Lead Clinician

Summary:

• The Residential Lead Clinician position provides clinical, case management, and operational guidance to residential clinicians and direct care staff. He/she will promote quality clinical care within the program, including adherence to ASAM criteria. He/she will serve as primary liaison between clinical team and medical and nursing staff. In addition, he/she will monitor the flow of admissions and discharges.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain a client caseload and perform residential clinician duties, providing clinical assessments, individual and group therapy as assigned.
• Utilize motivational enhancement and engagement strategies appropriate to the individual’s stage of readiness and desire to change.
• Provide supervision to staff as assigned, such as Residential Clinicians, Service Specialists, Peer Support Specialists and Group Facilitators. Assist in staff training and development, performance management, annual reviews and progressive discipline.
• Review and sign clinical documentation as assigned.
• Maintain on-call availability as assigned to ensure 24/7 phone coverage by a Clinical Supervisor.
• Ensure that client insurance authorizations are secured in a timely manner and assist when problems with insurance arise. Provide appropriate information to billing personnel as required.
• Assist in monitoring the appropriateness of referrals and maintaining high bed utilization.
• Serve as Acting Program Director in time of Program Director absence.
• Manage daily group schedule and ensure clients receive requirement minimum treatment hours.
• Assist Program Director in auditing of medication when needed
• Assist in continuous evaluation of group therapy curriculum, seeking to maintain and improve offerings of evidence based modalities.
• Complete all clinical documentation according to policy and input all clinical documentation in Connecticut Renaissance’s EHR accurately and timely.
• Serve as primary liaison between clinical team, medical and nursing staff, collaborating with the multidisciplinary team to direct and plan client care.
• Where required, communicate with referral sources on the status of each client’s progress and performance within the program, including the preparation of reports and CDCS data entry (West).
• Participate in all required internal and external meetings and supervisions.
• Assist with residential operational tasks including but not limited to urinalysis/breathalyzer testing, head-count, tours, medication monitoring, log book maintenance and client transportation as needed.
• Attend all mandatory internal and external meetings and supervisions.
• Complete all required internal and external trainings.
• Meet and contribute to agency outcomes and performance measures.
• Adhere to state and federal regulations, DSS and ASAM requirements, and standards of accreditation, facility licensure and funding sources.
• May perform other duties assigned by supervisor.

Required Knowledge and Abilities:

Knowledge Of:

• The biological and psychosocial dimensions of substance use, mental health and co-occurring disorders, including diagnosis, assessment and treatment.
• Fee for service and billing requirements for residential services.
• Electronic Health Record
• HIPAA regulations and other regulatory laws
• General office software, particularly Microsoft Office Suite.

Ability To:

• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Manage priorities effectively to meet deadlines and demonstrate effective multi-tasking skills.
• Work independently and as part of a team
• Analyze and solve problems effectively and efficiently.
• Utilize therapeutic modalities in both group and individual settings and manage client crises.

Education and Experience:

• Master Degree with Licensure in Behavioral Health (LPC, LCSW, LMFT) in CT. Additional LADC a plus.
• Minimum of 4 years of working experience in behavioral health field; experience in a residential setting preferred.
• Experience in trauma informed care preferred.
• Experience with substance abuse clients, co-occurring diagnosed clients and criminal justice population preferred.

Other:

• Must be dependable and reliable; detailed oriented; and able to interface easily with clients, staff, and referral sources.
• Must be able to operate a motor vehicle
• Position requires climbing stairs and the ability to lift 20 lbs or more
• May need to travel to other CTR locations
• Must successfully complete the introductory probationary employment period.
• Must have a valid CT driver’s license.

This job description covers the most significant duties but does not exclude other assignments or related duties.