WHAT DOES A CLINICAL DIRECTOR DO?

Published: July 15, 2024 - The Clinical Director ensures comprehensive clinical oversight, maintaining resident safety and well-being through precise behavioral assessments and supervision levels. This role also acts as a pivotal liaison to Mental Health Agency committees, enhancing community engagement and representing the facility in various meetings. Additionally, the director is instrumental in developing new clinical programs, conducting staff performance evaluations, and leading quality management initiatives to uphold high standards of mental health care.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Clinical Director

1. Clinical Director Duties

  • Research: Conduct empirically-based research projects as recommended by the Founder
  • Literature Review: Stay abreast of current empirically validated studies
  • Professional Development: Attend conferences to stay abreast of applicable OBM strategies
  • Performance Management: Write performance evaluations and conduct performance reviews, provide disciplinary interventions with the assistance of the Founder
  • Scheduling: Write a schedule and monitor the schedule
  • Scheduling Troubleshooting: Troubleshoot scheduling issues
  • Tracking: Track and ensure all treatment plans are submitted on time
  • Medical Review Participation: Participate in the treatment plan medical review and appeal process
  • Assessment Conduct: Conduct intake, risk assessment, home assessment, and parent interview during initial assessments

2. Clinical Director Details

  • Clinical Oversight: Oversight of clinical programming and staff
  • Quality Management: Promotes quality of client care through program oversight, supervision, and staff development
  • Operations Monitoring: Monitors clinical operations and leads program development work with Quality Assurance
  • Process Improvement: Ensure process improvement and enhanced outcomes
  • Fiscal Integrity: Assists in maintaining the fiscal and corporate integrity of the organization
  • Curriculum Oversight: Oversee curriculum and therapeutic quality of service, making recommendations regarding program design, development and implementation of treatment programs
  • Mission Alignment: Embrace and embody the mission, vision, guiding principles, clinical vision and goals of Alpine Recovery Lodge
  • Team Supervision: Supervise the clinical team and clinical interns to meet the demanding needs of patients and their families
  • Documentation: Document all activities including individual therapy sessions, group therapy sessions, incident reports, progress notes, etc in CRM system
  • Treatment Planning: Develop treatment plans for new patients within 5 days of admission
  • Meeting Implementation: Implement morning clinical meetings to review how things went overnight and over the weekends, discuss discharge dates and discharge planning and discuss critical patient information
  • Collaboration: Work cohesively with Program Director to ensure seamless exchange of necessary information and an overall positive and healthy environment

3. Clinical Director Responsibilities

  • Clinical Oversight: Maintain clinical direction and oversight over Shift’s portfolio of specialized care services.
  • Leadership Communication: Lead proactive and regular communication with contracting and regulatory agencies.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with all contractual requirements, provincial laws, federal laws, and accreditation standards.
  • Systems Development: Develop systems to help ensure a high degree of accountability and an appropriate continuum of care across programs.
  • Program Assessment: In a data-driven, objective manner, assess program functioning and outcomes and troubleshoot identified challenges.
  • Program Evaluation: Evaluate and make recommendations toward actions that ensure programs meet and exceed Shift’s standards for service.
  • Outcome Monitoring: Monitor statistics and make changes as a result to improve program outcomes.
  • Strategic Participation: Actively participate in strategic planning and assist the organization in the growth of programs and services.
  • Representation: Represent Shift at various meetings and events to promote services.

4. Clinical Director Accountabilities

  • Behavioral Assessment: Makes accurate assessments of resident's behavior and clinical needs and assigns the appropriate level of supervision necessary to maintain the safety and well-being of the residents under care.
  • Liaison Role: Serves as the facility liaison/representative to Mental Health Agency committees and coalitions and attends meetings in the community.
  • Staff Training: Provides orientation and in-house training to staff on related mental health topics and program management.
  • Therapeutic Services: Provides individual, group, and family therapy services when applicable.
  • Performance Evaluation: Conducts performance evaluations identifying staff training needs and establishes goals for performance improvement.
  • Safety Orders: Provides orders for precautions to include 1:1 orders, constant observations, and close observation.
  • Regulation Compliance: Enforces and abides by all required deadlines for treatment.
  • Documentation Review: Reviews all clinical documentation to ensure quality as indicated by federal and state regulations.
  • Program Development: Researches and develops new clinical programs.
  • Quality Management: Participates in quality management programs.
  • Treatment Coordination: Coordinates and facilitates treatment planning activities.
  • Safety Planning: Facilitates the development of safety plans for residents.
  • Environment Maintenance: Maintains a safe and secure therapeutic environment.

5. Clinical Director Overview

  • Clinical Oversight: Report to the Sr. Clinical Director and will be responsible for the clinical quality, process, and service delivery of products.
  • Leadership Experience: Have prior experience in a senior management clinical leadership position.
  • Team Collaboration: A strong ability to work with a team, and in-depth knowledge of mental health practices.
  • Urgency and Decision Making: Must have a sense of urgency to serve clients and customers and strong business decision skills.
  • Clinical Leadership: Provide clinical leadership to teams responsible for domestic and global services, critical incident services, and on-site clinicians.
  • Issue Resolution: Research and resolve clinical service issues to ensure customer satisfaction.
  • Quality Assurance: Conduct clinical case audits, and provide direction, coaching, and leadership regarding quality assurance, best practice, and process adherence.
  • Meeting Facilitation: Facilitate clinical team meetings, including clinical rounds and utilization management, to ensure the highest quality clinical services.
  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate with sales and account services to participate in sales presentations, implement new accounts, and ensure new programs are running efficiently.
  • Process Improvement: Drive efficiencies in current processes to ensure we are meeting and exceeding productivity and quality benchmarks.
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