Director of Children's Services

                                                              JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE:                                  Director of Children's Services

CLASSIFICATION:             Clinical Management IV

SALARY RANGE:              $59, 904.00 - $91, 151.00

SUPERVISOR:                     Clinical Director

DEFINITION:

This is advanced professional, clinical, administrative, and leadership work in the field of children's behavioral health services. The Director of Children's Services is responsible for the strategic leadership, development, growth, and oversight of Children's Services.

This position provides leadership to ensure high quality service delivery, staff development and engagement, regulatory compliance, program growth, operational effectiveness, and strong partnerships with schools, community organizations, referral sources, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders serving children and families.

The Director is expected to identify opportunities to strengthen and expand Children's Services, develop and motivate staff, improve access to services, and build sustainable community relationships that support the needs of children and families.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

Provide strategic leadership and direction for the continued development, expansion, and improvement of Children's Services.

Develop, implement, and evaluate services designed to meet the behavioral health needs of children and their families.

Coordinate and oversee Children's Services programs, including Outpatient Therapy, School Based Mental Health Collaborations, In Home Teams, HUB Services, and other children's programs as assigned by the Clinical Director.

Provide leadership, coaching, training, and ongoing professional development to supervisors and staff within Children's Services.

Establish clear performance expectations and promote employee engagement, accountability, professional growth, teamwork, and retention throughout the department.

Assess departmental staffing needs and collaborate with Human Resources on recruitment, retention, workforce development, and succession planning strategies.

Ensure appropriate supervision, orientation, training, and development of employees within Children's Services.

Identify opportunities to expand existing programs and develop new services based on community needs, service gaps, referral patterns, utilization, organizational priorities, and available resources.

Develop strategies to increase appropriate referrals, program utilization, access to services, and community awareness of Children's Services.

Develop and maintain strong working relationships with schools, community organizations, healthcare providers, state and local agencies, referral sources, and other community partners serving children and families.

Represent Carastar Health in community meetings, collaborative initiatives, outreach activities, committees, and partnerships related to children's behavioral health services.

Coordinate with community agencies, providers, schools, and other stakeholders to strengthen referral relationships and improve continuity and accessibility of services.

Participate in Consultation and Education activities as needed, including service on the Children's Policy Council, Multiple Needs Child Committees, and other community related committees.

Collaborate with organizational leadership to identify community needs, funding opportunities, service gaps, and opportunities for program development and expansion.

Provide clinical consultation, oversight, and direct clinical services as necessary to support program operations, client needs, and continuity of care.

Provide consultation to Children's Services staff and other community agencies regarding children's behavioral health needs and services.

Ensure appropriate clinical oversight of evaluation, screening, treatment planning, treatment plan reviews, and services provided to individuals and families experiencing mental health disorders, emotional distress, family challenges, and behavioral concerns.

Monitor program performance through established metrics, including service utilization, productivity, referrals, staffing, access to care, quality outcomes, financial performance, and other key performance indicators.

Analyze program performance and implement improvement strategies when programs are not meeting established clinical, operational, financial, or performance expectations.

Develop and manage departmental goals, objectives, budgets, and annual priorities consistent with the organization's strategic direction.

Ensure Children's Services programs operate within established budgets and effectively utilize organizational resources.

Monitor employee time, attendance, productivity, staffing levels, and overall program performance.

Ensure Children's Services programs comply with Alabama Department of Mental Health Community Mental Health Standards, applicable service delivery manuals, Medicaid Provider Manual requirements, organizational policies, and all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

Ensure program staff maintain required credentials, certifications, training, and other qualifications necessary for their positions.

Participate in training and professional development activities to remain knowledgeable regarding evidence based practices, leadership strategies, regulatory requirements, and methods and techniques used in the care of children and families.

Serve on the Quality Assurance Committee and participate in organizational quality improvement initiatives.

Ensure timely and accurate completion of reports, client documentation, program records, and other required organizational documentation.

Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Clinical Director.

JOB DESCRIPTION (Continued)

Director of Children's Services (Authority Wide)

Responsible for ensuring program complies with AL Department of Mental Health Community Mental Health Standards, Mental Illness Community Service Contract Service Delivery manual, Medicaid Provider Manual and any other applicable state and federal laws or regulations.

Responsible for ensuring program staff are current with required training.

Responsible for overseeing program staff’s time and productivity.

Responsible for program operating within a defined budget.

REQUIREMENTS:

Considerable knowledge of the principles, practices, and standards associated with children's and adolescent behavioral health services.

Considerable knowledge of the dynamics and pathology of human behavior, particularly as related to children, adolescents, and families.

Knowledge of psychotropic medications, including their appropriate use, potential misuse, and desirable and undesirable effects.

Knowledge of applicable clinical, regulatory, Medicaid, and behavioral health service requirements.

Ability to assume responsibility for the professional, clinical, administrative, and operational functions of Children's Services.

Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, coach, train, supervise, and motivate multidisciplinary teams.

Demonstrated ability to develop and grow behavioral health programs and services.

Ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships with schools, community agencies, healthcare providers, referral sources, families, and other stakeholders.

Ability to identify community needs and develop strategies that increase access, referrals, utilization, and awareness of children's behavioral health services.

Ability to establish performance expectations, evaluate results, identify areas for improvement, and implement strategies to achieve measurable outcomes.

Ability to utilize various treatment modalities, including individual, family, and group therapies.

Ability and willingness to provide services and perform duties in traditional and nontraditional settings based on program and community needs.

Ability to understand and utilize data, research, and program evaluation methods for the purpose of evaluating client outcomes, program effectiveness, and opportunities for improvement.

Ability to develop, administer, and monitor departmental budgets.

Strong leadership, organizational, decision making, problem solving, relationship building, and conflict resolution skills.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to effectively represent Carastar Health within the community and develop relationships that support the growth, accessibility, and sustainability of Children's Services.

Ability to collaborate effectively with executive leadership, Human Resources, clinical leadership, employees, community partners, and other internal and external stakeholders.

QUALIFICATIONS:

A minimum of a master's degree in psychology, counseling, social work, or a related behavioral health field and at least four years of progressively responsible experience in a behavioral health setting, including demonstrated administrative, supervisory, and program leadership experience.

Experience leading children's and adolescent behavioral health programs, developing staff, expanding programs or services, and establishing community partnerships is strongly preferred.

Must be licensed or license eligible in an applicable behavioral health discipline. If license eligible, the employee must obtain an LGSW or ALC credential within three months of the date of hire.

Must meet applicable Medicaid requirements for approved provider status.

Must maintain all professional licenses, certifications, credentials, and continuing education requirements applicable to the position.

Must possess a valid Alabama Driver's License and maintain a driving record acceptable to Carastar Health's insurance carrier.

Must maintain required liability insurance coverage on any personal vehicle used for organizational business.

Revised 8-2015

January, 2021

September 2026