Chief Clinical Officer

Chief Clinical Officer

Department: Clinical Services

Direct Report To: Regional Director of Clinical Operations

About the Role

The Chief Clinical Officer (CCO) provides executive leadership for clinical services at Hickory Behavioral Hospital Albion, with an emphasis on ASAM Level 4.0 medically managed inpatient care, detoxification, and stabilization. The CCO establishes clinical care standards and directs therapy, counseling, and care coordination services to support patient recovery.

Under the supervision of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Clinical Officer is responsible for clinical operations, staff development, program quality, and regulatory readiness. The CCO partners with the Medical Director and nursing leadership to align services with patient acuity and hospital capabilities, including physician-directed withdrawal management and nursing care. Clinical oversight includes timely assessment, individualized treatment planning, and coordination of ongoing care after discharge in accordance with applicable state and federal requirements, professional scope of practice, and facility policies.

Why Hickory Recovery

Hickory Recovery is setting the benchmark in mental health care, especially for those facing acute challenges or dealing with co-occurring disorders. Our focus is on

Delivering personalized, top tier care that fosters healing and improves wellbeing

Ensuring every individual has access to the best possible support and treatment

Our Mission

To provide high quality, acute care for adults struggling with mental health issues or mental health co-occurring disorders. It's Hickory's primary goal to offer expert treatment for all we serve.

What We Offer

401k

Dental insurance

Flexible schedule

Health insurance

PTO

Vision insurance

Career development

Mental health days

Holiday pay

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership and Patient Care

Direct clinical programming for adults experiencing substance withdrawal and co-occurring mental health concerns, adapting services to each patient's stability, needs, and ability to participate.

Establish standards for biopsychosocial assessments, ASAM level-of-care evaluations, individualized treatment plans, therapy, and discharge documentation.

Lead interdisciplinary treatment planning and complex case reviews with medical, nursing, intake, utilization review, and care coordination teams.

Promote evidence-based approaches, including motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral interventions, trauma-informed care, and relapse prevention.

Coordinate with medical and nursing leaders on withdrawal care pathways, access to medications for substance use disorders, and escalation of medical or psychiatric concerns.

Oversee discharge planning beginning at admission, including referrals, follow-up appointments, and coordination with residential, outpatient, and community providers.

Staff Development and Clinical Operations

Recruit, onboard, coach, and evaluate assigned clinical staff in partnership with Human Resources and hospital leadership.

Provide clinical consultation and arrange discipline-specific supervision that meets Indiana licensing requirements; verify that services remain within each practitioner's scope.

Develop clinical staffing plans, coverage, training, and budgets that reflect patient acuity, census, and service needs.

Develop clinical policies and workflows, support hospital opening or service expansion, and maintain coordination with corporate clinical leadership.

Documentation Quality and Compliance

Maintain timely, accurate clinical documentation that supports medical necessity, continued stay reviews, and appropriate transitions in care.

Monitor treatment engagement, documentation timeliness, discharge follow-through, patient experience, and readmissions; use findings to improve care.

Maintain survey readiness and compliance with applicable Indiana hospital and behavioral health requirements, federal requirements, accreditation standards, and hospital policies, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 as applicable.

Safety Licensing and Leadership Coverage

Partner with Quality and Risk Management on patient rights, suicide prevention, crisis response, incident review, and corrective actions.

Participate in onsite leadership coverage and assigned on-call responsibilities; respond to urgent clinical needs outside regular business hours as required.

Maintain required licensure and complete hospital onboarding, safety, and crisis response training.

Job Qualifications

Master's degree in social work, counseling, psychology, addiction counseling, marriage and family therapy, or a related clinical field from an accredited institution. A relevant clinical doctorate is also accepted.

Active, unrestricted Indiana clinical license appropriate to the assigned duties: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor (LCAC), or licensed psychologist with Health Service Provider in Psychology (HSPP) endorsement.

At least five years of clinical experience treating substance use or co-occurring disorders, including at least three years in clinical leadership, staff supervision, or program management.

Experience in hospital detoxification, medically managed withdrawal services, or acute inpatient behavioral health involving substance use disorders.

Working knowledge of ASAM Criteria, diagnostic assessment, suicide risk assessment, crisis intervention, and interdisciplinary treatment planning.

Demonstrated ability to lead teams, improve clinical performance, manage documentation and utilization review processes, and communicate with patients, families, and hospital leaders.

Prior CCO, Clinical Director, or comparable inpatient clinical leadership experience is preferred.

Experience opening clinical programs, leading accreditation surveys, or implementing quality improvements is preferred.

Additional addiction credentials, dual clinical licensure, and experience supervising clinicians toward independent licensure are preferred.

Compensation

$110,000 - $125,000 annually

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