Mental Health Director

Job Title: Mental Health Director (Full Time)

Salary: $120,000/year at 40 hours/week

FSLA Status: Exempt

In Person vs. Remote: At least 2 days/week in person                    

Primary Location: Lyon-Martin Community Health Services

Address: 1735 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94103                                 

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer                        

Revision Date: 1/30/2024

Job Summary

The Mental Health Director provides oversight of all aspects of mental health care throughout the clinic. The Mental Health Director is a member of the Leadership Team. They act as a clinical leader by providing strategic vision, implementing programs, and attending to the overall performance of mental health services within our primary care setting. The Mental Health Director directly supervises therapists and interns, increasing staff competencies and satisfaction through training and mentorship, and improving the overall quality and efficiency of the delivery of clinical services.

In addition, the Mental Health Director maintains a small client panel utilizing gender-affirming, trauma-informed, and harm reduction methodologies.  They will work closely with the Medical Director and the medical department to facilitate a collaborative, holistic and integrated model of care.  They are expected to maintain a high degree of professional competence, the highest possible ethical standards, and to function as part of a care-giving team. In all of their work, they should uphold and imbue in others a commitment to addressing racism, ableism, fatphobia, and gender and sexual discrimination within the organization and our clinical practice.

Key Responsibilities

Supervisor Responsibilities

• Develops and implements Policies & Procedures pertaining to the Mental Health Department.  
• Leads the hiring, orientation, training, scheduling, evaluation and termination of all therapists and interns. 
• Provides direct supervision to all therapists and interns in accordance with BBS requirements. 
• Monitors performance of mental health team during introductory employment period and thereafter through chart audits, productivity review, no-show rate, and other processes.
• Performs annual performance appraisal of all direct reports, providing feedback and makes recommendations for individual performance improvement and development.  
• Promotes and enhances integrated team-based care in the provision of mental health services. 
• Ensures that program staff follow all clinic policies, procedures and protocols appropriately.  
• Coordinate professional development opportunities for direct reports.
• In collaboration with Mental Health Care Coordinator, develops and maintains resource handouts, guides, and external referral lists
• In collaboration with Mental Health Care Coordinator, manages the mental health internal referral workqueue: utilizes Lyon-Martin’s equity access model, completes intakes for new clients and matches them to the best suited clinician.
• Addresses and follows up on grievances and provider change requests pertaining to the Mental Health Team.
• Facilitates weekly Mental Health Team Meeting.
• Facilitates monthly All Staff Collaborative Care Meeting.
• Attends and participates in bi-monthly Leadership Team Meeting.

Clinical Care Responsibilities:

• Maintains small panel of therapy clients (at least 20% or 6 patients/week)
• Demonstrates clinical expertise in providing mental healthcare for queer, transgender and intersex populations, especially QTI BIPOC populations.
• Completes patient sessions in a timely manner; 
• Responds to patient requests for information and assistance from clients and colleagues in a timely manner (within 72 hours max); 
• Completes and closes visit notes (within 72 hours max);
• Completes letters of support for gender affirming surgery within one month after the assessment appointment;
• Works collaboratively with mental health staff to facilitate integration between primary care and mental health in order to improve patient outcomes; 
• Obtains and maintains licensure and BLS/CPR certification; 
• Attends continuing professional education programs, at the request or with the approval of supervisor, demonstrating participation in required hours of continuing education according to California law.
• Evaluates, diagnoses and manages mental illness within individual client sessions; successfully de-escalates clients in psychiatric or emotional management emergencies; facilitates group therapy fostering safety and consistency; utilizes appropriate referral and collateral sources to best support each client; uses tests, measurements, and measurement scales for general and specific assessments as well as objective patient criteria in the provision of services and evaluation procedures; documents care promptly following charting protocols and applicable CA licensing requirements
• If no one available to attend to crisis triage, provides coverage for crisis intervention.

Performance and Quality Improvement Responsibilities: 

Develop systems to improve patient care and meet benchmarks for quality indicators as noted in the annual quality management plan including:

• Appropriate caseloads for all mental health staff.
• No show-rates below 15% for all mental health providers.
• Productivity rates of 1000 visits per year per FTE for therapists (at minimum 3 scheduled appointments per half day, with the exception of supervision meetings).

Assist in continuous quality improvement through on-going problem/needs identification and problem solving, and, as requested, acts as change champion or lead in improvement activities, integrates equity frameworks into quality improvement efforts.

Competencies:

Communication, Written: Delivers written communications that have clarity and impact including emails.

Communication, Verbal: Effective listener; clearly and thoughtfully communicates with others in person and on the phone.

Reliability: Accountable; maintains focus; punctual; good attendance record; meets deadlines.

Time Management: Organizes and establishes priorities; gets the job done in a timely manner.

Customer Service: Persists in efforts to solve issues even when faced with internal barriers; takes personal responsibility for customer service outcomes; responds quickly and effectively to requests for assistance and support whether internal or external.

Computer Literacy: Skilled computer-based work tasks; uses technology to enhance job performance. 

Teamwork: Accountable to team; participates effectively in group- and teamwork; collaborates positively with other team members; giving and accepting constructive criticism.

Tolerance for Stress, Ambiguity, and Change: Maintains composure even while under great pressure; handles complex problems and change with minimal supervision; demonstrates flexibility and versatility in achieving key goals and priorities.

Attention to Detail: Strives to eliminate errors; makes accurate work a priority; seeks opportunities to improve performance.

Decision Making: Collects, organizes, and analyzes information before making decisions. Takes a thoughtful approach when considering options; may seek supervision and/or input from others.

Integrity and Ethics: Actively models the highest ethical standards; is honest and accountable; maintains patient confidentiality and leadership team confidentiality at all times; maintains appropriate boundaries at all times; handles sensitive information and issues with discretion and tact. 

Relationship Orientation: Establishes rapport easily with others; listens attentively to others' perspectives; uses good judgment when sharing information and maintaining confidentiality; appropriately expresses empathy.

Presentation Skills: Adapts presentation techniques to fit audience level and technical needs; develops and delivers communications that have clarity and impact; conveys confidence, presence, and professionalism; uses appropriate visual aids to illustrate key points and enhance learning.

Interpersonal Skills: Uses active listening and discussion skills to identify issues, ensure understanding, and facilitate problem solving; works cooperatively with diverse groups; deals with others in a pleasant and professional manner; accurately assesses verbal and non-verbal cues.

Accountability: Makes and meets commitments; accepts responsibility for behavior and outcomes.

Follow Through: Monitors status of projects and tasks; thoroughly deals with project details; delivers clear, accurate depiction of status.

Cultural Sensitivity: Ability to work with a diverse population while withholding judgment. Willingly open to learn and understand different perspectives.

Education, Knowledge, Skills:

• Possession of a valid California license as an LCSW, LMFT or PsyD
• Demonstrated leadership and expertise in the field of transgender, queer, and intersex health 
• Bilingual English/Spanish language ability preferred
• At minimum, 5 years of experience in clinical setting
• At minimum, 3 years of experience in supervisory role

• Commitment to the mission of Lyon-Martin and to community-based primary care
• Knowledge of third party payer requirements, California practice guidelines and malpractice laws
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; creativity and enthusiasm in problem-solving 
• Strong leadership skills, strong vision and values, innovative, critical thinking skills
• Ability to work cooperatively, foster team spirit, show good judgment in emergent situations
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Flexibility and comfort in anticipating and managing change in a small, fast-paced non-profit clinic
• Detail oriented, excellent organizational and communication skills
• Professionalism, punctuality, flexibility and reliability
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills
• Integrity to handle sensitive information in a confidential manner
• Outstanding ability to follow-through with tasks
• Ability to work cooperatively and effectively as part of interdisciplinary team and independently assume responsibility

Desired:

• EMDR training/certification
• DBT and/or CBT certification
• Understanding of Continuous Quality Improvement

Benefits: Employees regularly scheduled for 16 hours or more per week are eligible for full benefits, which include 100% employer paid Platinum level medical plans for both employees and their minor dependent(s),  Premium dental, vision, life and acupuncture/chiropractic plans, as well as an up to 3% 403b match and access to pre-tax health, dependent care and commuter benefits.
 
Available Pay Differentials: $5.00/Hour pay differential for hours worked between 10pm and 2am; $1.00 per hours worked for employees certified bilingual in Spanish, Chinese, or Tagalog.

Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.