Clinical Supervisor

SUMMARY:

The Clinical Supervisor, reporting to the Clinical Director, provides clinical supervision to Therapists providing counseling and therapy services to clients with substance use disorder (SUD) and co-occurring mental health disorders. The Clinical Supervisor conducts clinical supervision and/or individual and group therapy under the structured framework of state and federal law, the counseling and/or social work code of ethics, SFRC evidence-based practices (EBP), and SFRC policies and procedures. The Clinical Supervisor is responsible for creating and maintaining a trauma-informed, client-centered, therapeutic, and safe environment for clients and staff. Working with SFRC/FCDRC leadership and staff to develop, promote, and maintain cultural proficiency throughout the organization.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Core Clinical Supervision

• Facilitate ongoing individual and group clinical supervision for assigned staff and trainees, ensuring regular frequency and timely scheduling.
• Develop, review, and maintain a formal written supervision plan for each supervisee; track progress toward clinical competency and licensure goals.
• Maintain supervision documentation (e.g., supervision logs, plans, evaluations) in accordance with legal, ethical, licensing board, and organizational standards; ensure records are retained securely and retrievable for audits.
• Provide case consultation, clinical modeling, joint sessions, and live/supervised observation when appropriate to support skill development and fidelity.
• Ensure supervisees understand scope of practice, professional boundaries, dual relationships, and role limitations.
• Support supervisees’ preparation for licensure (e.g., verifying and signing supervision hours when appropriate per state regulations).

Clinical Quality & Evidence-Based Practice

• Ensure clinical staff are trained in required evidence-based and trauma-informed practices; monitor through observation, chart review, and fidelity checks that interventions are delivered with fidelity.
• Conduct regular chart reviews and case reviews to monitor quality of assessment, treatment planning, progress notes, and outcomes.
• Assist in developing, implementing, and evaluating clinical protocols, treatment pathways, and practice guidelines.
• Promote a recovery-oriented, culturally responsive, and client-centered approach across services.

Documentation, EHR, and Billing Compliance

• Train and ensure staff competency in utilization of the electronic health record (EHR) and other record-keeping systems.
• Train clinical staff on proper documentation standards, timely entries, progress note content, and compliance with payer documentation requirements.
• Monitor documentation for clinical accuracy, completeness, and compliance with Medicaid/Medicare, private payers, and state regulations; coordinate with billing when documentation is deficient.

Regulatory Compliance, Risk Management & Safety

• Ensure that CARF, federal, state, and organizational standards of care are met; prepare staff for licensing surveys and audits.
• Enforce confidentiality, HIPAA compliance, mandated reporting (e.g., abuse, neglect), and appropriate release-of-information procedures.
• Oversee incident reporting, participate in root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions to reduce risk (including medication errors, safety incidents, seclusion/restraint events).
• Ensure staff are trained in suicide risk assessment, safety planning, de-escalation, crisis intervention, and emergency procedures.
• Participate in and/or oversee clinical on-call rotations; respond to client emergencies per policy.

Staff Management & Administrative Supervision

• Perform administrative supervision duties: monitor and manage employee performance, conduct performance evaluations, address performance deficiencies, and implement performance improvement plans when needed.
• Maintain staff schedules, ensure adequate clinical coverage, coordinate backfill/on-call coverage, and manage caseload distribution.
• Participate in recruitment, hire recommendations, onboarding, credentialing, and termination processes as authorized.
• Monitor staff productivity and ensure clinicians meet program productivity standards while balancing clinical quality.

Training, Professional Development & Internship Coordination

• Participate in and coordinate ongoing staff training, including orientation, evidence-based practice training, cultural competence, trauma-informed care, ethics, risk assessment, and mandatory trainings.
• Support and participate in internship and practicum programs: provide supervision to interns, coordinate placement goals, and participate in program training activities.
• Ensure supervisees maintain required professional licensure/certification and continuing education; track expirations and assist with renewal processes.

Collaboration, Care Coordination & Community Relations

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams (psychiatrists, nurses, case managers, social workers, housing/employment specialists, QI/Utilization Management) to coordinate comprehensive care.
• Assist staff in coordinating with referral sources, community providers, schools, courts, and justice system partners as needed.
• Serve as a point of contact for clinical issues with external stakeholders and participate in community outreach when relevant.

Program Evaluation, Data & Reporting

• Work with the Clinical Director/Chief Clinical Officer to evaluate program outcomes, contribute to program development, and support clinical research or pilot initiatives.
• Collect, analyze, and report clinical metrics (e.g., outcomes, readmissions, incident rates, treatment fidelity) to leadership and quality improvement teams.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and help implement and monitor corrective action plans.

Ethics, Cultural Competence & Client Rights

• Promote ethical decision-making, client advocacy, informed consent processes, and protection of client rights.
• Model and promote cultural humility, equity, and the delivery of culturally and linguistically appropriate services.
• Address complaints and grievances concerning clinical services and participate in resolution processes.

Clinical Operations & Medication Management Oversight

• Coordinate with prescribers, nurses, and pharmacy when necessary to support medication management and monitoring practices.
• When necessary, provide direct clinical services (group facilitation, individual sessions) to cover staffing gaps or manage complex cases.

Technology & Telehealth

• Ensure clinicians are trained and competent in delivering telehealth services according to agency policy and payer rules; monitor quality and confidentiality of telehealth encounters.

Legal Responsibilities

• Understand and apply relevant laws and licensing board regulations governing clinical supervision and scope of practice; provide documentation and testimony when subpoenaed if required and coordinate with legal counsel.

Supervisor Professional Development & Accountability

• Maintain your own professional licensure, training, and supervision skills; ensure your records and CE requirements are in good order and meet organizational standards.
• Participate in leadership meetings, provide input to policy development, and escalate systemic clinical risks to the Clinical Director/CCO.

Additional/Optional Responsibilities (as applicable)

• Support grant writing, program expansion, and new service model rollouts; assist with pilot projects and clinical research efforts.
• Participate in workforce development strategies to reduce turnover and promote staff wellness (supervision groups focused on burnout, access to employee assistance programs).
• Provide input to program budgeting and resource planning related to clinical services.

KPIs/Performance Metrics for Clinical Supervisors

• Staff supervision compliance (percent of supervisees with up-to-date supervision plans and logs)
• Clinical documentation timeliness and audit pass rate
• Treatment fidelity scores for evidence-based practices
• Staff competency and training completion rates
• Client outcome measures (symptom reduction, functional improvement, satisfaction)
• Incident rates (safety events, medication errors) and corrective action closure rates
• Staff turnover and vacancy rates

MINIMUMQUALIFICATIONS:

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities:

1. Must be computer literate to effectively maintain compliance with BHSD Standards and requirements for the use of computerized client assessments, data systems, etc.
2. Maintain a current, valid NM Driver’s License. Must also have and maintain a clean driving record and auto insurance
3. Multi-lingual/multi-cultural preferred
   

Education and Experience:

1. Current New Mexico Board licensure as an independently licensed clinician and certified supervisor: LPCC, LCSW, or LMFT
2. At least two years of experience working with clients with co-occurring mental health/substance use disorder diagnosis, providing individual and group psychotherapy