DIRECTOR OF OUTPATIENT SERVICE - DOPS

Director of Outpatient Services

Hamden, CT | Full-Time | Exempt

Make a Difference Every Day

Since 1833, The Children's Center of Hamden has been committed to supporting children, youth, and families. We are seeking an experienced and visionary Director of Outpatient Services to provide leadership for our Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Use Programs. In this role, you will oversee clinical and operational excellence across the department, ensuring high-quality, trauma-informed care while supporting staff development, program growth, compliance, and positive outcomes for the individuals and families we serve.

Why Join Us?

At The Children's Center of Hamden, you'll be part of a collaborative, mission-driven team that values innovation, compassion, and professional growth. We offer:

Comprehensive Benefits - Medical, dental, vision, life, disability, EAP, and wellness programs. On one medical plan option, The Children's Center covers 92% of the employee premium and contributes to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).

Generous Paid Time Off - Vacation, sick, personal days, and 13 paid holidays.

Retirement & Long-Term Security - 401(k) plan with employer contributions to help you save for the future.

Professional Growth & Development - Interest-free tuition loans, ongoing CEU-accredited training, and opportunities for career advancement.

Supportive, Mission-Driven Culture - Join a collaborative team where your leadership and expertise help shape brighter futures for children, families, and communities.

What You'll Do

As the Director of Outpatient Services, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Use Programs, ensuring effective service delivery, regulatory compliance, and exceptional client care. Responsibilities include:
• Leading, supervising, and developing outpatient clinical staff, supervisors, interns, and support personnel.
• Driving clinician productivity and program performance while maintaining ethical, client-centered care and documentation standards.
• Overseeing daily clinical and operational functions to ensure timely access to services, efficient scheduling, and positive client outcomes.
• Supporting program growth through community partnerships, referral development, and service expansion initiatives.
• Ensuring compliance with DCF, DSS, DPH, Joint Commission, contractual requirements, and agency policies and procedures.
• Monitoring documentation quality, clinical outcomes, and program performance through data analysis and quality improvement initiatives.
• Maintaining and updating departmental policies, procedures, and workflows to align with best practices and regulatory standards.
• Promoting fidelity to evidence-based and trauma-informed treatment models through supervision, coaching, and staff development.
• Managing departmental hiring, onboarding, training, performance evaluations, and employee engagement efforts.
• Collaborating with internal departments, community partners, schools, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders to support coordinated care.
• Serving as a member of the agency's Management Team and contributing to organizational planning and strategic initiatives.
• Maintaining required certifications and serving as a leadership resource for crisis prevention, intervention, and safety practices.
• Promoting culturally responsive, equitable, and inclusive services for all individuals and families served.
• Performing other duties as assigned to support program success.

What We're Looking For
• Master's degree in Social Work (MSW), Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), Counseling, or a related behavioral health field.
• Current Clinical Licensure (LMFT, LCSW, LPC) in the State of Connecticut.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible clinical leadership experience in behavioral health, outpatient mental health, substance use treatment, or related human services settings.
• Specialized training and experience in child psychopathology and developmental psychology.
• Working knowledge of DSM-5 and the ability to support therapeutic interventions across individual, family, and group treatment modalities.
• Strong leadership, organizational, operational, and communication skills.
• Experience supervising multidisciplinary teams and fostering professional development.
• Knowledge of regulatory, accreditation, and funding requirements related to outpatient behavioral health services.
• Ability to obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid certification.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Crisis Prevention and Intervention certification.
• Commitment to trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and ethical clinical practice.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements
• Regularly requires sitting, standing, walking, reaching, bending, climbing, driving, and repetitive motion.
• Ability to perform light (<20 lbs.) and moderate (20-50 lbs.) lifting.
• Potential exposure to waste and bodily fluids.
• Potential exposure to allergenic and/or irritant conditions.

Join Our Team

If you are a dynamic clinical leader with a passion for advancing high-quality behavioral health services and supporting children, families, and communities, we encourage you to apply. Join a team dedicated to innovation, collaboration, and improving lives through compassionate care.

The Children's Center of Hamden is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.