County of Alameda

DESCRIPTION

Under general direction, supervises Clinical Review Specialists in Behavioral Health Care Services; coordinates day-to-day functions, ensures appropriate staff coverage; and performs related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This is a first-line supervisory classification of the Clinical Review Specialist class located in Behavioral Health Care Services (BHCS). Clinical Review Supervisors provide day-to-day supervision to a team of Clinical Review Specialists including the coordination and delegation of work assignments, staff coverage, and performance evaluations. Incumbents in this position may assist the ACCESS Program Clinical Manager(s) and the Authorization Services Coordinator in administrative functions.

The Clinical Review Specialist Supervisor is distinguished from the lower level class of Clinical Review Specialist in that the latter does not have supervisory responsibilities. It is further distinguished from the next higher class of ACCESS Program Clinical Manager and the Authorization Services Coordinator in that the latter supervises Clinical Review Specialist Supervisors and has overall responsibility for program planning, development and evaluation, program reporting and statistics, and program outcome monitoring.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

NOTE: The following are the duties performed by employees in this classification. However, employees may perform other related duties at an equivalent level. Each individual in the classification does not necessarily perform all duties listed.

1. Coordinates the day-to-day operations of the Program(s) to which assigned.

2. Supervises, plans, assigns, and reviews the work of Clinical Review Specialists providing clinical review services to both Child/Youth and Adult/Older Adult consumers.

3. Participates in the selection process and provides staff training and professional development; implements discipline as necessary.

4. Provides supervision and consultation to staff in determining medical necessity and thereby authorizing treatment, treatment review, and coordination of multiple funding resources to support treatment requests.

5. Ensures adequate telephone coverage is maintained throughout the day.

a. ACCESS: Telephone service is transferred to a county-wide crisis response program during off work hours.
b. Authorization Services: Calls received after-hours will be routed to a voicemail box and returned the next business day.

6. Assists in the development and revision of program-specific policies and procedures.

7. Oversees system-wide complex decisions about responsibility for payment and approving level of care needs.

8. Serves as liaison with other behavioral health care services, County departments or non-county organizations as necessary.

9. Attends community/provider meetings and speaks to community groups/providers, county and non-county operated programs and other county Departments in public meetings to promote and increase public awareness of Program services.

10. Performs special projects related to program planning, design and development of service monitoring and improvement.

11. Investigates and resolves appeals related to consumer and/or provider complaints.

12. May perform clinical review services to consumers requiring county-wide telephone screening, evaluation, information, and referral for mental health and substance abuse treatment.

13. May handle the more complex cases, as necessary.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Either I

The equivalent of two years of full-time experience in the class of Clinical Review Specialist in the Alameda County classified service (Non-classified includes District Attorney’s Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts).

Or II
Experience:

The equivalent of three years of full-time, paid, post-license or experience in a position equivalent to the County’s class of Clinical Review Specialist.

AND
Education:

Possession of a Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Nursing, with an emphasis in Clinical Social Work or Psychiatry equivalent degree which meets requirements set by California Board of Behavioral Sciences Marriage and Family Therapy License or Clinical Social Work License or Board of Registered Nursing; or a Ph.D. in clinical, counseling, or educational psychology from an accredited college or university.

NOTE: Completion of an accredited registered nursing program, including three years’ post license nursing experience may be substituted for a Master’s degree in nursing.

License/Registration:

Possession of valid clinical license (LCSW, MFT, Clinical Psychologist, or RN) from the applicable licensing authority: California Board of Behavioral Sciences, California Board of Psychology or California Board of Nursing.

Some positions in this class require a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s license. Applicants must possess such license prior to appointment to such positions.

Special Requirements:

In compliance with the Administrative Simplification provision of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), employees in this classification are required to possess a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number prior to their first day of employment.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Current theories, principles, and practices for services to clients with serious behavioral health care symptoms and diagnosis.
• Management principles and practices, including work planning, employee supervision and resource allocation.
• Cultural and social factors affecting behavior patterns.
• Wellness, recovery and resiliency oriented strategies and supports.
• Dual recovery/co-occurring disorder treatment, screening and assessment tools.
• Community needs, resources and organizations related to behavioral health care.
• Principles of administrative and personnel management.
• Social and behavioral aspects of mental and emotional disturbances and their characteristics.
• Clinical standards of best practices and range of behavioral health care intervention modalities.
• Scope, activities and functions of the various behavioral health facilities and public and private community agencies providing services to mental health clients.
• Policies, procedures, and systems related to Behavioral Health Care Services, legal and regulatory requirements and limitations.
• Applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.
• Data gathering methods and statistical analysis.
• Computer applications related to work.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Make decisions.
• Make advanced clinical risk assessments.
• Analyze and problem solve.
• Provide leadership.
• Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity.

CLASS SPEC HISTORY

Newspecs: 6516.doc
SG:po 12/1/09
CSC Date: 1/13/10
SG: cs Revised 4/27/10
CSC Date: 5/19/10

BENEFITS

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 12 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.