Assistant Director of Behavioral Healthcare Services

Behavioral Healthcare Services Director

Under limited supervision, performs highly responsible supervisory and administrative work overseeing the Mental Health, Intellectual Disability, Substance Abuse, Prevention, Emergency Services, and Supervising Support Services. Reports to the Director of Behavioral Healthcare Services.

Assist with planning, organizing and directing assigned programs and department divisions in accordance with established departmental policies, procedures and standards, and applicable local, state, and federal laws, ordinances, rules and regulations; supervises, assigns, and reviews activities of division supervisors and administrative staff, instructing and advising, as necessary, and resolving problems as non-routine situations arise; reviews and evaluates program policies and procedures, and recommends changes to Director, as appropriate; coordinates activities between divisions; ensures clinical compliance as governed by regulatory agencies; and assumes the responsibility of the Director in his / her absence, ensuring proper operation of department programs and adherence to established policies, procedures, and standards.

Work involves strategic planning for behavioral healthcare services, planning, coordinating, and monitoring human services programs; responsible for overseeing the implementation of procedures and policies within the department and recommending changes to existing policies and procedures; analyzing data and preparing various oral and written reports.

Assists in developing departmental direction, priorities, goals and objectives to meet city and departmental needs; develops staff organization to effectively carry out departmental operations and to be responsive to both management and employee needs and concerns.

Prepares regular and special activity, statistical, or assessment reports as deemed necessary; performs necessary research and initiates correspondence to collect necessary information; assists in preparation of department's annual report.

Assists in preparation of agency budget proposal; monitors department spending; analyzes community need for the development of new services, and maintenance of acceptable professional standards; reviews monthly and quarterly reports to the state and regional local government. Responsible for overseeing the programs' clinical and productivity compliance to the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), State and Federal guidelines, and adherence to the performance contract.

Assists with the administrative oversight for departmental activities and functions; responsible for day-to-day supervision of division managers and coordinates the department's work production; and advises and assists in developing the departmental direction, priorities, goals and objectives to meet city, departmental and state human service's needs.

Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Has thorough knowledge of the theory, principles, regulations / codes and methodologies of planning, directing, implementing, evaluating and ensuring compliance of a variety of human services programs. Has considerable knowledge of the administrative policies and procedures of public and human services administration, and considerable knowledge of managing budget, personnel and resource utilization and procurement. Is able to plan, direct, implement and evaluate services, activities, and programs; to plan and manage the work of staff; to formulate goals and develop plans to achieve same. Is able to plan and allocate resources in order to provide effective and responsive programs and services. Is able to understand and interpret oral and written instructions. Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

Maintains high standards of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all departments and levels of government, co-workers, elected officials and the general public.

Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under "Essential Job Functions."

Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, city policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.

Attends work regularly and adheres to city policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time- off requests.

Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.

Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or situations as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment. Seeks expert or experienced advice when necessary.

Accepts direction from Board of Directors and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences is justified i.e., poor communications, variance with policy or procedures, etc. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons within the department.

Shares knowledge with supervisors and staff for mutual and departmental benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all department employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees and managers in other departments, to project a good departmental image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the city. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image within the city. Interacts effectively with fellow employees, Board of Directors, professionals, elected officials, all levels of government and the general public.

Plans and organizes 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 establish a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions of time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings and deadlines.

Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly work place.

Education, Experience & Special Requirements

Master's Degree in Human Services, Public Administration, Psychology or a related field, and 5- 7 years of professional social work experience, 3-5 years of supervision; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Must 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.

Required to work hours in excess on the normal schedule to accomplish the goals and objectives of the department.

Physical Demands

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using a variety of office equipment.

Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, such as office equipment.