Clinical Director Forensics

CAMH; Toronto; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

CAMH in Toronto seeks a Clinical Director to lead interdisciplinary teams across secure inpatient units and community forensic services, aligning with CAMH’s mission, values and provincial standards governing forensic mental health care.

The role partners with the division Chief and VP Clinical Operations to steer practice excellence, risk management, program planning, and performance. It also emphasizes equity, trauma-informed care, and research collaboration.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Clinical/Healthcare or Social Services discipline.
• Registration in good standing with a relevant College as a Regulated Healthcare Professional.
• 5 years of progressive clinical managerial experience; mental health experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for the Forensic Program across inpatient and outpatient services.
• Oversee budgeting, resource allocation, and operational performance.
• Lead quality improvement and accreditation processes.
• Foster workforce development, recruitment, retention, and succession planning.
• Collaborate with justice sector stakeholders and community partners.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Team mentorship

Education

Master's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

The Clinical Director leads interdisciplinary teams across secure inpatient units and community forensic services, ensuring alignment with CAMH’s mission, values, and strategic priorities, as well as provincial legislation and standards governing forensic mental health care. Working in a dyad with the Chief of the division, the Clinical Director provides overall leadership, collaborating with the Vice President, Clinical Operations, and other key organizational leaders to enhance excellence in practice, quality of care, fiscal resource management, safety and risk management, program planning, change management, and service excellence and evaluation.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic and Operational Leadership
• Provide vision and direction for the Forensic Program, integrating inpatient and outpatient services across the continuum of care.
• Lead program planning, implementation, and evaluation in alignment with CAMH’s strategic plan and provincial priorities.
• Oversee resource allocation, budgeting, and operational performance, ensuring efficiency, sustainability, and accountability.
• Advance innovative models of care that enhance patient outcomes, system integration, and service accessibility.
• Clinical Excellence and Quality of Care
• Ensure delivery of safe, ethical, recovery‑oriented, and culturally responsive care for forensic populations.
• Champion best practices in forensic mental health, including risk assessment, rehabilitation, and community reintegration.
• Lead quality improvement initiatives, patient safety strategies, and accreditation processes.
• Monitor clinical outcomes and implement data‑informed decision‑making to improve care delivery.
• Interprofessional Leadership and Workforce Development
• Provide leadership and mentorship to interdisciplinary teams, including nursing, psychiatry, health disciplines, and social work.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and psychologically safe work environment.
• Support workforce planning, recruitment, retention, and succession planning.
• Promote professional development, leadership capacity, and evidence‑informed practice among staff.
• System Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement
• Build and sustain strong partnerships with justice sector stakeholders, including courts, correctional services, and the Ontario Review Board.
• Collaborate with community agencies, hospitals, and primary care providers to support continuity of care.
• Represent CAMH at provincial and national tables related to forensic mental health.
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
• Advance health equity and anti‑racist practices within the Forensic Program.
• Ensure services are responsive to the needs of diverse populations, including Indigenous, Black, and other equity‑deserving communities.
• Integrate trauma‑informed and culturally safe approaches into program design and delivery.
• Research, Education, and Academic Mandate
• Support and advance CAMH’s academic mission through collaboration in research, education, and knowledge translation.
• Facilitate integration of research evidence into clinical practice within the forensic context.
• Partner with academic institutions to support teaching and training opportunities.

Qualifications

• A Master’s Degree in a Clinical, Healthcare or Social Services discipline from a recognized institution.
• Master’s Degree in Nursing or registered health profession preferred.
• Registration in good standing with the respective College as a Regulated Healthcare Professional.
• 5 years of progressive clinical managerial experience; and clinical experience in mental health, and/or concurrent disorders treatment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and collaborate on programming and program delivery, with extensive healthcare experience and a focus on implementation of leading/best practices.
• Strong understanding of CAMH’s place in the broader health system and championing patients’ access to care at CAMH.
• Strong organizational, negotiation and communication skills, with an awareness of professional roles and functions within integrated clinical teams, and effective liaison with external programs and agencies.
• Demonstrated commitment to safety of both staff and clients.
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and communities.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to work effectively within a dynamic team environment.
• Bilingualism (French/English) or proficiency in a second language is an asset.

Competencies

• Strategic thinking and systems leadership.
• Clinical credibility and ethical decision‑making.
• Change management and innovation.
• Relationship building and stakeholder engagement.
• Financial and operational acumen.
• Commitment to recovery‑oriented and patient‑centered care.