Chief Mental Health Officer (DOC)

Looking to take on an exciting challenge and advance in your career as a psychiatrist?

If so, we invite you to check out this opportunity wit the State of Connecticut!

The Department of Correction (DOC) is seeking an experienced, board-certified psychiatrist, with experience in mental health administration, for the role of Chief Mental Health Officer. This exciting, dynamic position is uniquely positioned to have demonstrative, lasting impact on the mental health care of the incarcerated person in Connecticut.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU
We take part in a competitive benefits plan which includes:

• Generous paid time off (vacation, sick, and personal);
• Excellent health and dental coverage;
• Pension plan (State Employees Retirement System Tier IV) and more!

Before you apply, make note of the following:

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

Important information for after you apply:

• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
• Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.

Questions about this position should be directed to Jake Ferrari via email at jake.ferrari@ct.gov.

In the Department of Correction, this class is accountable for administering clinical and mental health services programs and operations.

• Administers staff and mental health services operations relating to mental health care programs;
• Oversees daily delivery of all mental health services to offender, inmate and parole population;
• Develops, implements, and evaluates policies, goals and objectives to ensure conformance with national standards, administrative policies, accreditation of staff and statutory provisions;
• Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
• Formulates and leads mental health services team in attainment of agency goals and objectives;
• Develops mental health service standards and criteria;
• Oversees mental health services staffing to ensure appropriate resource allocation and compliance with collective bargaining agreements and labor laws;
• Ensures mental health services operations within budgetary guidelines;
• Maintains contact with individuals within and outside of agency who might impact on programs and services;
• Monitors all mental health activities for conformance with relevant state and federal licensure and other statutes, regulations and/or policies;
• Enforces mental health services polices and agency administrative directives;
• Coordinates with human resources to ensure hiring, retention, training and promotion of qualified staff;
• Provides ongoing performance feedback and evaluations and initiates and enforces progressive discipline when necessary;
• Represents the Commissioner regarding mental health lawsuits;
• Provides expert testimony in court;
• Determines eligibility for mental health parole;
• Participates on various committees and boards;
• Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• May provide mental health consultation and direct care to offenders requiring second opinions;
• May participate in quality assurance studies and investigations;
• Performs related duties as required.

• Considerable knowledge of
  • and ability to apply management principles and practices;
  • relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
  • agency policies and procedures;
  • principles, practices, and issues of psychiatry and medicine with particular reference to diagnosis and treatment of offenders;
  • recent developments in field of psychiatry and medicine;
• Knowledge of administration and clinical operations, functions and systems involving mental health service delivery;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills;
  • oral and written communication skills;
  • organizational skills;
  • analytical skills;
• Considerable ability to teach and provide clinical supervision. 

Five (5) years of experience in a hospital, clinical setting or correctional facility as a board-certified psychiatrist.

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity or as a leader of programs and processes.

Board Certified in Forensic.

• Incumbents in this class must possess an unrestricted license to practice medicine and surgery in Connecticut.
• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain certification as a specialist in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
• Incumbents in this class must possess and maintain eligibility for participation in federal health care programs as defined in 42 U.S. 1320a-7b (f).
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain certification as a specialist in an area such as geriatrics, ABI/TBI, forensics, substance abuse, etc.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess appropriate current licenses, certifications or permits.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to be bilingual.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.