Mental Health Program Specialist 3

Duties Description The Office of Mental Health (OMH) is recruiting to fill a Mental Health Program Specialist 3 (Clinical), Grade 25, in the Division of Integrated Community Services for Children and Families. Under the guidance and general direction of the Division of Integrated Community Services for Children and Families Children’s Outpatient Program Bureau Director (in conjunction with the Division Director and Deputy Director) the Mental Health Program Specialist 3 will be responsible for supporting and overseeing policy and program development and guidance for School-Based Mental Health Clinic (MHOTRS satellite) and related iniatives and programs. This role is expected to work in lockstep with the MHPS3 Lead for MHOTRS Clinic Programs and related initiatives and together will provide leadership for pt 599 MHOTRS and SBMH policy. This role will lead on statewide projects and initiatives related to school-based mental health relationships providing oversight, guidance, and direction to both state-operated and community-based mental health services funded, designated and/or licensed by OMH that serve children and their families, to ensure they are providing quality, strengths-based, trauma-informed, family-driven, youth-guided, and culturally and linguistically informed services. The incumbent will develop and maintain good working relationships with all relevant state partners and agencies necessary to develop a robust and systemic SBMH policy and standards (ex. NYS SED, OCFS, DOH, etc). This role will lead a unit of multiple staff and will be responsible for all work directed to this unit, providing supervision, oversight and direction to assigned Mental Health Program Specialists, and assist in other duties as assigned. This role is part of the leadership team in the Division and will suppro the larger goals of the Division and their colleagues in other units and Bureaus.Duties to be performed include, but are not limited to, the following:• Direct (in collaboration with MHSP3 MHOTRS Child and Adult Leads) statewide mental health services provided to children and their families in school-based mental health settings o Provide expert technical assistance and programmatic oversight to local mental health providers and agency Executive Directors concerning School-based mental health program development and operational issues.o Identify and recommend resolution of operational, programmatic, financial, and qualify of care issues for school-based children’s mental health programs.• Support regulatory compliance and programmatic adherence for intensive outpatient community-based treatment providers o Develop materials and guidance on program requirements and regulatory guidelines for providers and provide technical assistance and training in accordance with regulation and guidanceo Participate with OMH Office of Population Health and Evaluation staff to assess the effectiveness of intensive services and develop strategies for improvements. o Conduct and oversee program evaluation activities to determine whether the changes implemented are effective.• Review and collaborate on quality improvement initiatives for all children’s intensive outpatient community-based programs statewide.o Work with field offices and Bureau of Inspection (BIC) and certification on program site reviews and development/review of Monitoring Outcome Reports (MOR) and Performance Improvement Plans (PIP) and collaborate with Field Office staff on the review of case records and site visits.o Collaborate with other state agency partners, such as the Department of Health, and State Education Department to oversee and monitor programs that are jointly managed, including Day Treatment and other joint initiatives/programs• Manage statewide implementation of OMH school-based mental health policy directives within all children’s outpatient community treatment and support services and programs and any related projects and initiatives to support outpatient youth mental health.o Ensure policies and guidance developed conform to State and federal regulations and requirements.o Identify needs for programmatic and regulatory reform in cases where current policies and/or regulations hamper the implementation of appropriate and effective mental health services for children and adolescents in school-based settings. Identify and recommend resolution of operational, programmatic, financial, and qualify of care issues for children’s mental health programs.• Review program trends/findings and recommend program changes or support activities to expand or improve children’s intensive outpatient community based mental health services. Review data reports, such as utilization rates, patient characteristics, length of stay data, referral and admission patterns, and unit cost data.o Monitor program findings to ensure provider quality of care and service access. Make independent recommendation for program changes to ensure program changes, training and technical assistance and support initiatives. o Direct the development of operational or licensing guidance or training to address issues identified.o Ensure staff is provided training necessary to perform their duties and conduct performance evaluation.• Represent the Office of Mental Health in community forums, meetings, and otheroutreach activities.• Promote and support research initiatives focused on child and adolescent mental health, staying informed about emerging trends and innovations in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry. Implement new and innovative approaches to mental health care based on current research findings.• Work closely with the Regional Field Offices to ensure that the network of children/family services are well planned, sufficient and fiscally sustainable in urban and rural areas of New York State• Work closely to support the Office of Population Health and Evaluation initiatives by involving staff in regularly scheduled meetings with clinical and programmatic leadership in promoting the best practices gleaned from learning collaborative and other efforts that focus on the needs of children, adolescents, young adults and families.• Supervise subordinate staff. Assign and review work. Ensure staff is provided training necessary to perform their duties and conduct performance evaluations. Support professional development of staff. Minimum Qualifications Non-Competitive Minimum Qualifications Under the NY HELPS Program:A bachelor’s degree in a health or human services area and four years of professional clinical experience in a mental health program.++Educational Substitutions: A master's degree in clinical mental health counseling, clinical psychology, community mental health counseling, counseling and community psychology, counseling, forensic psychology, mental health counseling, nursing, psychoanalysis, psychology, rehabilitation counseling, or social work can substitute for one year of specialized experience.Transfer Opportunity:Candidates must have permanent status as a Mental Health Program Specialist 3 (Clinical) and be eligible for lateral transfer; OR be eligible to transfer via Section 70.1 or Section 52.6 of the Civil Service Law by having at least one year of permanent service in a qualifying title within two salary grades or one M-grade of this positionPreferred Qualifications:Eligible candidate(s) will hold a current New York State Education Department license as a clinical social worker (LCSW) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or equivalent. The ideal candidate(s) will have supervisory experience. The ideal candidate(s) will have a minimum of three years of experience working with children and/or adolescents with mental illness, as well as utilization management experience, including familiarity with the review of medical evidence, psychiatric evidence, a knowledge base of child-serving systems in New York State federal or state statutes, regulations and guidelines, as well as strong knowledge and experience of the NYS Educational system and school-based mental health setting(s). Generally speaking, this role requires strong organizational skills, excellent communication and writing skills; critical and analytical thinking; the ability to work independently; strong supervisory skills, and the ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and communicate with professionals with both clinical and non-clinical backgrounds.