Lead Clinician- Pathways to Recovery

Child & Family Center; Santa Clarita (CA); Hybrid; USD 79,000 - 89,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Coverage

Dental & Vision Coverage (EE-only)

401(k) with discretionary match

Vacation and Sick Time

Paid Holidays and Birthday Holiday

Job summary

Child & Family Center seeks a Lead Clinician for Pathways to Recovery to lead the SUD program, supervise counselors, ensure contract compliance, and deliver client services. The role emphasizes coordination, clinical training, and crisis management within a dynamic team.

The position requires a CA LMFT/LCSW license (preferred) and bilingual Spanish is highly valued. A hybrid work arrangement and ongoing professional development are provided.

Qualifications

• Master's or higher in psychology, social work or related field.
• California licensure as LMFT or LCSW preferred.
• Experience in community mental health and substance abuse services.
• Crisis management and multi-tasking in a clinical setting.
• Proficiency with MS Office and required agency software.

Responsibilities

• Provide supervision to substance abuse counselors and oversee clinical care.
• Coordinate and monitor programming per contracts and agency policies.
• Conduct staff performance reviews and provide ongoing feedback.
• Complete administrative tasks including ASAM reviews and authorizations.
• Deliver field-based services and assist with intake and referrals.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish

Education

MA/MS degree in Psychology or Social Work

Tools

Exym

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.

Lead Clinician- Pathways to Recovery

30+ days ago Requisition ID: 1416

Salary Range: $78,890.00 To $88,843.00 Annually

At Child & Family Center, we’re committed to creating a welcoming workplace where a wide range of perspectives and life experiences are valued. We encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Child & Family Center received the following awards:

• Child & Family Center scored the highest level (“very good to great”) in our annual report card for The National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health and Health Care.
• Awarded the Joint Commission Reaccreditation. The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.
• Awarded the 2026 Silver Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health. The Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health is the nation’s leading recognition for U.S. employers committed to creating mentally healthy workplaces.

Salary Range (final salary offer is based on a number of factors, such as certifications, experience, and more):

$78,890-$88,843/annual

PLUS!

Benefits we offer!

• 16 paid Holidays including 1 week holiday closure (paid) in December through January
• Paid Birthday Floating Holiday
• Vacation and Sick Time
• Medical Coverage
• Agency paid Dental & Vision Coverage (for EE-Only coverage)
• Voluntary Family Medical, Dental, Vision Coverage
• Agency paid Long Term Disability
• Agency paid Employee Life Insurance & Employee Accidental Death and Dismemberment
• Voluntary Employee and Family Life Insurance, and Family Accidental Death and Dismemberment
• 401(k) available with discretionary Agency match
• Employee Wellness Program
• Pet Insurance

JOB PURPOSE:

The Lead Clinician – Pathways to Recovery provides leadership, vision, and direction for the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) program. The Lead Clinician is responsible for assisting the Program Manager with the development, monitoring and coordination of services for clients and their families. This position will be responsible for ensuring compliance with County, State, and Federal contracts as well as all agency policies and protocols. The Lead Clinician helps ensure Pathways to Recovery staff provide identified services to SUD clients/families. The Lead Clinician provides supervision and oversight for staff and provides direct services to clients and families.

The Lead Clinician – Pathways to Recovery is an energetic self-starter who is able to function comfortably in both a team environment or independently and relates well to co-workers and County representatives. This position requires flexibility and the ability to manage time and multiple tasks with little supervision. The individual in this position must be able to assume a wide range of responsibilities, provide timely responses to requests and deadlines and works well under pressure.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Provides supervision to substance abuse counselors as assigned. Supervision will include clinical training, management of client care, administrative oversight including monitoring hours worked and ensuring service time and documentation standards and timelines are being completedwithin County, State contractual obligations as well as Child & Family Center requirements.
• Orient supervisees to agency policies and procedures.
• Review and approve supervisees documentation in Exym and Sage and educate supervisees on required documentation.
• Guide supervisees in clinical formulations, crisis assessments, ASAM assessments, process countertransference, legal/ethical issues, as well as assisting in coordinating referrals to outside agencies, psychiatric consultations, and written requests for records.
• Conduct staff performance reviews and provide staff with ongoing feedback on their performance.
• Complete various administrative tasks including ASAM reviews, SAGE authorizations and SAGE discharges.
• Develop, coordinate, implement and monitor new service opportunities including, assisting with capacity building.
• Assists the Program Manager with coordination, implementation and oversight of programming to ensure accordance with all legal, ethical, City,County, State, and Federal grants and contractual requirements.
• Ensure staff meet established service time expectations, documentation standards and other contract and/or agency requirements, policies and procedures. Provides coaching and corrective action to staff as needed.
• Provide crisis response services as needed, by phone and/or in-person.
• Makes independent decisions and responds appropriately to manage and de-escalate emergency crisis situations with clients.
• Debrief with staff and supervisor afterwards.
• Communicates promptly with Program Manager around any matters related to risk, safety, mental health concerns including SI and self-harm, and medical concerns
• Conduct ongoing staff meetings for Pathways to Recovery program.
• Attend SUD program meetings, off-site meetings and community events on behalf of Child & Family Center.
• Supports and provides outreach services such as presentations, resource tables, and participating in community events as needed.
• Requires the ability to demonstrate adaptability to a flexible work schedule, analyze tasks and perform them efficiently as directed.
• Maintains a strength-based, flexible, individualized, trauma informed and helpful approach with clients/families and model this approach for Pathways to Recovery staff.
• Assists with client chart reviews to ensure record completeness and adherence with all contractual and Agency standards and requirements.
• Conducts all administrative tasks in a timely manner, including but not limited to, staff performance reviews, timecards, monthly trainings, anddocumentation review and approval.
• Provide field-based services as assigned.
• As needed, assist in the intake process by completing screeners and intakes.
• Provides data entry/ maintain client files into the electronic record-keeping system, Exym, including adding clients, maintaining updated client information, and discharging clients.
• Facilitates training for Pathways to Recovery staff to ensure compliance with all policies and protocols.
• Attends all training, staff meetings as required.
• All other relevant duties as assigned and as requested.

WORK SCHEDULE:

FLSA Status:Exempt – Full Time

Work-Week: Sunday through Saturday

• Must be available for Saturday rotation coverage.
• Hybrid schedule with a minimum of two days onsite each week.
• Actual work schedule is subject to change as agreed with Direct Supervisor and based on business/program needs.

SUPERVISORY REQUIREMENTS:

Directly supervises substance abuse counselors.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• MA/MS degree in Psychology, Social Work, or other related field.
• Bilingual in Spanish highly preferred.
• Must be licensed in California as an LMFT or LCSW.
• Experience in community mental health, substance abuse treatment and prevention services, clinical program administration, and clinical treatment services for youth, adults and families.
• Crisis Management Experience: Demonstrated ability to remain calm and composed during crises, and effectively manage priorities to address clients' immediate needs.
• Requires the ability to demonstrate adaptability to a flexible work schedule, analyze tasks and perform them efficiently with minimal directions.
• Must be detail-oriented, multi-task proficient, and have a professional presentation.
• Experience working with DMH and SAPC paperwork preferred.
• Requires the ability to independently use a computer, possess good communication/computer skills, have Microsoft Office skills, and learn necessary computer programs.
• Must maintain a valid California driver’s license, insurance and driving record which complies with agency’s insurance carrier standards.
• Must pass all applicable health, fingerprint/LiveScan and DMV clearances.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to:

a. Walk

b. Use hands and fingers

c. Handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, and talk or hear

d. Stand and sit

e. Reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or possibly crawl.

f. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

This Agency is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Child & Family Center uses E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.