Position Summary
The Associate Director of Crisis Services provides operational and clinical leadership for Paragon's Walk-in Crisis Center (WIC), and while coordinating operational activities across Paragon's crisis continuum under the direction of the Crisis Stabilization Clinical Director. This role directly supervises 13 staff (with additional growth anticipated), who in turn supervise clinical and care management staff.
The Associate Director ensures high-quality, compliant, and mission-driven service delivery across crisis programs. This position is responsible for oversight of documentation standards, adherence to policies and procedures, regulatory compliance, and supervision of master's-level clinicians working toward licensure. This position works collaboratively with medical providers, nursing, leadership, community partners, hospitals, emergency responders, and behavioral health agencies to ensure seamless crisis care.
The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, experienced in crisis behavioral health, and skilled in developing clinicians and emerging leaders. Experience training new clinicians and developing skill-based content for bachelor's-level staff is strongly preferred.
Key Responsibilities
Walk-In Center Operations
- Provide operational oversight of the Crisis Walk-In Center.
- Ensure efficient daily clinic operations, patient flow, and staffing.
- Monitor census, admissions, discharges, and service utilization.
- Develop and improve operational workflows and standard operating procedures.
- Coordinate staffing schedules to ensure continuous coverage.
- Assist with implementation of new services and operational initiatives.
- Monitor safety, security, and environmental standards within the Walk-In Center.
- Coordinate with nursing, prescribers, peer support, behavioral health technicians, and clinicians to ensure integrated service delivery.
Leadership & Supervision
- Supervise crisis Team Leads and WIC staff, supporting development as emerging leaders.
- Provide oversight and guidance to master's-level clinicians working toward independent licensure.
- Support clinical supervision structures and ensure staff understand roles and responsibilities operating as multidisciplinary teams.
- Ensure high standards of care and professional development.
- Assist in hiring, onboarding, training, and performance evaluation of staff.
- Foster a culture of accountability, growth, and mission alignment.
- Partner with the Director to align crisis services with organizational strategy and goals.
- Participate in on-call coverage. On-call duties include carrying the crisis phone and being available to initiate holds when clinically indicated, including weekends. These 24-hour shifts are scheduled at the start of each month.
Clinical & Program Operations
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Crisis Walk-In Center to ensure safe, client-centered, high-quality care and efficient service delivery.
- Assist in overseeing daily operations of Mobile Crisis Response, Community Stabilization, Crisis Follow-Up, and other crisis programming to ensure consistent operations across the crisis continuum.
- Coordinate staffing resources and referral workflows to meet service demand, maintain licensure requirements, and optimize operational efficiency.
- Monitor response times, census, productivity, quality metrics, and other key performance indicators to support continuous quality improvement.
- Ensure assessments, treatment planning, therapy, discharge planning, documentation, and care coordination meet organizational, regulatory, and evidence-based standards.
- Collaborate with Team Leads to promote consistency in clinical practice, workflows, and service delivery across crisis programs.
- Assist with operational problem-solving during periods of high volume, staffing shortages, or complex client situations.
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve policies, procedures, and workflows that support safe, effective, risk-managed, and family-centered crisis services.
- Provide direct clinical services and operational support as needed to ensure continuity of care and program effectiveness.
Compliance & Quality Assurance
- Ensure staff adherence to documentation standards and agency policies and procedures.
- Monitor compliance with federal, state, Medicaid, and third-party payor requirements.
- Ensure HIPAA compliance and privacy practice adherence across teams.
- Participate in quality improvement initiatives and monitor program performance metrics.
- Support accurate, timely billing and documentation aligned with regulatory requirements.
- Oversee appropriate utilization of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system.
Community Collaboration
- Maintain professional affiliations and pursue continuing education to remain current with best practices in crisis behavioral health.
- Serve as an operational liaison with hospitals, emergency departments, law enforcement, EMS, 988, schools, and community partners.
- Assist in developing community relationships supporting crisis services.
- Participate in community meetings and collaborative initiatives.
- Represent crisis services during operational planning meetings.
Administrative Responsibilities
- Assist with policy and procedure implementation.
- Monitor operational budgets and resource utilization.
- Assist with inventory, equipment, and facility management.
- Prepare operational reports and performance dashboards.
- Participate in leadership meetings and strategic planning initiatives.
- Perform other duties as assigned
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Direct supervision of 13 staff (growing).
- Indirect oversight of clinical and care management staff within Crisis Services.
- Participation in interviewing, hiring, onboarding, training, performance evaluation, corrective action, and professional development processes.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong leadership and team-building skills.
- Excellent organizational and operational management abilities.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced crisis environment.
- Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication.
- Knowledge of behavioral health crisis systems, emergency response, and stabilization services.
- Knowledge of HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, Medicaid regulations, and Colorado Behavioral Health Administration requirements.
- Ability to build collaborative relationships across multidisciplinary teams.
- Proficiency with electronic health records and operational reporting systems.
- Commitment to servant leadership, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Commitment to Paragon's mission, vision, and values.
Qualifications
- Education: Master's degree in Counseling, Social Work, Clinical Psychology, or related field (required).
- Licensure:
Active Colorado clinical license in good standing (LPC, LCSW, LMFT) - All licenses must stay up to date and valid during employment.
- Experience:
- Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in behavioral health or healthcare settings.
- Experience supervising master's-level clinicians preferred.
- Experience in Medicaid-funded or third-party reimbursed environments strongly preferred.
- Experience developing training materials or skill-based curriculum for staff is a plus.
- Experience launching or managing crisis stabilization or walk-in center programs preferred
- Experience with Mobile Crisis Response or 988 systems preferred
- Language Skills: Bilingual (Spanish) preferred
- Other Requirements: Valid driver's license, auto insurance, willingness to travel to homes/communities.
- Requires living in or near the location of the posting.
Job Details
- Type: Full-Time
- Location: Frisco, Colorado
- Department: Crisis
- Schedule: Tuesday-Saturday 8:30am-5pm
- Occasional night or weekend coverage required for on-call
- Salary: $85,000-$95,000 per year
Benefits
- Paid health, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability insurance.
- Discretionary Time Off (DTO)
- 401(k)retirement plan
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Professional development support
- Referral bonuses
