Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) staff bring a range of disciplines and backgrounds together, using a team approach to meet the needs of individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. As such, every ACT program needs a designated Team Leader, who maintains a macro-level view of the team’s resources and service recipients’ needs at all times.
Every ACT team is to have one full-time person serving as the Team Leader. This person has full clinical, administrative, and supervisory responsibility for the team, and no responsibility to any other agency programs during the 40-hour work week. Qualified individuals ideally have at least a Master’s degree in a behavioral health, rehabilitation, or related clinical field, as well as licensure in their respective field. State licensure and/or certification in one’s clinical field helps to ensure that a minimal standard of training and knowledge of practice and ethics has been met and is being maintained through license renewals. The Team Leader also has at least three years of experience working with adults with severe mental illness.
ACT Team Leaders typically receive direct support from middle management (e.g., Program Manager), who provides supervision to the Team Leader and helps ensure the team has what it needs in terms of resources and supportive policy. Team Leaders also receive significant support from an office-based Program Assistant. Larger teams often have an Assistant Team Leader, who can share in some of the leadership responsibilities and is positioned to assume the Team Leader role when needed. Team Leaders also work closely with the ACT Psychiatric Care Provider to provide clinical leadership and direction to the team.
Learn More about the ACT Team Leadership, including activities of the Program Assistant, through these resources.