Assistant, Director of Patient Care Services Behavioral Health

h/care was born in 2018 with a serendipitous meeting between two visionary healthcare entrepreneurs as they waited for their elevator in Birmingham, Alabama. United by a shared passion for transforming post-acute care, they spent thousands of hours visiting agencies, listening to caregivers, and gathering feedback from residents and their families. This journey culminated in the founding of h/care in 2023—a company built on a foundation of high touch, high tech, and unwavering trust, dedicated to delivering exceptional care and experiences for both our internal and external customers.

The Community You Will Join

At h/care, we are passionate about transforming the way home-based healthcare is delivered. As part of our Cleveland behavioral health agency, you will be joining a team that is deeply rooted in the local community, committed to providing exceptional care, and dedicated to building meaningful relationships. Our local h/care team thrives on collaboration, innovation, and compassion, ensuring every patient receives care that is high-touch, high-tech, and built on trust. We foster a welcoming and supportive environment where every team member’s contribution is valued. You’ll be part of a mission-driven organization that prioritizes both the success of our team and the well-being of our patients, making a lasting impact in the lives of those we serve.

h/care’s Unique Approach to Care

At h/care, we're revolutionizing healthcare delivery for patients and families of all ages. Frustrated with unpredictable and impersonal care experiences? We've got the solution. Our team of healthcare experts and entrepreneurial leaders has developed the PerfectVisit™ - a standardized approach ensuring high-quality, consistent care every time. By combining compassion with cutting-edge technology, we deliver transformative home-based services, from health visits to hospice care. We implement the Entrepreneurial Operating System (“EOS”) to streamline decision-making, cutting through bureaucracy and eliminating unnecessary red tape. With h/care, you're not just receiving a service; you're experiencing care built on community, dignity, and trust. Available 24/7, we ensure you're never alone in your healthcare journey.

The Impact You Will Have

At h/care, we are committed to delivering compassionate, compliant, and community-based behavioral health services that support patients in their homes. As Assistant Director, Patient Care Services – Behavioral Health, you will provide clinical, operational, and regulatory leadership for our community-based behavioral health program.

In this role, you will oversee the delivery of integrative behavioral health care, supporting both psychiatric and medical nursing services, while ensuring services meet CMS Conditions of Participation, CHAP standards, CARF certification requirements, payer guidelines, and state regulations. You will partner closely with the Administrator, Medical Director, interdisciplinary teams, and community organizations to ensure high-quality, patient-centered behavioral health care that is compliant, effective, and scalable.

Your leadership will directly impact clinical quality, program growth, staff development, and patient outcomes—helping h/care expand access to behavioral health services while maintaining the highest standards of care.

Key Responsibilities

Program Growth, Census Development & Market Expansion

• Own and drive behavioral health census growth across the service area in alignment with clinical capacity and compliance requirements.
• Build and maintain strong referral relationships with hospitals, physician practices, and community-based organizations.
• Serve as a visible clinical leader in the community to expand awareness of h/care’s behavioral health services.
• Partner with intake, care coordination, and marketing teams to ensure timely referral conversion and appropriate patient placement.
• Monitor census performance and referral trends to support sustainable program growth.

Clinical Oversight & Care Delivery

• Provide clinical leadership and oversight for all community-based behavioral health home health services.
• Ensure skilled need justification and appropriate utilization of behavioral health services under Medicare, Medicaid, and other payers.
• Review and approve behavioral health plans of care, goals, interventions, and recertification documentation.
• Ensure accurate and compliant diagnosis usage, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, dementia with behaviors, and co-occurring substance use conditions when applicable.
• Collaborate with the Medical Director, psychiatric providers, primary care physicians, and interdisciplinary team members to coordinate care.
• Support crisis response and escalation protocols for patients experiencing behavioral health decompensation.

Regulatory Compliance & Accreditation

• Ensure compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation , CHAP standards, CARF certification requirements, and applicable state regulations.
• Oversee behavioral health documentation to support medical necessity, skilled need, quality reporting, and reimbursement.
• Participate in surveys, audits, and corrective action plans related to behavioral health services.
• Maintain and update policies and procedures specific to behavioral health and integrative care delivery.
• Ensure proper order management, physician signatures, and interdisciplinary care coordination.

Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement (QAPI)

• Lead behavioral health quality initiatives focused on:
  1. Hospitalization and ED visit reduction
  2. Crisis prevention and stabilization
  3. Medication adherence and safety
  4. Patient and caregiver satisfaction
• Oversee quality metrics across dual frameworks , recognizing that approximately half of behavioral health census and quality reporting falls under OASIS, while the remaining quality measures are driven by Medicaid mental health requirements.
• Review incidents, grievances, and adverse events related to behavioral health services.
• Participate in agency-wide QAPI meetings, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Staff Leadership & Professional Development

• Recruit, train, supervise, and support behavioral health clinical staff, including RNs, psychiatric providers, therapists, and care coordination staff.
• Conduct competency assessments, performance evaluations, and ongoing skills development.
• Serve as a clinical resource and mentor for interdisciplinary team members.
• Support onboarding, orientation, and retention of behavioral health staff.

Program Development, Growth & Community Engagement

• Develop and expand community-based behavioral health service lines within the home health agency.
• Actively engage in the community—building partnerships with hospitals, physician practices, behavioral health organizations, and referral sources to grow the program.
• Collaborate with marketing and leadership teams to strengthen referral pathways and service awareness.
• Support census management, staffing models, and program sustainability.
• Advocate for patient access to behavioral health services, including support for individuals with co-occurring substance use conditions as the program grows.

Care Coordination & Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Participate in interdisciplinary case conferences and leadership meetings.
• Coordinate care across nursing, therapy, social work, medical providers, and administrative teams.
• Ensure smooth transitions of care across levels of service and community resources.
• Support crisis intervention workflows and escalation processes.

A Typical Day

As a Assistant Director, Patient Care Services in Behavioral Health, your daily work will be dynamic and patient-centered, focusing on delivering high-quality care in the home and community. Key activities include:

• Patient Care & Assessments – Conduct psychiatric evaluations, follow-up visits, and ongoing assessments to monitor patient progress and adjust care plans.
• Medication Management – Prescribe, adjust, and monitor medications for effectiveness and safety, while providing patient and family education on use and side effects.
• Crisis Intervention – Respond to urgent behavioral health needs, including de-escalation of acute psychiatric symptoms, suicidal ideation, or other crises.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration – Participate in team meetings with therapists, social workers, case managers, and medical providers to align treatment goals and ensure holistic care.
• Family & Caregiver Support – Provide guidance, education, and emotional support to families, helping them understand treatment plans and care strategies.
• Care Coordination – Connect patients with community resources, social services, and higher levels of care when needed.
• Documentation & Compliance – Maintain accurate, timely notes in the EMR, ensuring compliance with all state, federal, and payer regulations.
• Community Engagement – Build relationships with referral sources and community partners to strengthen support networks and expand awareness of h/care’s behavioral health services.

Your Expertise

Required Qualifications

• Active, unencumbered RN or NP license (state-specific).
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) required; Master’s degree preferred.
• 3–5 years of behavioral health clinical experience, including patients with mental health and co-occurring conditions.
• 2+ years of leadership or supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of Medicare home health regulations, behavioral health standards, and payer requirements.
• Experience supporting patients with substance use concerns is preferred and aligns with program growth goals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Psychiatric/Mental Health nursing experience or certification.
• Home health experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with CHAP, CARF, Joint Commission, or similar accreditation surveys.
• Familiarity with PDGM, Medicaid mental health requirements, and payer documentation standards.
• Experience supervising multidisciplinary teams.

Skills & Competencies 

• Strong clinical leadership and professional judgment.
• Deep understanding of regulatory, accreditation, and documentation standards.
• Ability to interpret and operationalize CMS and accreditation requirements.
• Excellent communication and interdisciplinary collaboration skills.
• Program development mindset with a focus on sustainable growth.
• Data-driven approach to quality improvement and outcomes management.

Your Work Environment

• Location: Hybrid role with time spent in the office, community settings, and occasional patient or staff support visits.
• Pace: Fast-paced, mission-driven home health environment balancing leadership, compliance, and growth initiatives.
• Challenges: Managing complex regulatory requirements, clinical quality, program expansion, and interdisciplinary teams while maintaining patient-centered care.

How Success Will Be Measured

• Regulatory & Accreditation Compliance: Successful adherence to CMS, CHAP, CARF, state, and payer requirements.

• Quality Outcomes: Strong performance across OASIS and Medicaid mental health quality measures, reduced hospitalizations, and effective crisis prevention.

• Program Growth: Sustainable growth in behavioral health census and referral partnerships.

• Team Leadership: Staff engagement, competency, retention, and collaboration across disciplines.

• Patient Experience: Positive patient and caregiver feedback, access to care, and continuity of services.

Team Member Acknowledgment

I have reviewed this job description and understand the requirements and expectations of the Assistant Director, Patient Care Services at h/care. I acknowledge that this job description is not all-inclusive and that additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

Team Member Date

Supervisor Date

Our Commitment to Inclusion & Belonging

h/care is dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce. We believe that embracing a variety of perspectives drives innovation, enhances engagement, and enables us to attract top-tier talent to provide the best services and solutions. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals. If you require assistance or a reasonable accommodation during the application and recruitment process, please reach out to us at: [email protected]