The Mental Health Director (MHD) provides leadership, oversight, and evaluation of the agency’s mental health services and clinical practices. The MHD is responsible for ensuring high-quality, person-centered, trauma-informed mental health care; supporting clinical consistency; and promoting compliance with applicable licensing, accreditation, Medicaid, HIPAA, and state and federal requirements. The MHD provides direction in recruitment, retention, development, and supervision of mental health clinicians/therapists and assists the Executive Director with long-term strategy, program development, quality improvement, and growth of mental health services. The MHD will oversee mental health clinical services across applicable outpatient, residential, and community-based programs and will ensure that program goals and objectives established by the Executive Director are met.

  Roles and Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Leadership 

• Will evaluate existing behavioral health services for growth opportunities and/or changes of those services from our strategic planning. The Mental Health Director (MHD) will recommend additional services and provide analysis that will be incorporated in the strategic plan while meeting the long-term profitability goals and objectives of the agency. 
• Review the applicable services and evaluate each service based upon the goals, objectives, metrics, and profitability. This includes reviewing financial statements, metrics, industry standards, benchmarking, and/or other evaluation tools to complement the strategic plan of the agency. The MHD will work with the leadership team to maximize client care/profitability.
• The MHD will develop relationships outside of the agency to assist in the marketing of behavioral health services and to the target market, as applicable. This includes working with educational institutions, law enforcement, and/or local and regional leaders. Assists in writing proposals for future services.
• In conjunction with the Human Resource Director, The MHD will coach/counsel employees, as needed. Based upon their observations, the HRD/Director provides the appropriate resources and/or training in order to meet the goals and objectives of the employee and BHS. As appropriate, The MHD will manage conflict resolutions with the assistance of the HR Director. 
• The MHD will provide a positive culture within and throughout the agency by being an effective member of the management team. This includes participation in management meetings and providing feedback and/or solutions for the department/agency.

Mental Health Clinical Management

• The MHD will ensure the clinical direction of mental health services within the agency’s residential and outpatient programs, and community-based services meets agency expectations under the leadership of the Executive Director. The MHD will ensure appropriate mental health clinical policies and procedures are implemented, followed, and trained and will serve as a clinical change agent and resource throughout the agency. The MHD will support the recruitment, evaluation, and training of mental health interns and developing clinicians.
• The MHD will review clinician productivity, caseloads, access to care, staffing needs, and utilization of mental health resources and make recommendations based on service demand, quality, productivity, and labor analysis. The MHD will promote collaboration across programs to strengthen continuity of care, clinical outcomes, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth.
• The MHD will monitor mental health quality measures, including timeliness and quality of assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, discharge documentation, clinical supervision, risk assessment processes, and other clinical metrics. 
• The MHD will provide resources, coaching, and accountability to improve clinical quality and will work with the executive team to implement evidence-informed and best-practice mental health processes.
• Assists the Executive Director in ensuring mental health policies, procedures, and clinical processes remain consistent with applicable regulatory, accreditation, licensing, certification, Medicaid, HIPAA, and other state and federal requirements. In collaboration with Quality Improvement, the MHD will participate in continuous quality improvement activities and evaluate corrective actions and outcomes on an ongoing basis.
• The MHD will provide overall leadership for mental health clinical documentation, clinical supervision, case consultation, treatment quality, and clinical workflows. Responsibilities may include direct supervision, delegation of supervision to appropriately qualified clinicians, review of complex or high-risk cases, and ensuring consistent implementation of clinical standards across mental health services.

Other Requirements 

• Must be at least 21 years of age. 
• Successful completion of background checks/references including a valid driver’s license. The driving record must be in accordance with the agency’s guidelines. 
• If in lived substance abuse recovery, two years of continuous sobriety/ “clean time” is required and maintained throughout employment. 
• Willing to obtain a flu shot annually (except for those allergic to the vaccine or who have a religious exception) or must wear a mask when agency deems appropriate due to times of high illness.
• Must comply with agency policies and procedures, including those regarding conduct, confidentiality, and record keeping.
• Provides 24-hour coverage as assigned.

Education and/or Experience                   

Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP) in Nebraska required. A master’s degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or a closely related behavioral health field is required. A minimum of three years of progressively responsible mental health clinical experience is required; experience with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, clinical supervision, program leadership, and residential or community-based behavioral health services is strongly preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Must obtain and maintain an active Nebraska Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP) license in good standing and meet all applicable requirements to provide or oversee clinical services and supervision within the scope of the position.

Must have a good driving/safety record that is acceptable within the agency’s guidelines. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Competencies): To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Competencies) requirements are listed below:

• Strong critical thinking skills, understand the importance of unintended consequences, and evaluate decisions based upon the best long-term outcome of the situation. Demonstrate adaptability, demonstrate discrete and ethical behavior, and have teambuilding skills including relationship building. 
• Understand and have knowledge in strategic leadership and human capital development including the ability to influence others by having difficult conversations with positivity and instill a positive culture within the department and agency. Proactive in handling conflict resolutions with the overall objective of behavior modifications. Implement talent management strategies to increase recruiting and retention. 
• Ability to review and identify effective processes and practices and identify potential obstacles for departmental and/or employee growth. This includes understanding how variables control and affect the process/practices within your department.
• Strong oral communication skills with the ability to influence others through developing relationships, providing facts/logic, and understanding situational awareness to provide a win-win scenario during the communication and conflict process is required. Understands the importance of recruiting and retaining referral sources and other agencies/organizations by being visible and proactive in the region.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Strong written communication with ability to articulate in writing their thoughts, opinions, and facts with the objective of influencing others and/or implementing an effective communication strategy. This includes writing reports, business correspondences, and procedure manuals. 
• Understand and have knowledge of financial statements, such as income statements, balance sheets and/or metrics that determine the effectiveness of the department and agency. This understanding includes indirect/direct costing methods. 
• Proactive in the marketing strategies of the agency and developing relationships throughout our target market.  Understand the importance of push/pull marketing strategies, core competencies, primary/selective demand, promotional strategies, and SWOT analysis of the agency.
• Knowledge of the policies and procedures of the agency This includes reviewing the policies and procedures and making recommendations on best practices to meet the goals and objectives of the agency’s standards. 
• Understand HR policies, procedures, and benefits for the importance of recruiting and retention of candidates and employees. 
• Appropriate knowledge of the HHS and Medicaid regulations. This includes, but is not limited to, the HHS/Medicaid Service Definitions and knowledge of facility regulations. Understands all applicable policies and procedures of BHS. 
•  Advanced knowledge of mental health disorders, co-occurring substance use disorders, diagnostic assessment, treatment planning, risk assessment, crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and evidence-informed clinical practices. High-level knowledge and understanding of individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, trauma-related disorders, personality disorders, substance use disorders, and other conditions recognized in the current DSM.