Crisis Center - LEAD PSYCHIATRIST

About Claratel Behavioral Health

Claratel Behavioral Health is an innovative, community-based behavioral health and developmental disabilities services organization offering a full range of mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorder services to underserved individuals. As a public, not-for-profit organization, Claratel Behavioral Health operates in more than 20 locations in DeKalb County, Georgia, with a diverse workforce of more than 400 direct-care and support staff.

If you are passionate about driving change in behavioral health and developmental services and are eager to work in an environment that values innovation and inclusivity, Claratel Behavioral Health is the place for you. Here, your work is impactful, your growth is prioritized, and your well-being is supported. Together, we can forge pathways to a healthier future for all.

Claratel Behavioral Health (formerly known as DeKalb Community Service Board) is an innovative, community-based behavioral health and developmental disabilities services organization located in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, offering a full range of mental health services, developmental disabilities programs and substance abuse treatment to more than 11,000 citizens annually who are uninsured and underinsured.

As a public, not-for-profit organization, the Claratel BH operates more than 20 locations in DeKalb County with a diverse workforce of more than 500 direct-care and support staff.

Our staff of physicians, nurses, clinicians and support personnel is dedicated to helping our clients and their families recover from these debilitating disabilities and resume productive lives.

We strive to provide the highest quality, evidence-based services in the least restrictive settings, and we envision a community in which disabilities no longer limit potential. Claratel BH is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Read more on our recent CARF accreditation here.

The DeKalb Regional Crisis Center provides crisis intervention and stabilization services for adults. The Center offers three levels of care starting with the Crisis Services Center unit that receives walk-ins, transfers from emergency rooms, and involuntary referrals for evaluation.

If further observation is needed, individuals are monitored in the Temporary Observation Unit for 12-24 hours.

Individuals needing a longer period of stabilization or substance withdrawal management (usually 5-7 days) are admitted to the Crisis Stabilization Unit where ongoing care includes crisis counseling, medication, and assistance with discharge planning.

Position Summary

The Medical Services Supervisor provides clinical and psychiatric leadership for the DeKalb Regional Crisis Center (DRCC), ensuring the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, and person-centered psychiatric and medical care to individuals in acute behavioral health crisis. This role includes direct care responsibilities, oversight of medical operations, and clinical supervision of medical staff, including Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and/or physician assistants (PAs).

This position ensures adherence to best practices in medication management, documentation, safety, and compliance, while collaborating with leadership and external partners to enhance program performance and community relationships.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership & Direct Care

• Provides psychiatric and medical supervision for the Crisis Center, including Crisis Stabilization, Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES), and Withdrawal Management.
• Maintains an active caseload of approximately 12 clients on the Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU).

Delivers direct psychiatric care to adults (18+), including comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, crisis intervention, therapy, medication management, withdrawal management, and general medical care on the unit.

Acts as the delegated physician of record for APRNs, offering clinical supervision, consultation, and support for independent practice as permitted.

Provides mentorship and clinical teaching to medical students and psychiatry residents rotating through the center.

Oversight of Medical Operations

Provides medical supervision of other MDs, PAs, and APRNs across PES and CSU units.

Oversees and ensures implementation of safe, evidence-based protocols related to medication administration, clinical documentation, withdrawal management, and other critical workflows.

Completes routine chart audits to ensure compliance with clinical standards and credentialing agency requirements.

Provides consultation and assists in the development, implementation, and monitoring of behavioral health medical policies and procedures.

Provides clinical expertise and guidance on medical/psychiatric treatment across all programs and levels of care.

• Performs clinical quality care reviews of medical staff and uses findings to improve performance and outcomes.
• Reviews referrals to the Crisis Center to ensure medical appropriateness and safe admission decisions.

Supervision and Staff Development

Provides clinical oversight to APRNs and/or PAs, promoting professional development and consistent, high-quality service delivery.

Offers ongoing training, supervision, and support for medical staff, with a focus on quality care, trauma-informed practice, and safety.

• Creates training opportunities to ensure staff adhere to best practices and maintain clinical excellence.
• Acts as liaison between medical staff and executive leadership to ensure alignment with agency goals.

Program Development & Quality Improvement

Collaborates with the Director of Crisis Services and the Agency’s Medical Director to optimize medical and psychiatric care across crisis programs.

Supports program development and continuous quality improvement efforts, using data to identify trends, monitor key metrics, and implement strategic changes.

Leads or participates in initiatives aimed at improving service access, care integration, patient safety, and documentation quality.

Coordinates audits, incident reviews, and clinical case reviews to ensure adherence to regulatory standards and agency policies.

Collaboration and External Relations

Strengthens and maintains professional relationships with community partners, including local hospitals, primary care providers, behavioral health clinics, and academic institutions.

Represents DRCC in community forums or collaborative planning sessions related to behavioral health service delivery.

Promotes the Crisis Center as a teaching site and builds affiliations with medical schools and residency programs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).
• Active and unrestricted license to practice in the State of Georgia.
• Board certification in Psychiatry.
• Active DEA license with ability to prescribe controlled substances.
• At least 3 years of post-graduate psychiatric experience, and experience in a supervisory or leadership role.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in crisis care, inpatient psychiatry, or community behavioral health programs.

Familiarity with electronic health records (EHR) and healthcare quality standards (e. g., CARF, DBHDD, Carelon).

• Experience providing clinical supervision to APRNs or PAs or interdisciplinary teams.
• Experience with performance improvement, clinical audits, or accreditation processes.

Key Competencies

• Strong clinical decision-making and psychiatric diagnostic skills.
• Ability to lead and mentor multidisciplinary medical teams.
• Knowledge of behavioral health systems, emergency psychiatry, and withdrawal management.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Commitment to trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and culturally responsive care.
• Data literacy and ability to apply metrics to support clinical operations and improvement.
• Pre-employment drug screening and successful completion of a criminal history background check is required.
• Claratel Behavioral Health participates in E-Verify (Company ID: 226305)

Claratel Behavioral Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates who may require an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar law to perform the essential functions of this job are encouraged to contact Human Resources at hrhelp@claratel.org.