Director of Clinical Services

Root Center for Advanced Recovery (a trade name of the Hartford Dispensary); Manchester (CT); On-site; USD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Employer-paid life insurance

Short-term disability

Retirement plan with employer-contribs

4 weeks PTO

Paid holidays

Professional development funding

Annual bonus eligibility

Job summary

Root Center for Advanced Recovery in Manchester, CT seeks a Director of Clinical Services to lead high-quality behavioral health programs across OTP, residential, IOP, PHP, mental health, and adolescent services. The role ensures clinical governance, compliance, and financial sustainability within a comprehensive care framework.

You will collaborate with Operations, Medical Services, Quality, and Finance to align clinical priorities with organizational goals, drive performance, and oversee

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related behavioral health field.
• Current Connecticut independent clinical license (LCSW/LPC/LMFT or equivalent) or eligible; LADC may qualify with education and leadership.
• Experience with electronic medical records (EMR) in a behavioral health setting.
• Knowledge of HRSA requirements for federally funded health centers.
• Understanding of FQHC operations and integrated care models.

Responsibilities

• Set clinical standards and evidence-based practices across programs.
• Ensure assessments, diagnoses, treatment plans, referrals, transitions, and discharges are effective.
• Evaluate program outcomes and improve patient engagement and continuity of care.
• Partner with operations, medical, quality, and finance on program development and initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with federal and CT regulatory requirements and payer standards.
• Support regulatory surveys, inspections, accreditation, and payer audits.
• Oversee chart audits and standardized documentation for medical necessity and reimbursement.
• Address training needs through audits and performance indicators.
• Collaborate with Finance and Revenue Cycle to monitor productivity and resource needs.
• Establish clinical performance measures and analyze data to identify trends.

Skills

Leadership

EMR experience

Regulatory knowledge

Clinical governance

Education

Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or related behavioral health field

Tools

Electronic Medical Records (EMR)

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Director of Clinical Services

Administration Manchester, CT, US

3 days ago Requisition ID: 2025

At Root Center for Advanced Recovery, we build relationships that empower patients with the courage and ability to change by providing guidance and support throughout every step of recovery. We are caring, knowledgeable professionals who believe in honoring the potential of every individual while continually renewing ourselves, embracing new perspectives, and recognizing that progress is the destination. For more than 150 years, we have remained committed to inspiring hope and strengthening the communities we serve.

Salary Range: $100,000 to $125,000

We offer a competitive compensation package designed to support your personal and professional well-being, including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employer-paid life insurance and short-term disability, a generous retirement plan with employer contributions, four weeks of PTO, paid holidays (including your birthday), professional development funding, annual bonus eligibility, excellent work-life balance with a 35-hour work week and no current on-call responsibilities, and eligibility for multiple NHSC Loan Repayment Programs.

Position Summary:

The Director of Clinical Services leads high quality, evidence based, compliant, and financially sustainable behavioral health services across Root Center programs, including OTP, residential, IOP, PHP, mental health, adolescent, problem gambling services, and case management.

The Director of Clinical Services is responsible for agency clinical and regulatory compliance. In partnership with Operations, Medical Services, Quality, and Finance, this position aligns clinical priorities with operational, quality, and financial goals across the organization.

Essential Functions:

• Set consistent clinical standards and evidence based practices across all programs and levels of care.
• Ensure effective assessments, diagnoses, treatment plans, referrals, transitions, discharges, and integrated care for substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders.
• Evaluate program effectiveness and improve patient engagement, retention, outcomes, and continuity of care.
• Partner with operational and medical leaders on program development, staffing, and clinical initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and Connecticut requirements, including SAMHSA, DEA, DPH, DMHAS, DCF, DSS, CARF, ASAM, Medicaid 1115 waiver requirements, and payer standards.
• Support regulatory surveys, inspections, accreditation reviews, and payer audits.
• Completes agency chart audits and standardizes documentation expectations.
• Ensures records are accurate, timely, clinically appropriate, consistent in the electronic health record, and sufficient to support medical necessity, reimbursement, and external review.
• Address training needs through audits, regulatory findings, and performance indicators in collaboration with Director of Quality.
• Partner with Finance, Revenue Cycle, and Operations to reduce denials and revenue risk while monitoring productivity, utilization, capacity, budgets, and resource needs.
• Establish clinical performance measures and use audits, grievance, incident, utilization, and outcome data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Participate in organizational committees and strategic planning; advise leaders on service delivery, program development, and resource allocation.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related behavioral health field.
• Current Connecticut independent clinical license, preferably LCSW, LPC, LMFT, or equivalent. An LADC may qualify with the required education, leadership experience, and demonstrated qualifications.
• Experience with electronic medical records (EMR) in a behavioral health setting.
• Working knowledge of Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) requirements.
• Knowledge of Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) operations and integrated care models.