Director of Behavioral Health

The Director of Behavioral Health provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for the FQHC’s integrated behavioral health program.

This position oversees a multidisciplinary team of thirty plus staff, including Targeted Case Managers, Licensed Therapists, Peer Support Specialists, Behavioral Health Care Coordinators, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners.

The Director is responsible for ensuring high quality, evidence-based, culturally responsive behavioral health services fully integrated within primary care.

The Director drives program growth, clinical excellence, regulatory compliance, financial performance, and workforce development while advancing the organization’s mission to deliver accessible, whole person care to underserved populations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

Ensure delivery of evidence based, trauma informed, and culturally responsive care across all behavioral health disciplines.

• Establish and monitor clinical protocols, workflows, and performance standards.
• Lead quality improvement initiatives using data driven methods to improve outcomes.
• Oversee risk management, incident review, and clinical compliance as needed for behavioral health.
• Manage departmental budgets, productivity targets, and financial performance.
• Optimize staffing models, scheduling, and workflows to maximize access and efficiency.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as access to care, now-show rates, productivity, outcomes, payer mix, and report those to CQI, CMO and others within the organization.
• Ensure accurate documentation, coding, and billing in collaboration with finance and compliance teams.
• Work closely with grant specialists to find and apply for grants related to behavioral health as well as managing required reporting data and timely reporting to CQI and outside entities.
• Provide direct leadership to managers, supervisors, and clinical leads across the behavioral health continuum.
• Recruit, onboard, and retain a high performing and mission driven workforce.
• Design and implement formal training programs in relation to specific topics on integrated care for dental, medical care, pharmacy and behavioral health providers.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, equity, and professional growth.
• Conduct performance evaluations and lead corrective action when necessary and provide those to the CMO.

Direct supervision of PMHNPs, doctorate level psychologists and psychiatrists if applicable shared with the CMO.

Provides clinical supervision to Behavioral Health program including students, case managers, care coordinators, therapists, PMHNPs, and medical assistants.

Partner with other directors, managers, and leadership to ensure seamless integration of behavioral health into Grace Health services.

• Promote team-based care models and warm handoffs between medical, dental, and behavioral health providers.
• Ensure adherence to HRSA, SAMHSA, NCQA, state, and federal regulations.
• Oversee licensing, credentialing, and scope-of-practice compliance for all behavioral health staff with the CMO.
• Prepare for audits, site visits, and accreditation reviews.

Provides direct patient clinical care with scope of licensure two to three days per week and offers additional counseling services as needed when patient volume exceeds available therapist capacity, or when a therapist vacates a position or is on FMLA.

Design, implement, and continuously refine an integrated behavioral health model aligned with FQHC standards and practices.

Develop and execute a multi-year strategic plan for behavioral health services, including growth, service line expansion, and sustainability.

Serve as an organizational subject matter expert on integrated care, population health, and behavioral health policy.

Collaborate with executive leadership to align behavioral health services with organizational goals and community needs.

Other duties as assigned.

OTHER ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES

Grace Health recognizes that managing patient care is a team effort that involves clinical and non-clinical staff. All employees must embrace a team-based approach to patient care and understand that each role is important to our success.

Team members must demonstrate excellent team communication and coordination to provide quality patient care.

Care coordination includes communicating with community organizations, health plans, facilities, and specialists.

Care team members understand and embrace the concept of population management and proactively address the needs of patients and families served by this practice.

Team members must demonstrate skill and knowledge related to effective communication with vulnerable patient populations.

Team members must participate in Continuous Quality Improvement activities within the organization to ensure patients receive high quality care.

• All team members will be involved in the process of improving quality outcomes.
• Team members will participate in the review and evaluation processes of practice performance and help to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Team members will participate in Grace Health's advocacy program.

General Duties

Follows policies and procedures of the office, including administrative, clinical, quality assurance, and personnel

• Maintain good attendance (daily meetings and other assignment tasks)
• Maintain timely documentation of all work assignments
• Maintain patient confidentiality
• Routinely keep supervisor informed about attendance and job assignments
• Flexible in being able to multitask
• Work effectively and at an efficient pace
• Work cooperatively with providers, administration, and peers

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to assist in advancing Grace Health’s mission and to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Hours

This is a full-time position, primarily, five days a week with occasional evening or weekend availability for community engagement or urgent operational needs.

Skills

• Knowledge of Word Processing, Excel, EMR, AI, and other software.
• Leadership and change management.
• Critical thinking.
• Financial and operational acumen.
• Motivational and communication skills

Travel

Must be able to travel to all locations, attend conferences, training, and other events as required in acquiring and maintaining proficiency in fulfilling the responsibilities of this position.

EDUCATION And/or EXPERIENCE

LCSW, LPCC, PhD or PsyD in Psychology, or MD/DO board certified in Psychiatry, licensed to practice in the state of Kentucky. Five or more years of progressive leadership experience in behavioral health, leading large multidisciplinary teams (20 or more staff), senior management experience preferred. Experience in an integrated care setting preferred.

Grace Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.