Behavioral Program Director

Position Overview

The Behavioral Program Director provides clinical leadership for Covenant House Pennsylvania’s case management services for young people ages 18 to 24 experiencing homelessness, trauma, and housing instability. This licensed clinician supervises and trains case managers, provides clinical oversight of the part-time Social Worker who supervises MSW interns and community health workers, guides staff through complex cases, and leads a weekly resident group while connecting young people to community resources.

The Director also leads CHPA’s partnership with the CHOP Connections Clinic, supporting coordinated access to case management, behavioral health services, and medical care.

Responsibilities and Essential Duties

Clinical Supervision and Oversight of Case Managers

• Provide individual clinical supervision at least every other week to each of the five case managers, with weekly supervision for new staff or staff managing high-risk cases.
• Facilitate weekly case review meetings focused on risk assessment, service planning, and adjustments to intervention strategies.
• Support case managers in completing standardized risk assessments, including the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale and CHPA’s internal risk-tiering process.
• Monitor case manager performance, caseloads, and documentation, and provide constructive feedback and coaching.
• Provide clinical guidance on Youth Engagement Specialist activities.

Training and Professional Development

• Lead orientation and onboarding for new case managers, including clinical practice, risk assessment, documentation, and case planning.
• Provide ongoing training and coaching in trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, de-escalation, crisis response, professional boundaries, and strengths-based service delivery.
• Provide weekly clinical supervision to the part-time Social Worker, who supervises MSW interns and community health workers, and remain informed of intern learning plans and school requirements.
• Oversee experienced case managers who help train and mentor new case managers.

Complex Cases and Direct Clinical Services

• Provide intensive clinical consultation on cases involving mental health concerns, trauma, suicidal ideation, severe distress, or active crisis.
• Lead a weekly resident group, with the Social Worker co-facilitating as available.
• Develop safety plans, crisis intervention strategies, and emergency referrals with case managers.
• Connect young people to mental health, healthcare, housing, education, and other community resources, and follow up to resolve barriers to services.
• Support the development or facilitation of parenting groups and other therapeutic or educational groups.

Care Coordination and Partnerships

• Serve as the primary clinical liaison to the CHOP Connections Clinic, coordinating referrals, warm handoffs, and shared care planning for youth.
• Coordinate with behavioral health providers, healthcare providers, residential staff, and community partners.
• Coordinate with approved volunteers who provide respite or program support.

Documentation Data and Quality

• Review ETO data and case records through spot checks and trend reviews, and oversee the Social Worker’s routine data review and compliance monitoring.
• Maintain timely ETO documentation for youth receiving direct services, and keep records of clinical supervision, consultation, and staff coaching.
• Use program data to identify trends, training needs, and opportunities to strengthen services.

Program Leadership and Compliance

• Attend daily staff transition meetings and participate in program leadership meetings.
• Ensure compliance with ethical and professional standards, including confidentiality, mandated reporting, and professional boundaries.
• Communicate concerns about youth safety, staff practice, or program operations to the Chief Executive Officer.
• Coordinate with program directors responsible for daily residential operations to ensure case managers have access to youth, and take responsibility for resolving barriers that arise.
• Complete required reports and administrative responsibilities within established deadlines, and perform other duties as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer.

Approximate Time Allocation

Area

Share of time

Case manager supervision, training, and Social Worker oversight

20%

Weekly resident group and community resource connection

14%

Complex case consultation

17%

Partnerships and program leadership

20%

Data review through spot checks and trends, and documentation

9%

Flexible time for crisis response, training development, and quality improvement

20%

Total

100%

Time allocations are approximate and may shift based on youth needs and program priorities.

Knowledge and Skills

• Clinical assessment, crisis intervention, and risk assessment, including suicidal ideation and severe distress, using tools such as the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed, strengths-based, and youth-centered practice with transition-age youth experiencing homelessness.
• Ability to provide structured supervision, coaching, and constructive feedback.
• Strong documentation, data review, and organizational skills, with working knowledge of ETO, HMIS, or a similar case management system.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and remain calm and effective during a crisis.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate with clinical, medical, residential, and community partners.
• Sound professional judgment and a commitment to confidentiality.

Qualifications

Required

• Master’s degree in social work from an accredited college or university.
• Current Pennsylvania Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) license.
• Five or more years of social work or case management experience, preferably with young adults, transition-age youth, or people experiencing homelessness.
• Two or more years of experience supervising case managers or other human-services professionals.
• Experience providing therapy or clinical intervention to people who have experienced trauma.
• Working knowledge of trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and de-escalation.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Pennsylvania child abuse, criminal background, and FBI clearances.

Preferred

• Experience supervising MSW interns or other students, and eligibility to serve as a field instructor.
• Experience coordinating care with healthcare partners, such as a hospital-based or community clinic.
• Experience with ETO, HMIS, or a comparable platform.
• Experience reviewing case files and program documentation for quality and compliance.

Working Conditions and Schedule

This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week position based onsite at CHPA’s Germantown location in Philadelphia. The schedule is flexible and determined by program needs, including attendance at daily staff transition meetings, clinical supervision, resident groups, and scheduled partner meetings.

The position involves direct work with young people experiencing homelessness, trauma, and behavioral health concerns. The Director must be able to respond effectively to crises, maintain professional boundaries, and protect confidential information.