Director of Social Services Care Coordination (LCSW) - Texas Behavioral Health Center

Texas Behavioral Health Center

The Texas Behavioral Health Center is anewly completed state-funded psychiatric hospital opening in Dallas’ Southwestern Medical District that is owned by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and operated by UT Southwestern Medical Center.

When fully operational, the 505,000-square-foot facility will house 292 beds – 200 for adult patients and 92 for children and adolescents. As DFW’s first state-funded behavioral health hospital, it is designed to deliver state-of-the-art, patient-centered care in a modern and healing environment. The center provides comprehensive behavioral health treatment and features private patient rooms, abundant access to natural light and nature, and thoughtfully designed spaces that promote recovery. The hospital will also provide training to all behavioral health disciplines.

As employees of UTSouthwestern, team members will join a world-class academic medical center committed to patient-centered care, innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and preparing patients for successful reintegration into their families and communities. With competitive benefits and a mission-driven culture, Texas Behavioral Health Center offers an unparalleled opportunity to make a lasting impact on mental health care in North Texas.

Learn more about Texas Behavioral Health Center here!

WHY UT SOUTHWESTERN?

With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the number 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you'll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career!

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Social Services and Care Coordination provides executive leadership for social work and care coordination services across the continuum of care, including admission, throughput, discharge, and post-acute transitions. This role is responsible for ensuring high-quality, patient-and family-centered care, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and achievement of financial and strategic objectives. The Director partners closely with interdisciplinary leadership to optimize clinical outcomes, resource utilization, and patient experience.

BENEFITS

UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:

• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
• 100% coverage for preventive healthcare-no copay
• Paid Time Off, available day one
• Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Paid Parental Leave Benefit
• Wellness programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
• Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Required

• Education
  Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited program.
• Experience
  7 years of progressive healthcare experience, including leadership in social work or care coordination.
  Demonstrated experience in acute care, behavioral health, or hospital-based services
• Licenses and Certifications
  Current licensure (e.g., LCSW) in the state of Texas.

Preferred

• Experience
  Experience in psychiatric or behavioral health hospital settings.
  Knowledge of CMS, Joint Commission, and utilization management requirements.
  Experience leading care coordination or case management programs across complex healthcare systems.

JOB DUTIES

• Provide leadership and oversight for social work and care coordination services across inpatient, outpatient, and behavioral health settings.
• Develop and implement departmental philosophy, goals, and objectives aligned with organizational priorities.
• Design and evaluate organizational systems to support effective care coordination and transitions of care.
• Serve as a key advisor to senior leadership on psychosocial care delivery and care coordination strategy.
• Lead development of standards of practice, scope of services, and departmental policies.
• Ensure effective care coordination across the continuum: admission, throughput, discharge, and post-discharge support.
• Oversee psychosocial assessment, discharge planning, and resource coordination processes.
• Provide expert consultation on complex psychosocial and discharge planning cases.
• Integrate social work services into interdisciplinary care delivery models to improve patient outcomes.
• Ensure alignment of social work practice with clinical, nursing, and organizational care models.
• Drive continuous performance improvement initiatives aligned with hospital-wide targets.
• Monitor and evaluate department performance, including staff effectiveness and operational outcomes.
• Develop and track key performance indicators (e.g., length of stay, avoidable days, readmissions, patient satisfaction)
• Evaluate care coordination processes to improve patient/family-centered outcomes and system efficiency.
• Act as a change agent, leading and sustaining organizational and departmental transformation initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation, Joint Commission standards, and state regulations.
• Develop, implement, and maintain policies and procedures related to social work and care coordination.
• Lead survey readiness efforts and regulatory reviews.
• Ensure appropriate documentation, discharge planning compliance, and resource utilization practices.
• Develop, manage, and monitor departmental budgets and cost centers.
• Ensure efficient utilization of staff and resources to meet financial targets.
• Identify opportunities to reduce avoidable days and optimize resource use.
• Support reimbursement processes and appropriate utilization management practices.
• Recruit, mentor, and retain high-performing social workers and care coordination staff.
• Foster a culture of accountability, critical thinking, and professional growth.
• Develop and oversee orientation, education, and training programs for social work staff.
• Provide coaching and performance management to support staff development and succession planning.
• Serve as a professional role model to promote excellence in clinical and leadership practice.
• Collaborate with physicians, nursing leadership, and other departments to ensure integrated care delivery.
• Serve as liaison between hospital leadership, care teams, and community agencies.
• Develop and maintain relationships with external providers and community resources.
• Support patients and families in accessing financial, medical, and social support systems.
• Establish and enforce high standards for professional conduct, patient experience, and service quality.
• Promote a patient-and family-centered care model.
• Ensure effective communication and collaboration across all levels of the organization.
• Evaluate systems and processes to enhance efficiency, care delivery, and staff accountability.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

SECURITY AND EEO STATEMENT

Security

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

EEO

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.