Clinical Director for Residential Adolescent Care
10 days ago
Rancho Palos Verdes
Job DescriptionJoin Mission Prep and AMFM Healthcare as a Clinical Director for our residential adolescent program in Los Angeles! The Clinical Director is a senior clinical leader responsible for ensuring high-quality, ethical, and compliant clinical care across Mission Prep’s Los Angeles adolescent residential program. This role provides clinical leadership, supervision, and program oversight, while maintaining a small caseload and collaborating closely with Operations, Nursing, Admissions, Utilization Review, Compliance, and Outreach. The Clinical Director ensures that all clinical services align with Mission Prep’s philosophy of connection over control, empowerment, identity development, and trauma-informed, evidence-based care, while supporting program stability, family engagement, staff development, and strong clinical outcomes. This is a highly relational, hands-on leadership role for a clinician who can balance clinical depth, systems thinking, and team development in a 24/7 residential environment. Program Overview Mission Prep is an adolescent specific treatment program under the AMFM Healthcare family. Mission Prep aims to provide support and sustainable change for adolescents and families who are challenged by primary mental health struggles. Mission Prep Los Angeles is an established adolescent residential treatment program serving clients ages 12–17. The region currently operates four residential homes with a total census of approximately 24 clients and has been providing care for nearly three years. The Los Angeles program is entering a next phase of maturity and clinical excellence. The Clinical Director will play a critical role in elevating the clinical experience, strengthening clinical culture, deepening family engagement, and refining systems, while also supporting potential future growth and expanded leadership oversight within the region. Core Accountabilities The Clinical Director is accountable for: • High-quality, ethical, and compliant clinical care, • Strong clinical team performance, development, and retention, • Consistent and effective family engagement, • Clinical collaboration that supports milieu stability and safety, • Timely, accurate documentation and payor-ready clinical narratives, • Alignment of daily practice with Mission Prep’s clinical model and values Key Responsibility Domains 1. Clinical Leadership & Supervision • Provide weekly individual supervision and group supervision to assigned clinicians in accordance with licensure and program standards, • Offer real-time coaching around complex cases, crises, family dynamics, and risk management., • Model and reinforce Mission Prep’s clinical philosophy, including: Relational care over containment * Agency, identity development, and healthy risk-taking * Integration of CBT, DBT, ACT, trauma-informed, and family systems approaches • Mentor emerging clinical leaders and participate in interdisciplinary and clinical leadership meetings. 2. Direct Clinical Services • Maintain a manageable caseload, including individual therapy, family therapy, and group facilitation as assigned., • Conduct biopsychosocial assessments and risk assessments; develop and monitor measurable, individualized treatment plans., • Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, and clinical consultation as needed., • Collaborate with psychiatry, medical providers, and external specialists to support integrated care. 3. Family Engagement & Systems Work • Ensure consistent, high-quality family involvement throughout treatment, including orientation, family therapy, and ongoing clinical communication., • Facilitate the weekly regional Family Support Group, providing psychoeducation and support around:, • Communication and repair, • Co-regulation and boundaries, • Adolescent development and identity formation, • Partner with case management and aftercare planning to ensure family readiness for discharge and step-down care. 4. Clinical Programming & Group Oversight • Ensure group programming is clinically sound, developmentally appropriate, and consistently implemented across all houses., • Support and refine core programming pillars, including:, • Identity development, • Digital wellness, • Emotion regulation, • Experiential, somatic, and relational interventions, • Oversee group schedules, observe groups as needed, and provide feedback to facilitators to strengthen depth and engagement. 5. Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Milieu Support • Collaborate closely with Operations, Nursing, Direct Care, Admissions, Case Management, and Compliance., • Ensure the clinical lens informs:, • Milieu structure, • Behavior plans, • Crisis response, • Daily routines and expectations, • Support staff understanding of trauma histories, triggers, and translating treatment goals into day-to-day interactions. 6. Documentation, Compliance & Risk Management • Ensure all clinical documentation meets program, state, and accreditation standards., • Monitor documentation quality and timeliness across the clinical team; provide corrective coaching as needed., • Participate in chart audits, incident reviews, and quality assurance processes., • Complete peer-to-peer reviews with payors in collaboration with Utilization Review, supporting medical necessity, authorizations, and length-of-stay determinations., • Uphold and train staff on ethical and legal standards, including mandated reporting and scope of practice. 7. Training, Development & Quality Improvement • Identify clinical training needs and facilitate in-services on key topics (e.g., risk assessment, family systems, documentation, boundaries, burnout)., • Provide coaching around countertransference, clinical judgment, professional boundaries, and sustainability in residential work., • Partner with leadership on program development, curriculum refinement, and model evolution., • Monitor and respond to clinical metrics such as:, • Family engagement, • Incidents and hospitalizations, • Length of stay trends, • Discharge outcomes 8. Admissions, Utilization Review & Length-of-Stay Management • Support clinical eligibility determinations and pre-admission consultations as needed., • Collaborate with Utilization Review to provide strong, clinically sound justifications for authorization and continued stay., • Ensure treatment planning aligns with realistic length-of-stay expectations and proactive discharge planning. 9. Culture, Values & Mission Alignment • Model Mission Prep’s values in all interactions., • Foster a clinical culture that is warm, accountable, feedback-driven, and developmentally attuned., • Address clinical culture concerns proactively and partner with leadership to support morale, alignment, and retention., • Serve as a steady, trusted presence for clinicians navigating high-acuity adolescent work. Administrative & On-Call Expectations • Participate in the clinical on-call rotation, providing consultation, documentation support, and follow-up as needed., • Support onboarding and orientation of new clinicians., • Contribute to special projects, system-wide initiatives, or potential regional expansion efforts as requested., • Provide input into clinical staff performance evaluations and development plans., • Engage in ongoing professional development to remain aligned with best practices. Daily Expectations • Attend or lead morning clinical or interdisciplinary huddles/rounds., • Provide real-time clinical consultation and support to clinicians and milieu staff., • Deliver scheduled individual therapy, family sessions, and/or groups., • Monitor client acuity, safety concerns, and emerging risks across the program., • Review and sign off on critical documentation, incident notes, and clinical updates., • Communicate timely clinical updates to families, Utilization Review, and external providers when indicated., • Ensure continuity of clinical coverage throughout the day. Weekly Expectations • Provide scheduled individual and group supervision to assigned clinicians., • Facilitate the regional Family Support Group., • Review client progress, treatment plans, and risk status., • Monitor documentation quality and compliance., • Participate in leadership, interdisciplinary, and clinical meetings., • Support peer-to-peer reviews with payors as needed., • Provide coaching and feedback to clinicians around decision-making and professional growth. Monthly / Quarterly Expectations • Participate in chart audits and quality assurance reviews., • Review clinical trends and metrics with leadership., • Contribute to program development and curriculum refinement initiatives., • Provide input into clinician performance evaluations., • Facilitate or contribute to clinical trainings or in-services., • Engage in ongoing professional learning and consultation. Qualifications, Skills, Abilities: • Licensed clinician (LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, PsyD, PhD or equivalent) eligible to practice in California., • Possess valid driver’s license with ability to be insured by our auto insurance policy which includes, but not limited to, the following requirements: 4 continuous years of driving experience, 21 years of age or older, less than 3 moving violations in the last 3 years, and no more than 1 major violation in the last 3 years., • Must be a registered clinical supervisor according to BBS, licensing, and program standards, or must achieve the ability in three (3) months post hire., • Significant experience in adolescent residential or intensive treatment settings., • Demonstrated strength in clinical supervision, family systems work, and crisis leadership., • Strong collaborator with the ability to work effectively across disciplines., • Grounded, relational leader who balances warmth with accountability. Medical, Dental, and Vision plans through Anthem or Kaiser. * FSA/HSA Accounts. * Life/AD&D insurance through Anthem, 100% paid for by the employer. Other benefits include: * 401k plan with employer match. * PTO, Self Care Day, and Floating Holiday. * Educational Assistance Reimbursement Program. * Employee Assistance Program. * Health and Wellness Membership. Application Instructions: Please submit your resume directly through this online job posting to be considered. We thank you for your interest in joining our team. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to ensure equal opportunities for all candidates. If you require assistance or an accommodation due to a disability during the application process or while employed, please contact our HR department. We believe in creating an inclusive work environment where every individual can thrive. AMFM Healthcare is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, color, sex (including childbirth, breast feeding and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniform service member and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, disability, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws.