The posting
POSITION PURPOSE The Licensed Mental Health Clinician Manager is a key clinical and operational leader within Neighborhood House Association’s Social Services programs. This position provides clinical leadership, supervision, consultation, and direct services to individuals transitioning from County detention facilities back into the community. The Licensed Mental Health Clinician Manager works closely with Program Directors and the General Manager to ensure the delivery of high-quality, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and evidence-based services to individuals with mental health and/or co-occurring substance use disorders. The position provides clinical oversight and support to multidisciplinary team members, including clinical, nursing, employment, and supportive services staff, while helping ensure strong coordination of care and successful community reentry. This position is an excellent opportunity for an experienced licensed clinician who wants to combine direct clinical practice with leadership, staff development, program operations, community partnerships, and systems-level work. The Licensed Mental Health Clinician Manager will provide clinical supervision and consultation to registered and licensed staff; support staff development and onboarding; assist Program Directors with program implementation and quality improvement; and provide leadership related to Medi-Cal certification, credentialing, fee-for-service operations, documentation, compliance, audits, reporting, and program development. The position will also maintain a clinical caseload and provide individual and group counseling, clinical case management, assessments, crisis intervention, treatment planning, service coordination, and community linkage services. The clinician will work directly with individuals age 18 and older who are preparing to transition from County detention facilities to the community and will help develop meaningful connections to behavioral health, housing, employment, education, medical, and other community resources. This is a dynamic leadership role for a clinician who is passionate about behavioral health, reentry services, staff development, and helping individuals successfully transition from incarceration to community living.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES Clinical Leadership & Supervision
Provide clinical leadership, consultation, guidance, and supervision to assigned clinical staff in collaboration with Program Directors and the General Manager. Provide clinical supervision and support to registered and licensed clinicians consistent with applicable licensing and regulatory requirements. Support onboarding, training, coaching, and professional development of new and existing clinical staff. Provide consultation regarding complex clinical cases, risk concerns, treatment planning, documentation, and service delivery. Monitor staff performance, clinical quality, productivity, documentation, and compliance with program expectations. Promote a collaborative, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and culturally responsive clinical environment. Assist Program Directors in addressing clinical and operational challenges and implementing program changes.
Direct Clinical Services
Provide mental health assessments, clinical case management, individual counseling, group counseling, crisis intervention, and other appropriate behavioral health services. Complete intake assessments, updated assessments, service plans, service plan reviews, and other required clinical documentation. Assess client needs, identify strengths and barriers, and develop appropriate treatment and service strategies. Monitor and document client progress toward treatment and case management goals. Provide services to individuals with mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders. Utilize evidence-based and client-centered approaches, including motivational interviewing and trauma-informed practices. Maintain an appropriate clinical caseload based on program needs and funding requirements.
Reentry & Community Care Coordination
Provide behavioral health and reentry support to individuals preparing to transition from County detention facilities into the community. Assist clients in identifying and accessing appropriate community resources and services. Coordinate linkages to behavioral health, substance use treatment, housing, medical care, employment, vocational services, education, food assistance, transportation, and other supportive resources. Advocate for clients and help remove barriers to successful community reintegration. Establish and maintain strong working relationships with community providers, law enforcement, court personnel, correctional staff, and other partners. Follow up on referrals and linkages to help ensure continuity of care and successful connection to services. Transport clients to approved community resources when required and operationally appropriate.
Program Operations & Administration
Work closely with Program Directors and the General Manager to support effective program operations, implementation, and development. Assist with Medi-Cal certification, credentialing, fee-for-service requirements, and other funding and regulatory requirements. Assist Program Directors with monitoring program budgets, staffing, productivity, and financial performance. Assist with monthly, quarterly, and other required program reports. Support accurate and timely documentation, billing-related processes, service verification, and compliance requirements. Assist Program Directors before, during, and after program audits and monitoring reviews. Monitor assigned staff schedules, timekeeping, and Dayforce requirements and provide appropriate payroll information to Human Resources. Monitor professional licenses, registrations, certifications, and other required staff credentials. Represent the Program Director in their absence, as appropriate, and respond to program-related inquiries in a timely and professional manner. Participate in County, community, funding, and stakeholder meetings as assigned. Coordinate required trainings and activities with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and other partners. Provide presentations, education, outreach, and community engagement activities as needed. Maintain accurate client records, clinical documentation, daily service logs, progress notes, and other required records. Maintain confidentiality and comply with all applicable laws, regulations, funding requirements, and NHA policies.
Safety & Professional Responsibilities
Uphold all NHA and program safety policies and procedures. Promote a safe and respectful environment for clients, staff, visitors, and community partners. Respond appropriately to behavioral health crises and situations involving potential risk to clients or staff. Maintain professional relationships and effective communication with law enforcement, court officials, correctional staff, clients, families, community providers, and other stakeholders. Exercise sound clinical judgment, professionalism, cultural humility, and discretion when working with complex and high-risk populations. Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Director, Director of Social Services, or General Manager.
DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of:
Mental health assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical care coordination. Co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Counseling theories, evidence-based practices, and recovery-oriented approaches. Motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care. Group facilitation and group dynamics. DSM-5 diagnostic categories and behavioral health treatment principles. Substance use disorders, addictive behaviors, and substance use treatment approaches. Reentry and transition services for individuals returning to the community from incarceration. Behavioral health, housing, employment, medical, vocational, and other community resources. Cultural, social, economic, and systemic factors affecting individuals and families. Legal and ethical requirements related to professional behavioral health services. Medi-Cal, documentation, credentialing, fee-for-service, and other behavioral health program requirements. Local, state, and federal laws and regulations governing behavioral health programs and correctional settings.
Ability to:
Provide effective clinical leadership and supervision to multidisciplinary staff. Develop, coach, mentor, and support clinicians and other team members. Assess complex behavioral health needs and develop appropriate treatment and service plans. Work effectively with individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance use disorders. Work professionally and effectively within correctional and community-based environments. Manage complex clinical situations and respond appropriately to crises. Build strong relationships with clients, staff, correctional personnel, law enforcement, courts, community providers, and other stakeholders. Exercise sound independent judgment, professionalism, tact, objectivity, and sensitivity. Analyze complex clinical and programmatic issues and develop practical solutions. Manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing. Maintain accurate and timely clinical and administrative documentation. Work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. Adapt to program changes, evolving funding requirements, and new service delivery models. Utilize electronic health records, Microsoft Office, databases, spreadsheets, and other technology necessary to perform the position. Successfully perform duties in a field-based environment, including correctional facilities and community settings.
EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING Typical ways to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this position include:
Master's degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Counseling, Psychology, Behavioral Health, or a related field. Clinical experience providing behavioral health services to adults with mental health and/or co-occurring substance use disorders. Experience providing clinical supervision, consultation, training, or staff leadership strongly preferred. Experience with motivational interviewing preferred. Experience working with multicultural and diverse populations preferred. Experience working with justice-involved or incarcerated populations preferred. Experience in community-based behavioral health, reentry, case management, or care coordination preferred. Experience working within Medi-Cal, fee-for-service, or other publicly funded behavioral health systems preferred.
LICENSES, CERTIFICATES & SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Master's degree in a relevant behavioral health field required. Current California clinical license as an LMFT, LCSW, or LPCC required. Preferred Minimum of six months of clinical licensure required. Registered or licensed with the applicable California licensing board as required. Valid California driver's license required. Ability to transport clients in a personal vehicle on occasion, when required. Negative TB test required upon hire and maintained every two to four years, depending on the Contract requirements. CPR/First Aid certification required within 90 days of hire. Sheriff's Department clearance required within 60 days of employment to access detention facilities. Bilingual skills strongly preferred. Bilingual candidates may be required to demonstrate bilingual competency prior to hire.
WHY JOIN NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE ASSOCIATION? This position offers an opportunity to do more than provide clinical services. The Licensed Mental Health Clinician Manager will help shape the quality of care provided to individuals transitioning from incarceration, support and develop other behavioral health professionals, strengthen community partnerships, and contribute to the growth and development of innovative behavioral health services. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to:
Provide meaningful clinical leadership while continuing to practice. Mentor and develop emerging behavioral health professionals. Work within a multidisciplinary team that includes clinical, nursing, employment, and supportive service professionals. Build relationships across behavioral health, justice, housing, employment, and community systems. Contribute to program development, quality improvement, and service innovation. Help individuals overcome barriers and successfully transition from incarceration to the community. Make a measurable difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS The physical and mental demands described below are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Physical Demands The employee is regularly required to sit or stand for extended periods; communicate verbally and by telephone; use hands to operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms; and lift up to 30 pounds. The position may require movement between office, correctional, community, and field-based settings. Specific vision abilities include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
Mental Demands The employee must regularly use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret information and documentation; analyze and resolve complex clinical and operational issues; exercise sound clinical judgment; manage multiple priorities and concurrent responsibilities; learn and apply new information; work with interruptions; and interact professionally with clients, families, NHA management and staff, correctional personnel, law enforcement, court representatives, funding agencies, and community partners. The position may involve contact with individuals experiencing behavioral health crises and individuals who may exhibit verbally or physically aggressive behavior.
WORK ENVIRONMENT The employee works primarily in a field-based and community-based environment and may provide services in correctional facilities, NHA program sites, community locations, social service settings, and other locations necessary to meet client and program needs. The position requires the ability to work effectively in environments that may involve security protocols, unpredictable situations, and individuals experiencing behavioral health or substance use challenges. The employee is expected to maintain professionalism, sound judgment, cultural humility, and a commitment to client dignity and safety in all work environments.
