direction and support to staffUnderstanding and modeling of trauma-informed care, and ability to develop staff’s understanding and use of this lensMust have a dependable personal vehicle, valid California’s driver’s license and proof of insuranceDue to the nature of this position’s duties, only women may hold the positionPhysical Requirements and Environmental ConditionsThe conditions and requirements below are representative of those required for an employee to successfully meet the essential requirements of the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable employees to meet these requirements.Regularly required by the duties of this job to move, ascend and descend, remain stationary, position oneself to access equipment and supplies, communicate, exchange information and observe details at close and medium range within work surroundingsWear PPE and follow universal precautions as neededMust be able to move, transport up to 20lbs, and possess mobility required to work within varied home environmentsMary’s Path is a non-smoking environmentBenefitsBilingual Pay Differential: 3% additional pay upon successful completion of the Spanish competency exam.403(b) Retirement Plan: 100% employer match of employee contributions up to 6% of salary.Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous PTO to support work-life balance.Paid Holidays: Enjoy paid time off for recognized holidays.Medical Insurance: Comprehensive coverage options.Dental Insurance: Coverage for preventive, basic, and major services.Vision Insurance: Coverage for exams, glasses, and contacts.Employee Assistance Program (EAP): 100% employer-sponsored, offering confidential support for personal and work-related issues.Life Insurance: 100% employer-sponsored coverage.Professional Development: Opportunities for career growth and continuous learning.Company DescriptionMary’s Path is a licensed Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) in Orange County, California. We provide safe housing, clinical care, and supportive services for pregnant and parenting youth in foster care. Our multidisciplinary team helps young mothers heal from trauma, build stability, and develop the skills needed for long-term independence.Mary’s Path partners with county agencies, mental health providers, and community organizations to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care. Every member of our team plays a role in changing lives—for both the young women we serve and their children.