Job Description
The Department of Mental Health seeks a Deputy Commissioner for Clinical & Professional Servicesto monitor need for and lead the clinical impact of change in policies, procedures, regulations, and standards promulgated by the Department of Mental Health (DMH), regulatory bodies, and national accrediting bodies. To be successful in this position, you will have a strong background in mental health program management, clinical risk mitigation, excellent leadership skills, and a passion for improving the quality of mental health services.
As Deputy Commissioner for Clinical & Professional Servicesandserving as State Medical Director, you will establish and oversee a proactive system of clinical accountability for providing effective, high-quality, and efficient multi-disciplinary mental health services in the Commonwealth. You will be responsible for the day-to-day administration and oversight of the Clinical and Professional Services division and its licensing offices, including the Expedited Psychiatric Inpatient Admission (EPIA) team, program development and inter-agency planning, research, and psychiatry and psychology training. You will provide direct supervision for DMH's Medical Directors, specifically matters of clinical risk mitigation, best practice prescribing, clinical management of co-occurring conditions, reduction of seclusion and restraint, and ensuring a commitment to least restrictive settings.
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DMH serves the Commonwealth as the State's Mental Health Authority. The State Medical Director is responsible for monitoring performance trends in the MH delivery system, staying current with emerging, promising and best practice treatment modalities, recommending treatment changes/modifications in the delivery system based upon results and licensing surveys.
DMH is the largest provider of mental health services in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. With approximately 26,000 clients served annually, DMH provides clinical and professional services support, clinical oversight for a range of state operated and purchased services including inpatient, residential, case management, child/adolescent, forensic treatment services, outpatient, housing, clubhouses, and recovery supports.
Please note: Travel to other DMH offices and facilities is required for this position. Candidate will need access to reliable transportation.
Duties & Responsibilities (the following represent a general summary and are not all-inclusive):
- Exercise day to day overall management control of the division.
- Establish performance expectations and evaluate outcomes.
- Recruit, administer, motivate and supervise a diverse group of highly skilled mental health practitioners, physicians, clinicians and professionals. While directing direct the activities of the division, in the development and implementation of statewide standards of care.
- Direct the procurement of the Division's clinical and professional contracted services (including but not limited psychiatry residency and psychology training, research centers of excellence, general training support services and comprehensive psychiatry services) by managing the Requests for Purchased Services (RFP) selection process including coordinating the Requests for Responses (RFR) and by identifying program and monitoring specific standards of care performance measures for state and vendors service programs.
- Manage and monitor research centers of excellence and psychiatry residency and psychology training contracts.
- Establish statewide goals and objectives for DMH through the development of the annual Community Mental Health Services block grant application and State Mental Health Plan and implementation.
- Lead in the evaluation of the impact of changes in policies, procedures, regulations and standards promulgated by DMH, regulatory and national accrediting bodies
- Oversee the inspection of general hospital psychiatric units and private psychiatric hospitals.
- Manage interagency health related projects (e.g. DPH-Hepatitis C, Mortality; OMA-Integrating Medical and Physical Healthcare).
- Provide technical assistance and consultation to DMH staff and its community services providers by interpreting clinical results/reports.
- Collaborate and support DMH's Forensic Division, including court admissions, case consultation, risk mitigation and departmental/ cross agency policy/planning.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Expertise in conducting court ordered forensic evaluations and to conduct risk management assessments.
- Capacity to explain the provisions of the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, guidelines and standards governing assigned activities.
- Considerable knowledge of types and symptoms of mental, emotional and substance abuse disorders.
- Experienced in the ability (a) to recognize symptoms of mental, emotional and substance abuse disorders; (b) to interact with people who are experiencing varying levels of distress and dysfunction; and (c) to analyze psychological data, draw conclusions, and make appropriate recommendations.
- Mastery to gather information through observing, and questioning individuals and by examining records and documents.
- Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information and maintain accurate records.
- Aptitude to complete computer-based data collection forms and the degree of computer literacy required for completing reports.
- Demonstrated experience with psychopharmacology and medical conditions, behavioral therapeutic techniques; familiarity with theories of psychotherapy and counseling, and an understanding of current treatment approaches available for individuals with serious mental illnesses, including sever personality disorders.
- Ability to explain the provisions of laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, guidelines, and standards governing assigned activities to individuals, families and community providers.
- Knowledge of human services, juvenile justice, and criminal justice systems.
- Capacity to work under considerable pressure, to work on multiple tasks at one time, and to produce high quality reports according to applicable standards and guidelines.
- Ability to complete high quality written forensic reports and evaluations and testify in court.
- Appointment as a designated forensic psychiatrist supervisor or eligibility to become a designated forensic psychiatrist supervisor within two years of date of hire.
Required Qualifications:
- Knowledge of the types and availability of public or private community-based organizations and resources for treatment or rehabilitation of individuals with a mental illness. Knowledge of the judicial system, juvenile justice and correctional facilities.
- Expertise with the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, specifications, standards and guidelines governing unit, hospital, and community activities.
- Proficiency with mental illness, its treatments and related services, as well as knowledge of the special needs of adolescents, adult and geriatric clients/patients as well as knowledge of substance use disorders.
- Understanding of spiritual/cultural needs of the clients/patients served.
- Knowledge of community resources related to implementing case disposition plans for people before the court on civil and criminal matters and involved with human service or public safety agencies.
- Proficiency of the human service and criminal justice systems in Massachusetts.
- Additional knowledge of M.G.L. Chapter 123 and other statutes relating to the provision of services in the adult courts.
- Knowledge of Department of Mental Health's mission, policies, procedures, standards and guidelines applicable to court clinic work.
- Ability to work collaboratively with staff and contractors of other state agencies to accomplish assigned tasks.
- Capacity to develop and review policies, procedures and protocols for managing forensic mental health issues in a state psychiatric hospital.
- Aptitude to participate collaboratively on committees, work with team in grant-writing and other related activities as requested.
- Proficiency to accurately complete data collection forms as required by the Department of Mental Health's Forensic Services.
- Capacity to complete high quality written forensic reports and evaluations according to standards established by Forensic Services.
- Aptitude to provide supervision of other professionals conducting forensic evaluations.
- Given the population served, bilingual or multilingual fluency.
Please Note: This position is designated as Confidential and as such is excluded from the MNA Unit 7 Union. Most benefits are governed by the Commonwealth's "Red Book" and dental/vision benefits will be with the Group Insurance Commission.
DMH Mission Statement:
The Department of Mental Health assures and provides access to services and supports to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages, enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities. The Department establishes standards to ensure effective and culturally competent care to promote recovery. The Department sets policy, promotes self-determination, protects human rights and supports mental health training and research.
Pre-Offer Process:
A tax & background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Human Resources Division prior to the candidate being hired.
Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines.
Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth's website.
If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the ADA Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.
For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 Ext. #4
Qualifications
First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.
MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least three years of residency training in a recognized program in general psychiatry AND at least three years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience in the field of psychiatry. OR
SUBSTITUTION: One year of residency training in a specialized area of psychiatry such as psychopharmacology, psychneurology, etc. may be substituted for the third year of residency training in general psychiatry AND the three years of professional experience in the field of psychiatry.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Current and valid registration as a physician under the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine.
Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
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An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.