Program Director - Substance Use Residential Treatment

Job Description

Job Description

• Coordinating outreach and maintaining a program census within an 85-100% occupancy margin is a core performance expectation of this role.

• The Program Director - Substance Use Residential Treatment

• Owning the census number daily, tracking occupancy against the 85-100% target margin, admissions, discharges, and projected bed availability, and proactively managing the pipeline to prevent gaps

• Leading and coordinating all outreach efforts, building and maintaining strong referral relationships with hospitals, courts, managed care organizations, community service boards, and other referral sources throughout Hampton Roads, to sustain a steady admissions pipeline

• Coordinating with the admissions process to ensure timely screening, assessment, and intake of prospective residents

• Identifying and resolving barriers to admission, including insurance authorization, transportation, and documentation readiness

• Reporting census and occupancy status to the Assistant Clinical Director weekly, with a corrective action plan any time occupancy falls below the 85% margin for more than 48 hours

• Analyzing census trends, discharge patterns, and length-of-stay data to forecast and prevent dips before they occur

The Program Director takes full ownership of every employee assigned to The Elijah House.

• Responsible for their performance, their development, their morale, and their accountability, not just their schedules. This includes:

• Directly supervising all clinical and non-clinical staff, including counselors, case managers, residential aides, and peer recovery specialists

• Ensuring adequate staffing coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including managing the on-call schedule and filling gaps without disruption to client care

• Conducting regular individual supervision (clinical and administrative) and documenting supervision in accordance with DBHDS requirements

• Leading weekly team meetings to review census, client progress, staffing needs, and program operations

• Setting clear performance expectations, providing direct and timely feedback, and holding staff accountable through coaching, corrective action, and performance evaluations

• Onboarding and training all new hires on policies, Elijah House procedures, regulatory requirements, and the culture and standards of the program

• Identifying staff development needs and coordinating ongoing training in areas including crisis prevention, documentation, ethical practice, and evidence-based treatment modalities

• Modeling the work ethic, professionalism, and client-centered values expected of every team member leading from the front, not the office

The Program Director takes full ownership of every client in the program. You are the person ultimately responsible for ensuring that each resident receives the quality of care they were promised.

• Knowing every resident by name, understanding their treatment goals, and being able to speak to their progress at any time

• Ensuring that individualized service plans (ISPs) are developed within 24 hours of admission, are person- centered, and are reviewed and updated according to regulatory timelines

• Overseeing daily clinical programming, group therapy, individual counseling, psychoeducation, life skills, and recovery support activities - and ensuring sessions are delivered with fidelity and quality

• Monitoring clinical documentation for timeliness, accuracy, and compliance with DMAS, DBHDS, and ASAM standards

• Ensuring that medication management, medical monitoring, and coordination with prescribers are handled safely and in accordance with policy

• Personally reviewing and responding to all critical incidents, grievances, and client concerns, not delegating the follow-through on serious matters

• Overseeing discharge planning from day one, ensuring every resident leaves with a concrete aftercare plan including outpatient therapy, peer support, housing, and community resources

• Championing a culture of dignity, respect, and zero judgment, ensuring that every interaction between staff and residents reflects.

• Ensuring the program operates in full compliance with DBHDS licensing regulations (12
  
  VAC
  35-105),

• DMAS billing and service requirements (