Clinical Director

Emend Healthcare, Inc.; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Emend CT is seeking a Clinical Director to oversee daily clinical operations across assigned programs, ensuring quality treatment and regulatory compliance. You will mentor therapists, supervise program managers, and coordinate with leadership to optimize the continuum of care for clients and families.

The role emphasizes therapeutic alliance, evidence-based practices, and data-driven improvements within a collaborative, multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• DSM-5 criteria knowledge required.
• ASAM criteria knowledge required.
• Trauma-informed care principles applied in practice.
• Evidence-based practices in behavioral health used.
• Understanding of addiction/substance use and co-occurring disorders.
• Valid Connecticut driver’s license may be required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily clinical issues; guide staff and ensure compliant client records.
• Supervise assigned staff; focus on development, training, and supervision.
• Conduct monthly face-to-face supervision with therapists and program managers.
• Document quarterly coaching sessions for managers.
• Manage the clinical budget and align with strategic goals.
• Collaborate with managers to plan team-building activities.
• Meet with technician supervisors monthly for feedback and cohesion.
• Lead data collection and recommend clinical improvements based on needs.
• Resolve interdepartmental issues to ensure seamless continuum of care.
• Ensure compliance with state regulations and accreditation standards.
• Assist case managers and therapists in residential units; attend treatment team meetings.
• Take on special projects related to program enhancements and strategic plan.
• Address grievances and incident reports as needed.

Skills

DSM-5 criteria

ASAM criteria

Trauma-informed care

Evidence-based practices

Behavioral health

Education

LCSW license (CT)

Job description

Description

Emend Healthcare provides comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment at multiple locations across the country. Each center is designed to deliver a full continuum of care, from medically supervised detox to residential and outpatient programs, ensuring clients can access the support they need wherever they are. With a focus on personalized treatment and compassionate care, Emend’s facilities offer safe, welcoming environments where individuals can begin their journey to lasting recovery.

At Emend Health Company Connecticut, LLC, ("Emend CT"), we are dedicated to supporting individuals on their journey to lasting wellness. Our team combines expertise, compassion, and personalized care to help clients navigate mental health challenges and substance use recovery. We focus on creating a safe, nurturing environment where every person can build the skills, resilience, and confidence needed to thrive. Through evidence-based treatment, innovative programs, and a commitment to holistic well-being, we empower clients to achieve meaningful, lasting change.

The Clinical Director will oversee the daily critical management of assigned programs in conjunction with affiliated program managers and leadership team. The Director will also act as a resource to case management and counseling staff when troubleshooting clinical issues and ensuring the delivery of quality treatment.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities

1. Will oversee daily clinical issues, including but not limited to, met with clients or families as deemed clinically appropriate; responsible for decisions regarding unusual discharges and providing proactive direction to minimize crises. Will assure that client records are compliant with all regulatory and certification entities and accurately reflect the client's course of care.
2. Supervises assigned staff to focus on staff development, training, and supervision.
3. Conduct monthly individual face to face supervision with each therapist and program manager in assigned departments
4. Engage in and document quarterly coaching sessions with each program manager in assigned departments
5. Manages the clinical budget, adhering to common goals, reviewing, and formalizing the budget as necessary
6. Collaborate with program managers to arrange a team/culture building experience for program staff quarterly
7. Meet monthly with technician supervisors team for bi-directional feedback, training, and enhanced cohesion
8. Will be actively involved with data collection and recommends changes for improvement based on the clinical needs of the population.
9. Collaborates with interdepartmentally resolving problems to improve seamless continuum functioning.
10. Will ensure compliance with state regulations and accreditation standards.
11. Assist the case managers and therapists in the residential units. Attend multidisciplinary treatment team meetings and administrative meetings.
12. Accept special projects as related to the enhancement of the clinical program and overall Strategic Plan.
13. Troubleshoot grievances and incident reports.
14. Assist in facilitation of transfers related to psychiatric crises involving and coordinating the multidisciplinary team.
15. Meet with families participating in family program when necessary.
16. This job description reflects management's assignments of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict tasks that may be assigned.

Expectations for Clinical Excellence and Training Plan Development:

1. Therapeutic alliance - Able to form a professional therapeutic relationship and partnership between clinical provider and client to work together for an agreed upon goal; understands an individual's perspective at any given point in time and can convey that understanding when appropriate to a client; maintains the highest ethical standards throughout the provider client relationship.
2. 12-Step principles - Facilities 12-Step principles in addiction and recovery counseling for clients, family members, and other stakeholders; can present the 12-Step facilitation as an effective evidence-based program to others.
3. Conflict management and crisis intervention - Reacts calmly and professionally to interpersonal conflicts; can take charge in situations that involve anger, avoidance or acting out; effectively manages atypical situations that require an immediate response (in 8 hours or less) to facilitate improved outcomes.
4. Client/customer/stakeholder focus - Assertively represents clients, customers and stakeholders; ensured that the voices of the client, customer and stakeholder are heard; is responsive to their needs; communicates effectively and establishes rapport with both internal and external customers.
5. Professional expertise - Stays current on professional and emerging work-related issues; demonstrates clinical knowledge and expertise; serves as a knowledgeable resource to provide best practice advice to others; keeps up to date on ethical trends and issues.
6. Communication - Understands and is understood by others; makes complex material understandable ; clearly articulates key points when writing and speaking; effectively persuades and influences others; addresses and listens to others in a respectful manner
7. Interpersonal skill - Works well with others; builds effective work relationships with a wide range of individuals; is approachable; effectively resolves disagreements or conflict; shows sensitivity to people of diverse backgrounds.
8. Teamwork - Supports effective team efforts; encourages a spirit of participation and belonging; enhances group cohesiveness by emphasizing team objectives and reinforcing cooperation; actively contributes as a thoughtful member of interdisciplinary teams.
9. Adaptability and change management - Appropriately adjusts strategy in response to new information; adapts positively to changes; is confident in the face of uncertainty and ambiguity; can make decisions and act responsibly without having the entire situation totally defined.
10. Learning ability - Invests effort continuously to learn and apply new approaches and technologies; is a quick learner; investigates and applies new approaches, skills, and behaviors to improve effectiveness, quality, productivity, efficiency, or cost effectiveness.
11. Analytical and systems thinking - Considers the big picture and the interrelationships of parts; supports use of evidence based practices and data driven decisions; investigates and analyzes issues to identify root causes and draw appropriate conclusions; uses critical thinking and logic to solve problems; makes sound decisions.
12. Results orientation - drives for successful results; makes things happen; conveys a bias for action and a sense of urgency; moves tasks and assignments toward closure; strives to identify and implement better, faster and more cost-effective solutions; willingly invests considerable effort to assure deadlines are met in a high-quality manner.
13. Courage and commitment - Takes a stand in the face of adversity or resistance; challenges the status quo and fights for beliefs when appropriate; takes calculated risks and perseveres; demonstrates commitment to the purpose, mission, vision and values.
14. Emotional resilience - Bounces back from setbacks; is in touch with his or her own feelings and values, and helps others understand their own challenges and setbacks; is optimistic and confident about the future and inspires others with a healthy outlook about the possibilities; works his or her own recovery and spiritual program toward positive outcomes.

Requirements

Knowledge/Skill/Abilities:

1. Working knowledge of DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, ASAM criteria, evidence-based practices, trauma-informed care principles, and behavioral health treatment practices.
2. Must embrace and demonstrate commitment to the philosophy that alcoholism and drug dependency are primary, chronic, progressive and potentially fatal diseases that are treatable and arrestable.
3. Demonstrate the ability to provide multiple roles of clinical supervision, including consultant, mentor, team member, and administrator.
4. Demonstrate organization skills and ability to set priorities.
5. Use a leadership style that created and maintains an environment based on mutual respect, trust, and teamwork.
6. Demonstrate the ability to manage crisis situations calmly, proactively, and with a professional demeanor.
7. Empower and delegate key duties to others.
8. Ability to manage the client population utilizing a positive peer approach.
9. The ability to communicate in a clear, articulate manner, in which the individual can understand.

Competencies & Metrics:

1. Be a role model of Purpose, Mission, Vision, and Values by taking full accountability for one's decisions, supervisory practices, and personal values. Promote an attitude of respect and dignity and demonstrate inter and intra department team building.
2. Select, adapt, implement, and evaluate appropriate problem solving, decision-making, and conflict resolution techniques.
3. Apply critical thinking to information by evaluating the content and creditability.
4. Provide timely feedback to supervisors on client needs, attitude toward clients, clinical skills and overall performances.
5. Differentiate between developmental issues and those requiring corrective action.
6. Guide and evaluate ability to use a range of evaluative tools.
7. Assures highest quality staff through evaluations, staff development, licensing/certification
8. Client satisfaction
9. Quality reports
10. Employee reviewsEmployee turnover
11. ACA discharges
12. Assures seamless flow with patients through continuum
13. Occupancy
14. Referrals to partnering programs
15. Promote positive peer culture with clients, families, referrals and other employees.
16. Able to assess, identify and prioritize programmatic issues by developing a comprehensive approach.
17. Able to prepare reports and maintain monthly benchmarks through observation, chart reviews an d clinical supervision of clinical supervisors.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Licensed and good standing with a professional license issued by a Connecticut State Licensing Board as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
2. Knowledge of health information related to adult health, substance use disorders and dual-diagnosis.
3. General Understanding of chemical dependency and self help philosophy.
4. Cultural sensitivity and desire to work with an ethnically diverse adult population.
5. Ability to work effectively with a variety of individuals in a positive, supportive, and cooperative manner.
6. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret related professional periodicals, journals, technical procedures and government regulations.
7. Communicate positively and effectively, both orally and in writing, with a wide range of individuals and constituencies.
8. Have a valid Connecticut Driver's License.

Physical Requirements

1. Must be able to work extended hours, travel as needed.
2. Must be able to deliver presentations that may be both multiple times and for lengthy time periods.
3. Must be able to lift 20 lbs.