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City of Portsmouth

Director of Behavioral Healthcare Services

City of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Virginia, United States, 23703


Under limited supervision, this position is responsible for providing overall leadership and strategic direction for the Department of Behavioral Healthcare Services and is responsible for developing and administering mental health, developmental and substance use disorder programs and systems to support and promote high performance strategies to meet organizational needs, vision and values. Reports to the City Manager.ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Provides overall leadership to include professional and strategic direction for developing, administering and communicating mental health, developmental and substance use disorder programs and services to include administrative operations, policies and procedures to meet overall city needs and objectives; to meet legal requirements, to promote cost effectiveness, to be responsive to both management and employees, and to attract, retain, and develop a highly qualified, motivated and effective workforce.

Responsible for overall management of the department to include budget research, development, preparation and budget monitoring to ensure cost effectiveness and to ensure that purchasing and financial transactions are properly conducted in accordance with city administrative policies and procedures; provide fiscal, budgetary and programmatic accountability by monitoring revenues and adjusting expenditures to manage the department's budget; maintain the department's reimbursement system and negotiate contracts with responsible third-party payors consistent with the statutory mandate for the department to maximize the collection of fees for services; and ensure timely submission of the an annual performance contract.Establishes, implements and evaluates internal systems to effectively meet operating goals and objectives; develops and evaluates policies and procedures to effectively carry out departmental operations; and promotes staff collaboration, innovation and critical thinking in developing solutions and approaches to departmental issues.

Responsible for effective employee relations, diversity and staff development; oversees and performs employee evaluations; administers human resources policies and procedures; and determines appropriate personnel actions.

Responsible for coordinating with City Manager for placement of Behavioral Healthcare Services related items; ensures reports, studies, and plans are appropriately processed in accordance with federal, state, and city laws and ordinances; and evaluates, assesses and makes recommendations to City Manager with respect to the city's social services programs.

Provides training and technical assistance to community organizations; facilitates inter-agency discussions to foster collaboration and to develop and coordinate resources that respond to community needs; and monitors and analyzes the effectiveness of service delivery within the department.

Responsible for implementing programs that promote communication with the community on a variety of topics; implements procedures for receiving and processing community inquiries and concerns; establishes effective relationships with the media; and personally meets with community groups, gives talks and presentations and represents the city at various meetings and functions.Collaborates and consults with other behavioral healthcare organizations in the community, other community services boards and other agencies to heighten visibility, influence, and public relations at local, state and federal levels.Performs other related work as required. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.Behavioral Healthcare : Knowledge of mental health, developmental and substance use programs and services is required, and considerable knowledge of these programs and services and ability to provide clinical or programmatic oversight is preferred; knowledge of and experience in applying the concepts of recovery, self-determination, or person-centered planning as they relate to mental health, developmental, or substance use services and the provision of services to individuals with co-occurring disorders is preferred.

Critical Thinking Skills : Ability to engage in logical, analytical, and rational thinking and use automated data and information to make decisions; work independently, set and achieve realistic goals, solve problems creatively, and mediate disputes effectively; and respond to changing circumstances, manage organizational and financial risk, and adapt during periods of transition and uncertainty is required.

Healthcare Financing : Some knowledge of healthcare financing, contracting, and administration is required, and considerable knowledge of healthcare financing, contracting, and administration is preferred.

Management of Personnel : Knowledge of leadership techniques, principles and procedures to assign work, schedule, supervise, train and evaluate the work of assigned staff. Knowledge of personnel recruitment, selection, and the use of human resources information systems.

Judgment/Decision Making : Evaluating the best method of research and then exercising appropriate judgment in establishing priorities and resolving complex matters. Considers the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Interpersonal Relationships : Maintains high morale among all department employees. Shares knowledge with supervisors and staff for mutual and departmental benefit. Develops and maintains cooperative and professional relationships with employees, managers in other departments, representatives from organizations, and the general public. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons.

Performance Management : Monitoring/Assessing performance of other individuals, or the organization to make improvements or take corrective action. Motivating, developing, teaching and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Communication : Excellent ability to communicate complex ideas and proposals effectively so others will understand to include preparation of reports, agendas, and policies. Excellent ability to listen and understand information and ideas presented verbally or in writing. Ability to handle a variety of human resources issues with tact and diplomacy in a confidential manner.

Coordination of Work : Ability to establish and implement effective administrative and management programs and procedures. Ability to plan and organize daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings, deadlines and events. Performs a broad range of supervisory responsibilities over others. Highly developed ability to evaluate plan alternatives in relation to trends, costs, and social pressures and needs.

Customer Service : Thorough knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer services. This includes setting and meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCEMaster's Degree in Psychology, Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, Human Services, Public Administration, or a human services related field, and ten (10) years of professional social work experience and five (5) to seven (7) years of supervision experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.SPECIAL REQUIREMENTSMust possess a professional license in the State of Virginia as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Licensed Professional Counselor or Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) is preferred.An acceptable general background check to include a local, state, and federal criminal history check and sex offender registry check.

A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Individuals in this position cannot be listed as having a founded child abuse or neglect complaint.In the event of a declared emergency in the city of Portsmouth, individuals in this position are required to work shelter duty and may be called on to perform duties as required to provide for the safety and care of the citizens of the community.

Physical Requirements : Requires the ability to exert up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are those for Sedentary Work.

Data Conception : Requires the ability to compare and or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or composite characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communication : Requires the ability to speak and or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and/or directions from supervisors.

Language Ability : Requires the ability to read a variety of checks, reports, records etc. Requires the ability to prepare letters, purchase orders, payment request, checks, etc. using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules punctuation, grammar, diction and style. Requires the ability to speak to people with poise, voice control and confidence. Ability to make presentations.

Intelligence : Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems; to deal with nonverbal symbolism in its most difficult phases; to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables; to comprehend the most abstruse classes of concepts.

Verbal Aptitude : Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently using standard English and using administrative, behavioral, and human services terminology.

Numerical Aptitude : Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas. Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide; to determine percentages; to calculate interest, profit and loss, proportions, etc.; and to perform calculations involving variables, formulas, square roots and polynomials.Form/Spatial Aptitude : Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.Motor Coordination : Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using a variety of office equipment.

Manual Dexterity : Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, such as office equipment. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color Discrimination : Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Interpersonal Temperament : Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress.

Physical Communication : Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone.AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS

The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.#J-18808-Ljbffr