POSITION SUMMARY
The Associate Manager, Behavioral Health Services, provides daily clinical and operational leadership for non-nursing staff within STCF and PES, including social workers, therapists, mental health screeners, peer support specialists, and Arrive Together team members. The role ensures high-quality clinical care, supports interdisciplinary collaboration, maintains regulatory readiness, and assists in culture building, workflow oversight, and performance improvement. The incumbent is responsible for providing supervision, leading meetings, supporting staff development, and functioning as a liaison with community agencies and law enforcement partners. This is a working supervisory role within a high-acuity psychiatric environment.
This position establishes and maintains communication with physicians, patients and their families, and other professionals to promote mutual understanding of problems and plans of care.
This position supports organizational goals by providing quality customer service, participating in performance improvement efforts and demonstrating a commitment to teamwork and cooperation.
The Associate Manager, Behavioral Health Services must possess
Strong clinical assessment and crisis intervention skills. Ability to lead teams in a fast-paced, high-acuity psychiatric environment. Strong communication and documentation skills. Knowledge of involuntary commitment law, crisis standards, and psychiatric emergency workflows. Trauma-informed, culturally competent leadership approach. Ability to manage competing priorities and resolve conflict constructively.Leadership & Operations
Provides daily leadership and support to social workers, therapists, screeners, peer advocates, and Arrive Together staff. Assists with staffing oversight, scheduling support, attendance monitoring, and performance reviews. Supports onboarding, training, and competency development for non-nursing staff. Collaborates closely with nursing leadership, psychiatry, security, and emergency department partners to ensure safe and efficient operations.
Clinical Supervision & Staff Development
Provides individual and group supervision to social work, therapy, screener, and peer support staff. Responsible for clinical supervision of LSW and LAC staff, if appropriately credentialed per state regulations. Responsible for supervision of any counseling, addictions, or social work interns utilized in the units. Ensures documentation quality, completeness, and adherence to regulatory timelines. Facilitates staff coaching, professional development, and performance improvement.
Mental Health Screening & Crisis Operations
After certification, functions as a Mental Health Screener as needed. Supports screeners with complex cases, involuntary commitment evaluations, and regulatory compliance. Ensures adherence to DMHAS and county screening guidelines.
Arrive Together Program Oversight
Collaborates with law enforcement and community outreach partners. Supports scheduling, documentation oversight, program coordination, and data reporting. Ensures staff safety and adherence to program protocols.
Meetings, Communication & Culture
Leads regular staff meetings for non-nursing disciplines. Communicates expectations, follows up on action items, and promotes a cohesive, trauma-informed culture. Responds to staff concerns and supports conflict resolution.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Participates in treatment team meetings, patient disposition planning, and case reviews. Builds strong working relationships with internal and external partners. Facilitates smooth patient transitions and continuity of care. Close coordination with emergency department staff/team.
Regulatory & Quality Improvement
Ensures compliance with DMHAS standards, NJAC 10:37G (STCF), screening center regulations, and Joint Commission requirements. Participates in audits, performance dashboards, quality initiatives, and incident reviews. Supports corrective action planning and ongoing regulatory readiness.
Community & Agency Liaison
Serves as a liaison to community agencies, outpatient providers, county screening offices, and law enforcement partners. Represents the organization at meetings, outreach events, and collaborative work groups.
Other Duties
Participates in manager-on-duty or after-hours responsibilities as required. Performs other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
EDUCATION: Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or related behavioral health field required.
LICENSE/CERTIFICATION: Must hold one of the following New Jersey licenses: LAC, LPC, LSW, or LCSW.
Eligible for state sponsored Mental Health Screener Certification training upon hire. American Heart Association BLS required within 90 days of hire or transfer. CPI required within 90 days of hire or transfer.
EXPERIENCE: Minimum of three (3) years post-graduate clinical experience in behavioral health setting. At least one (1) year in an acute psychiatric setting (e.g., PESS, ED Psych, inpatient psych, crisis stabilization). Experience providing clinical supervision or mentoring preferred. Substance use treatment or co-occurring experience preferred. Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as leadership skills required. Proficiency in Clinical Applications preferred at time of hire; incumbents within position will be trained appropriately and then skill will be required for this position within 30-60 days from date of hire.
ADVANCED
SPECIALITY EXPERIENCE CERTIFICATION/REQUIREMENTSPsychiatry
3 years post-graduate clinical experience in BH setting. 1 year acute psychiatric setting.
LAC, LPC, LSW, LCSW
PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS
Demonstrates the ability to perform the department specific competencies as listed on the Assessment and Evaluation Tool.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Potential for exposure to the hazards and risk of the hospital environment, including exposure to infectious disease, hazardous substances, blood-borne pathogens, and potential injury
Physical demands include but are not limited to consideration stooping, kneeling, crouching, pushing heavy equipment and excessive standing and walking. Lifting approximately 25-50 lbs. frequently; lifting 50-10 lbs. with assistance occasionally. Ability to work in emergency psychiatric setting with ability to respond rapidly to emergent situations. Some departments require the ability to distinguish colors.
Essential functions for this position are listed on the Assessment and Evaluation Tool.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP
This position reports to the Clinical Nurse Manager as established and supervises the licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and patient care unit staff as assigned. This position reports to the Clinical Nurse Manager and works with Associate Nurse Manager.
The above statement reflect the general details considered necessary to describe the principle functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all work requirements that may be inherent in the position.
Total Rewards at AtlantiCare
At AtlantiCare, we believe in supporting the whole person. Our market-competitive Total Rewards package is designed to promote the physical, emotional, social, and financial well-being of our team members. We offer a comprehensive suite of benefits and resources, including:
Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental & Vision Insurance
Retirement Plans with employer contributions
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Coverage
Life & Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
Tuition Reimbursement to support your educational goals
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for healthcare and dependent care
Wellness Programs to help you thrive
Voluntary Benefits, including Pet Insurance and more
Benefits offerings may vary based on position and are subject to eligibility requirements.
Join a team that values your well-being and invests in your future.