Lead Clinical Supervisor — Crisis Care & Team Leadership

Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) and the job listing Expires on May 29, 2026 Insurance Benefits: Medical (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage), Dental, Life, Long-term Disability Other Benefits: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), ORCA card subsidy, Paid Time Off (34 days per year), Retirement Plan About DESC: Recognized nationally as an innovator and leader in developing solutions to homelessness, DESC is a social services organization, supportive housing operator, and licensed behavioral health treatment provider focused on meeting the needs of people experiencing long-term homelessness and living with complex behavioral health and other medical conditions. Approximately 3,000 people are actively receiving services from DESC at any given point in time. Our vision is a community where all people are shown compassion, treated with dignity, and everyone has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. DESC operates five shelter/emergency housing programs, 19 permanent supportive housing facilities with over 1,750 units, several hundred additional scattered site apartments, and a range of behavioral health services including outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment, residential crisis stabilization, street outreach, mobile crisis response, and treatment for opioid use disorder.

JOB DEFINITION

The Crisis Solutions Center (CSC) provides stabilization, treatment, and referral services for up to 46 individuals at a time, with the goal of diverting people experiencing mental illness and substance use disorders from hospitals and jails to a more appropriate therapeutic setting. CSC includes the Crisis Diversion Facility (CDF), a residential acute crisis stabilization program, and Crisis Diversion Interim Services (CDIS), a step-down program serving individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. In partnership with CSC Project Managers, the Lead Clinical Supervisor provides shift-level clinical and administrative leadership across CDF and CDIS, supporting the implementation of program standards, workflows, and service expectations. This role oversees frontline staff supervision, client engagement, and short-term case management services, while ensuring safe transitions between programs and effective discharge planning. The Lead Clinical Supervisor is a Mental Health Professional and plays a key role in coaching staff, maintaining clinical quality, and supporting integrated operations across the CSC continuum. This position is not tied to a specific shift and may support day, swing, or night operations based on program needs.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program & Clinical Leadership Support CSC Project Managers in the planning, implementation, and coordination of client care and integrated service delivery across CDF and CDIS. Provide shift-level leadership to ensure consistent engagement, assessment, and short-term stabilization case management services. Implement clinical, case management, and operational practices as directed by Project Managers, and provide feedback on effectiveness, gaps, and emerging needs. Guide and participate in screening and assessment activities to ensure services are appropriately matched to the target population. Support coordinated transitions between CDF and CDIS and continuity of care upon discharge to the community. Collaborate with other DESC staff to ensure continuity of services for clients accessing other DESC programs. Staff Supervision & Workforce Development Provide direct clinical and administrative supervision to Mental Health Professionals (MHPs), Behavioral Health Case Managers (BHCMs), and Milieu Specialists. Provide supervision and support to Shift Supervisors, as assigned, including schedule oversight and coverage coordination. Assess staff strengths and training needs; provide regular supervision, clinical consultation, and constructive feedback. Conduct performance evaluations and provide coaching and corrective action in coordination with Project Managers, escalating concerns as appropriate. Support onboarding, training, and required credentialing to ensure personnel files remain current. Facilitate team meetings that promote collaboration, shared learning, and team cohesion. Provide staff trainings on topics including risk assessment, harm reduction, trauma-informed care, effective communication, and documentation. Clinical Oversight & Documentation Review clinical documentation to ensure records are accurate, timely, and aligned with agency, county, and state requirements. Identify documentation, practice, or compliance trends and elevate concerns to Project Managers to support quality improvement and audit readiness. Coordinate and participate in psychiatric consultations, clinical supervision meetings, case conferences, and in-service trainings. Participate in quality assurance, quality improvement, and program evaluation activities in partnership with Project Managers. Operations & Administrative Responsibilities Support scheduling and staffing coordination at the shift level, in alignment with staffing plans established by Project Managers. Review and approve timesheets for supervised staff and submit documentation to payroll in a timely manner. Participate in CSC program meetings, agency trainings, and all-staff meetings. Maintain compliance with DESC policies and procedures and applicable Washington State and King County behavioral health requirements. Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with community partners and human service organizations. Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Eligible for a Licensed Agency Affiliated Counselor (AAC) credential or another superseding credential that meets RCW 71.05.020 requirements to act as a Mental Health Professional, with a scope of practice that includes independent mental health assessment and diagnosis. Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, or other relevant behavioral science field. One or more years’ experience in community based behavioral health services Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle for work-related duties; valid Washington State driver’s license and insurable driving record required. Experience working with adults experiencing homelessness, mental illness and/or substance use disorders. Knowledge of recovery-oriented, strengths-based practice. Knowledge of harm reduction and trauma-informed care principles. Strong collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Ability to communicate effectively with staff from diverse backgrounds. Commitment to cooperation, continuity across programs, and respectful, client-centered care.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Washington State licensure as an LICSW, LMFT, or LMHC. Qualified to provide Department of Health–approved supervision to LICSW, LMFT, and/or LMHC candidates. Prior supervisory experience.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to sit for long periods of time, walk when completing rounds several times a day, move quickly during de-escalations, communicate with other persons by talking and hearing, and lift and carry items weighing up to 25 pounds and to operate computer hardware systems. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

DESC is committed to diversity in the workplace and promotes equal employment opportunities for all staff members and applicants. The Agency will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, caste, marital status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability in any employment practice, unless based on a bona fide occupational qualification. Minorities and veterans are encouraged to apply. #J-18808-Ljbffr Nichols College