Licensed Clinical Manager

Description

Join Our Team as a Licensed Clinical Manager and help make a difference in the lives of children, youth, and families!

Northern Children's Services Wins the 2026 Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award and the 2026 Top Workplaces Professional Development Award For more information, visit https://topworkplaces.com/company/northern-children-s-serv/

Job Summary

Are you passionate about supporting the healthy development of children, youth, and families for a brighter future? Look no further! At Northern Children’s Services (Northern), every role in the organization contributes to helping us achieve our mission and vision. We believe that every child and youth has the potential to transform themselves – no matter their background or life situation. We work to “walk the talk” when it comes to our organizational values: Excellence, Respect, Resilience, Cultural Humility & Justice, Healing, and Wellness.

Why Choose Us? As a Licensed Clinical Manager, you’ll embark on a fulfilling journey.

• Leadership Opportunity
• Supportive Environment
• Empowerment and Progress
• Effective Communication
• Empowerment Through Planning
• Continuous Monitoring and Progress
• Documentation Excellence
• Networking and Collaboration

SUMMARY:

The Licensed Clinical Manager for Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS) leads, directs, monitors and supervises the clinical and operational processes of an assigned IBHS team. Reporting to the IBHS Clinical Director, the Licensed Clinical Manager provides clinical leadership and coordination of care and ensures that all services are delivered in accordance with 55 Pa. Code Chapters 1155 and 5240, Community Behavioral Health (CBH) requirements, and the policies, procedures and performance standards of Northern Children’s Services. By identifying and addressing key issues that affect the daily functioning of each child, youth or young adult, the Licensed Clinical Manager ensures that all aspects of treatment are integrated into a holistic, family-centered Individual Treatment Plan (ITP). The Licensed Clinical Manager supervises Behavior Consultants (BC), Mobile Therapists (MT) and Behavioral Health Technicians (BHT), and oversees assessments, written orders, treatment planning, authorization and reauthorization requests, case coordination and the maintenance of authorized services.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

Communication

• Clearly and effectively communicates departmental goals and directives to IBHS staff.
• Provides leadership to ensure a high degree of cooperation and effectiveness within and across IBHS teams.
• Serves as a resource to the child, youth or young adult, family, treatment team and school in handling crisis and problem situations, and communicates with external partners as needed.
• Shares all relevant clinical information with treatment team members in accordance with confidentiality requirements.
• Communicates with CBH regarding clinical issues, authorization and reauthorization requests, and service concerns.
• Provides back-up support for other Licensed Clinical Managers during absences or when they are off-site.
• Establishes a team culture consistent with agency directives and the agency’s trauma-informed principles.

Planning

• Assesses staffing needs, identifies needed skills, and develops staff training consistent with the agency’s IBHS staff training plan.
• Participates in quality and performance improvement activities.
• Conducts meetings to plan for the anticipated clinical needs of clients.
• Schedules and coordinates assessments and written orders for clients assigned to the team, and completes them when within the scope of their license.
• Facilitates discharge planning and completes required documentation.
• Thinks through situations and system processes, identifies routine and situational issues, and plans for continuous improvement.
• Ensures that authorization and reauthorization requests (packets) are processed and submitted on time so that there is no break in authorized services before discharge.

Monitoring

• Allocates staff effectively across the team’s caseload.
• Ensures that the team complies with 55 Pa. Code Chapters 1155 and 5240, CBH requirements and agency policy.
• Ensures that ITP goals are appropriate, measurable and fit the needs of the child, youth or young adult and family.
• Reviews BC, MT and BHT progress notes weekly and documents their quality.
• Monitors the clinical effectiveness of care through review of client records and ensures that records are complete and current.
• Conducts periodic clinical record reviews.
• Ensures that staff deliver high-quality work, handle situations effectively and continuously improve their practice.

Directing

• Directs BC, MT and BHT staff in carrying out the required and most appropriate interventions to ensure quality of care.
• Reviews standards with staff to ensure mutual understanding of administrative and clinical procedures.

Supervision

• Provides clinical and administrative supervision to staff on the clinical progress, treatment planning and documentation of each case.
• Provides and documents supervision that meets 55 Pa. Code § 5240.72, including:
• At least 1 hour per month of individual supervision for each BC and MT, plus an additional hour per month for any BC or MT who supervises BHT staff.
• At least 30 minutes of direct observation of each BC and MT providing services every 6 months.
• Supervision of BHT staff at the frequency required by regulation, either directly or through qualified BC/MT staff.
• Supervises no more than 12 full-time-equivalent staff, of whom no more than 9 provide BHT services, as required by 55 Pa. Code § 5240.72.
• Conducts clinical orientation for new BC, MT and BHT staff.
• Interviews, hires and trains BC, MT and BHT staff on their clinical roles within the team.
• Evaluates the performance of staff.
• Ensures that all staff complete required documentation weekly, and follows agency policy and procedures when this does not happen.
• Conducts treatment team meetings as needed and oversees the facilitation of interagency meetings.

Networking

• Maintains contact with schools, families and internal/external resources as appropriate.
• Provides linkages with community resources by maintaining knowledge of other child-serving systems.
• Attends and participates in assigned departmental and agency meetings.

Completes other duties as assigned.

III. CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Ability to communicate and interact effectively with staff.
• Ability to assess the treatment needs of children, youth, young adults and families and apply appropriate therapeutic interventions.
• Ability to present information effectively and respond to questions from clients, families and collateral agencies.
• Ability to accurately calculate numbers, including addition, subtraction and percentages.
• Ability to give clear and concise oral and written instructions.
• Working knowledge of the behavioral health system, including 55 Pa. Code Chapter 5240 and CBH requirements; knowledge of and ability to navigate other child-serving systems.
• Working knowledge of theoretical models, therapeutic interventions and behavioral interventions as they relate to the children, youth, young adults and families we serve.
• Ability to apply conflict resolution skills effectively with clients, families and staff.
• Ability to respond in a culturally responsive, trauma-informed manner.
• Skill in psychosocial assessment and treatment planning.
• QUALIFICATIONS:
• Education: Master’s degree in a clinical or mental health field from an accredited college or university. A Psy.D. or Ph.D. in a clinical or mental health field is preferred.
• Licensure (mandatory): The Licensed Clinical Manager must hold a current, active and unrestricted Pennsylvania license as one of the following. These are the licenses Pennsylvania requires for IBHS staff who supervise Behavior Consultants and Mobile Therapists (55 Pa. Code §§ 5240.12(b) and 5240.72(a)).
• Licensed Psychologist
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
• Licensed Social Worker (LSW) or Licensed Behavior Specialist (LBS), with a graduate degree that required a clinical or mental health direct service practicum
• Another Pennsylvania license whose scope of practice includes overseeing IBHS, with a graduate degree that required a clinical or mental health direct service practicum
• Experience: At least 1 year of full-time postgraduate experience providing direct mental health services to children, youth or young adults, as required by 55 Pa. Code § 5240.12(b). Four years’ total experience in human service organizations, including at least 2 years of supervisory experience. Excellent working knowledge of clinical issues relating to children, adolescents and families, and good working knowledge of other systems that affect them.
• Training: Completes the initial and annual IBHS training required by 55 Pa. Code § 5240.73 and the agency’s staff training plan. Continuing education completed to maintain licensure may count toward this requirement.
• PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
• Ability to operate a computer (including the electronic health record), printer and calculator.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle or access public transportation to travel to schools, homes and community settings.
• Must obtain and maintain current clearances required for staff who work with children: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check, and FBI fingerprint-based criminal background check.
• Must maintain an active Pennsylvania license in good standing and promptly notify their supervisor of any change in license status.

Trauma-Informed Principles

Northern Children’s Services is committed to fostering a therapeutic environment rooted in safety, nonviolence, and resilience. Our policies are guided by trauma-informed principles, ensuring that we create a supportive and healing atmosphere for clients and staff.

A trauma-informed approach recognizes that past experiences, including trauma, can significantly impact a person’s behavior, emotions, and interactions.

Therefore, we strive to:

• Use emotional intelligence: Respond with empathy and awareness, even in difficult situations.
• Communicate effectively: Listen actively, ask clarifying questions, and avoid judgmental language.
• Understand trauma’s impact: Be aware that clients or colleagues may react based on past experiences, not just the present moment.
• Apply person-first, strengths-based language: Focus on people’s strengths and abilities rather than defining them by their challenges (e.g., saying "a person experiencing homelessness" instead of "a homeless person").

By adhering to these principles, we ensure that our workplace is not only effective but also compassionate and inclusive for everyone.

Americans with Disabilities Act: As with all positions at Northern Children’s Services, Inc., we recognize the importance of accommodations for individuals with disabilities and are committed, to every extent possible, to accommodating individuals with disabilities. We recognize the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and understand the need to reasonably accommodate employees. All accommodations will be evaluated case by case, considering the essential functions of the position.

DISCRIMINATION IS PROHIBITED IN EMPLOYMENT, PROMOTION, ASSIGNMENT OR DISMISSAL ON THE BASIS OF RACE, RELIGION, COLOR, AGE, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITY, OR RECEIPT OF SERVICES FOR MENTAL DISABILITY.