Program Director, Inpatient Clinical Services

Responsibilities

• Provides oversight of inpatient clinical services and programming.
• Provides clinical leadership, supervision, and support to staff in managing complex patient situations, including direct involvement in patient and family interactions, problem-solving, and care coordination as needed.
• Establishes and drives the vision, structure, and ongoing evolution of the inpatient treatment model.
• Oversees the development and execution of the therapeutic group schedule to ensure clinical effectiveness and innovation.
• Ensures delivery of evidence-based, patient-centered care across inpatient units while maintaining patient confidentiality and upholding patient rights.
• PARTNERS WITH EXECUTIVE MEDICAL DIRECTOR, DIRECTOR OF NURSING, AND DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL NUTRITION TO ADVANCE CLINICAL OUTCOMES, ENHANCE PATIENT EXPERIENCE, AND SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH.
• Partners with Executive Medical Director, Director of Nursing, and Director of Clinical Nutrition to ensure integrated, multidisciplinary care.
• Ensures alignment of clinical programming with organizational goals and industry best practices.
• LEADS THE CLINICAL INTERNSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM.
• Monitors and drives performance on key clinical and operational indicators established by organizational leadership, including patient weight restoration trends, discharge performance metrics, clinical outcomes (including EDE-Q and PHQ-9 measures), documentation compliance, and other quality indicators (including group and meal attendance, weight restoration, and treatment completion).
• Ensures full compliance with all regulatory, accreditation, and organizational standards, as well as adherence to all organizational policies and procedures.
• Leads clinical quality improvement initiatives, including outcome measurement and program evaluation, and ensures alignment and integrity with company-wide clinical processes.
• MONITORS CLINICAL DOCUMENTATION, GROUP PARTICIPATION, AND EFFECTIVENESS, AND PATIENT EXPERIENCE METRICS (SUCH AS GOOGLE REVIEWS AND NPS SCORES).
• Partners with leadership to prepare for and successfully navigate regulatory surveys.
• Develops and implements clinical policies, procedures, and competencies.
• Manages departmental operations within established financial targets and budgets.
• Partners with the Executive Director and Finance to monitor census, program utilization, and revenue.
• Oversees efficient utilization of clinical resources and supports length of stay optimization.
• Collaborates with Utilization Review to ensure alignment with payer expectations and authorization processes, especially when it comes to Clinicians’ documentation.
• IDENTIFIES OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND PROGRAM PROFITABILITY.
• SERVES AS A KEY CONTRIBUTOR TO STRATEGIC PLANNING AND GROWTH INITIATIVES FOR INPATIENT SERVICES.
• Maintains awareness of market trends, referral patterns, and competitive landscape.
• Collaborates with Outreach to support referral relationships and program positioning, including attending conferences and outreach meetings within the region.
• REPRESENTS THE ORGANIZATION IN PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS AS NEEDED.
• SERVES AS A CORE MEMBER OF THE HOSPITAL LEADERSHIP TEAM.
• DRIVES A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND CLINICAL EXCELLENCE.
• Facilitates effective communication across departments and disciplines.
• LEADS CHANGE MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES AND SUPPORTS ORGANIZATIONAL PRIORITIES.
• MODELS PROFESSIONALISM AND ADHERENCE TO THE ORGANIZATION’S MISSION AND VALUES.
• PARTICIPATES IN REQUIRED TRAININGS, MEETINGS, AND LEADERSHIP FORUMS.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree or higher in Social Work, Psychology, or related behavioral health field.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive clinical experience, and a minimum of 5 years of experience in a leadership role within behavioral health.
• Significant experience in inpatient psychiatric and eating disorder settings preferred.
• Licensed independent clinician in Massachusetts (LICSW, LMHC, PhD).
• Advanced knowledge of inpatient psychiatric programming and multidisciplinary treatment models.
• Strong understanding of Joint Commission, CMS, and state regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, drive change, and execute strategic initiatives.
• Experience with financial management, utilization review, and payer dynamics.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.