Program Director

The Program Director provides leadership and oversight of all clinical operations at Rhea Treatment Center’s residential mental health program. This role ensures the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented care in compliance with Title 22 (DSS) and applicable Title 9 (DHCS) regulations.

The Program Director oversees clinical programming, documentation standards, staff supervision, crisis response, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance. This position reports directly to the Facility Administrator/Owner and collaborates closely with leadership to maintain clinical excellence, ethical practice, and operational integrity.

Essential Duties & ResponsibilitiesClinical Oversight

• Oversees all clinical services, including admissions, assessments, treatment planning, and discharge planning.
• Ensures timely completion of psychosocial assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, and discharge summaries.
• Provides clinical supervision to licensed and associate-level clinicians.
• Facilitates weekly treatment team meetings and clinical supervision meetings.
• Provides group therapy and maintains a limited caseload as needed.
• Oversees dual diagnosis services and coordination of care.
• Ensures individualized, measurable, recovery-oriented treatment planning.

Crisis Management & Client Safety

• Provides clinical leadership during emergencies, including SI/HI risk, de-escalation, and crisis intervention.
• Participates in on-call rotation to ensure 24/7 clinical coverage.
• Oversees incident reporting and follow-up documentation.
• Ensures adherence to client rights and ethical standards of care.

Regulatory & Compliance

• Ensures compliance with Title 22 and applicable Title 9 regulations.
• Reviews client records for documentation accuracy and quality.
• Collaborates with Administrator to prepare for licensing visits and audits.
• Ensures HIPAA compliance and confidentiality standards are upheld.
• Oversees CLIA-waived testing protocol compliance.

Quality Management & Performance Improvement

• Leads quality assurance and performance improvement initiatives.
• Monitors clinical outcomes and implements corrective action plans when necessary.
• Participates in utilization review and medical necessity documentation oversight.
• Ensures clinical documentation supports third-party reimbursement requirements.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Supervises, mentors, and evaluates clinical staff.
• Conducts performance evaluations and provides ongoing feedback.
• Develops staff training plans and ensures required continuing education.
• Supports hiring efforts for clinical positions.
• Promotes a professional, team-oriented, and harassment-free work environment.

Program Operations

• Ensures provision of services outlined in each client’s Individual Needs and Services Plan.
• Coordinates referrals to community resources when client needs extend beyond facility scope.
• Oversees staff support for meal planning, activities of daily living, and therapeutic programming.
• Develops staff schedules in collaboration with leadership.
• Communicates regularly with the Facility Administrator regarding program operations.

Core Competencies

• Strong knowledge of mental health diagnoses and recovery-oriented interventions.
• Understanding of trauma-informed care and person-centered planning.
• Knowledge of crisis protocols for clients at risk of harm to self or others.
• Familiarity with DSS Title 22 and DHCS Title 9 requirements.
• Experience with clinical documentation standards and insurance reimbursement.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Cultural sensitivity and commitment to ethical, inclusive care.
• Knowledge of medication procedures and client observation protocols.
• Understanding of HIPAA and confidentiality requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

The Program Director of a certified Transitional Residential Treatment Program must meet one of the following:

Option 1:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, Behavioral Sciences, Psychiatric Nursing, or related field (minimum 24 semester units in behavioral health subjects), AND
• One (1) year of full-time experience providing direct services to individuals with mental illness, including at least four (4) months supervising direct care staff.

OR

Option 2 (Alternative Qualification):

• Three (3) years of experience providing direct services to individuals with mental illness in a community setting, including at least six (6) months supervising direct care staff, AND
• High school diploma or GED.

Preferred:

• Master’s Degree in a behavioral health field.
• Licensed or Associate registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
• Minimum 5 years of behavioral healthcare experience in residential or hospital settings.

Additional Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must pass criminal background clearance.
• Current First Aid certification.
• Current health screening and TB clearance.
• Completion of at least 20 clock hours of continuing education annually in mental health or administration.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to walk, bend, kneel, and assist clients in emergency situations.
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds.
• Exposure to potential behavioral crises and medical emergencies.
• Possible exposure to bodily fluids and cleaning agents.
• Occasional client transportation responsibilities.

Compensation & Schedule

• Full-time position
• Competitive salary based on experience
• Benefits package (if applicable)
• On-call participation required

Equal Opportunity Statement

Rhea Treatment Center is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We provide a supportive, collaborative, and mission-driven environment dedicated to delivering exceptional mental health care.

Pay: $58,495.81 - $80,446.56 per year

Work Location: In person

Salary : $58,496 - $80,447