Mental Health Program Manager

Description

Job Purpose: 

The Mental Health Clinical Program Manager provides clinical leadership and program oversight for WCHC's Behavioral Health Program within a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). This position is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, integrated behavioral health services that are accessible, patient-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and compliant with applicable federal, state, and organizational regulations and standards. The Mental Health Clinical Program Manager promotes continuous quality improvement, clinical excellence, health equity, and effective utilization of resources to improve health outcomes for the communities served. 

As a licensed behavioral health professional, the Mental Health Clinical Program Manager supports WCHC's integrated care model by collaborating with primary care providers, nursing, care coordination, and other interdisciplinary team members to address the behavioral, physical, and social determinants of health affecting patients across the lifespan. The Mental Health Clinical Program Manager serves as both a clinical leader and direct service provider, promoting patient engagement, behavioral change, treatment adherence, prevention, and whole-person care. 

Working in partnership with the Behavioral Health Administrator, the Mental Health Clinical Program Manager oversees the clinical performance of outpatient mental health services, including clinical supervision, consultation, workflow optimization, staff development, quality improvement initiatives, and regulatory compliance. This position supports the implementation of evidence-based practices, monitors clinical quality and productivity metrics, and fosters a collaborative, team-based environment that advances WCHC's mission and strategic goals while meeting FQHC performance expectations. 

Mental Health Clinical Program Manager allocates approximately 50% of work time to direct patient care and 50% to clinical leadership, supervision, program development, and clinical administrative responsibilities, ensuring both continued patient access and effective program operations. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

• Provide clinical leadership, supervision, and performance oversight for the Mental Health Department staff, ensuring compliance with Oregon Health Authority (OHA), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Waterfall Community Health Center (WCHC) policies and procedures, professional licensing board requirements, and all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. 
• Foster a culture of clinical excellence by mentoring and coaching staff in the delivery of evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and patient-centered mental health services. 
• Provide clinical consultation and support to mental health providers and supervisors to promote best practices, sound clinical decision-making, and consistent application of standards of care. 
• Conduct routine clinical documentation audits, chart reviews, and quality assurance activities for direct reports. Review audit findings with supervisors and providers, provide constructive feedback, and implement corrective action plans as needed to ensure documentation accuracy, quality of care, compliance, and billing integrity. 
• Partner with Behavior Health Administrator provider productivity, patient panels, documentation timeliness, quality metrics, and access to care. Collaborate with leadership to identify opportunities to improve patient access, clinical efficiency, and quality outcomes. 
• Partner with the Behavioral Health Administrator to ensure staff receive appropriate onboarding, orientation, ongoing education, and professional development. Monitor licensure, certification, credentialing, and continuing education requirements to maintain compliance with organizational, regulatory, and payer standards. 
• Monitor referral workflows to promote timely, equitable access to mental health and psychiatric services and reduce barriers to care. 
• Ensure mental health teams consistently deliver integrated, whole-person care through collaboration with primary care providers and care teams, including behavioral health screening, assessment, counseling, consultation, referrals, care coordination, and follow-up services. 
• Provide or coordinate required clinical supervision for pre-licensed mental health providers in accordance with applicable licensing board requirements. Ensure supervision, documentation, billing practices, and clinical services comply with licensure regulations, OHA, HRSA, payer requirements, and WCHC policies. 
• Support recruitment, onboarding, performance evaluations, employee engagement, corrective action, and staff development in collaboration with the Behavioral Health Administrator and Human Resources. 
• Promote a positive, collaborative, and accountable work environment that supports employee engagement, continuous quality improvement, patient safety, and WCHC's mission, vision, and values. 

Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Provide direct outpatient mental health services, including diagnostic assessment, crisis intervention, individual, family, and group therapy, treatment planning, consultation, and care coordination, consistent with licensure and scope of practice. 
• Maintain a clinical caseload and documentation standards that support timely patient access while meeting organizational productivity expectations. 
• Under the general direction of the CMO, oversee service delivery of trauma informed care, and monitor quality control issues to maintain the highest standard of service. 
• In Support with the Behavioral Health Administrator, help create, implement, and maintain policies, procedures, workflows, and performance standards in keeping with program requirements. In addition, help manage program activities in adherence to organizational and contractual requirements and ensure timely completion of all documentation related to the program. 
• Build trust and rapport with WCHC staff, patients, community partners, and regulation agencies. 
• Develop and administer patient screenings, assessments, and treatment plans.  
• Complete documentation of all services and plans in collaboration with patients in a timely manner (within 72 hours) 
• Promote integrated services by coordinating with all WCHC care teams on mental health symptom management and care recommendations. 
• Support program goals to reduce barriers to care. 
• Provide trauma-informed crisis intervention and therapy services to individuals and/or groups as needed.  
• Contribute to Strategic Planning for all Mental Health Programs (collaboration with BH Admin) 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

Required Skills/Abilities: 

• Excellent management and supervisory skills. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Organizational and time management skills. 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite. 
• Experience with electronic health records required.  
• Must be fiscally focused and mission driven. 

Education and Experience: 

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in social work, human services, or related field  
• Current license (LCSW, LPC, or LMFT) in good standing with Oregon’s Professional Boards or able to obtain within 90 days of hire.  
• Preferred: 2-5 years’ management and supervisory experience 
• Experience providing case management and mental health services in a community setting with at-risk populations.  
• Recommended: Trauma related certification in EMDR, EFT, ACT, CBT, DBT 
• Non-violent Crisis Intervention Comprehensive training class completed within 6 months of hire and recertify prior to the expiration date.  
• Current American Health Association (AHA) Basic Life Support Card (BLS) or within 6 months of hire 

Immunizations Required: 

• TB (test upon hire)  

Physical Requirements: 

• Prolonged periods sitting and/or standing at a desk working at a computer. 
• Able to lift up to 25 pounds infrequently 
• Able to travel as needed