DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES (#PS8 )

$64.53-$86.52 hourly / $11,185.00-$14,997.00 monthly / $134,222.40-$179,961.60 yearly

Under general direction of the Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, to assist in the planning, development, organization, direction, coordination, evaluation and improvement of programs across the County's Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; to work with other managers to ensure that necessary administrative support is provided; to provide highly complex staff assistance to the Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services; and to do other work as required.

This single position class reports to the Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and is responsible for directing program support and coordination of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in the Health Services Agency. It is differentiated from the Director of Mental Health in that the latter has overall administrative responsibility for all Mental Health and Substance Abuse programs and services. It is distinguished from the next lower class of Senior Behavioral Health Manager by the breadth of its support to the Deputy Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services across multiple program and administrative areas, whereas the Senior Behavioral Health Manager is responsible for the administration or supervision of a specialty area within the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Division, such as Adult Mental Health, Children’s Mental Health or Substance Abuse.

Assist with planning, developing, organizing, directing and coordinating through subordinate managers the work of staff engaged in a variety of countywide mental health and substance abuse program activities. Assist with evaluating community mental health and substance abuse services, policies, procedures and organization and formulate, recommend and implement improvements. Coordinate program evaluation, quality improvement, training/workforce development and assessment of community needs. Analyze workload and develop criteria for determining personnel needs. Work with administration and fiscal services in preparing, monitoring and controlling the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services budget and contracts. Work with administration and program staff in the development of joint procedures, program planning and resolution of administrative problems. Ensure that federal, state and local standards and regulations are effectively implemented. Develop new resources as needed for mental health and substance abuse programs.  Assure liaison with and coordinate, review, and evaluate the performance of contractors. Select, assign, train and evaluate the performance of subordinate managers and staff. Keep administrative staff informed of changes and issues pertaining to Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services operations. Attend meetings and conferences. May represent the division and serve as the director’s designee. Prepare reports and correspondence.

Knowledge:

Thorough knowledge of:

• Principles and methods of planning, developing, coordinating, implementing and evaluating large, complex, community-based mental health and/or substance abuse programs.
• One or more of the following fields: psychiatry, rehabilitation, psychology, social work, psychiatric nursing, counseling or marriage/family therapy as related to Mental Health and/or Substance Abuse services.

Working knowledge of:

• Aims, concepts and services of effective community mental health and substance abuse service systems.
• The interrelationships of services provided by local public and private mental health agencies and organizations.
• The principles and practices of the various mental health and substance abuse disciplines and recovery-oriented services and supports.
• State and Federal mandates for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
• Principles and practices of budget development and oversight and fiscal and contract administration in a publicly funded system.
• Grant writing and development of funding sources for public behavioral health programs. Principles and practices of supervision, personnel management and workforce development.

Ability to: 

• Assist the Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services with the management and administration of the Division.
• Effectively manage complex cross-cutting projects/initiatives.
• Plan, organize, direct and coordinate the activities of assigned programs or services in varied mental health and substance abuse programs.
• Exercise initiative, creativity and sound judgment in solving difficult administrative and personnel problems.
• Interpret and apply complex regulations, laws and directives.
• Evaluate mental health and substance abuse programs and develop revised or new programs as necessary to meet the needs of the community.
• Express ideas effectively in oral and written form.
• Coordinate functions and maintain effective relationships across service areas and with other divisions, departments, agencies and organizations.
• Understand and relate to others the aims, concepts and principles of mental health and substance abuse programs.

Training and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

A Master’s Degree in hospital administration, public health administration, public administration, psychology, social work, nursing, counseling or a closely related field from an accredited college or university 

                                                    AND

Five years experience in hospital or health care administration, at least three of which shall have been in the mental health or substance abuse field. Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education. A clinical license or certification as an alcohol and drug counselor is strongly desired but not required.