Chief of Psychiatry (#PR7 )

$168.22-$194.68 hourly / $29,157.57-$33,743.88 monthly / $349,897.60-$404,934.40 yearly

• Participate with other administrators in planning, organizing and directing clinical care aspects of mental health and substance abuse programs
• Participate in quality improvement activities, including but not limited to areas of specific medical practice
• Participate in fair hearings and utilization review appeals
• Promote best practices throughout all programs
• Provide expert opinion on difficult cases and special case situations
• Set medical policy, including practice standards and formulary, and participate in all policy areas related to patient care
• Supervise assistant director(s), psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and assigned administrative aide, including hiring, work assignments, coverage issues, training and quality of work performed
• Provide input as needed in recruitment and selection of psychiatric staff as well as clinical oversight of any related medical/clinical contracts for services
• Liaison with other medical practitioners, including hospitals, Medi-Cal managed care plans, and community practitioners
• Participate with the Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in preparing, monitoring and controlling the pharmacy budget
• Participate with the management team in budget and planning decisions, with special emphasis on clinical impacts
• Consult on the administration of hospital placements and aftercare services
• Ensure that federal, state and local standards and regulations are effectively implemented in psychiatric care, documentation and quality assurance
• Direct and evaluate the medical aspects of mental health programs
• Evaluate medical policies, programs and procedures and develop improvements
• Attend meetings and conferences
• Prepare reports and correspondence
• Educate and act as a liaison with the general public and non-psychiatric healthcare providers on topics and issues related to mental health
• Be available by pager to address any urgent clinical or systems issues

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Knowledge:

Thorough knowledge of:

• Public mental health systems and working with disabled individuals.
• The principles and practices of general and preventive psychiatry.
• Current developments in the field of psychiatry.
• Mental health services and organizations.
• Principles of supervision and personnel management.
• The uses and effects of medication in psychiatric and related conditions.
• Individual and group psychotherapy.

Working knowledge of:

• Aims, concepts and services of local community mental health and substance abuse programs.
• The interrelationships of services provided by local public and private mental health agencies and organizations.
• The principles of the various mental health disciplines and clinical care.
• State and Federal mandates for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
• LPS conservatorship and social security disability processes and evaluations.

Ability to:

• Plan, organize and direct the activities of the medical staff.
• Consult with other clinical staff and managers as needed on treatment issues.
• Exercise initiative, ingenuity and sound judgment in solving difficult clinical problems, documentation and medical staff personnel problems.
• Interpret and apply complex regulations, laws and directives.
• Express ideas effectively in oral and written form.
• Coordinate functions and maintain effective relationships with other divisions, departments, agencies and organizations.
• Understand and relate to others the aims, concepts and principles of mental health and substance abuse programs.

Education and Experience: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities as qualifying, subject to the following:

Graduation from an approved medical school and satisfactory completion of a three year psychiatric residency approved by the American Medical Association or the American Osteopathic Association; and five (5) years of experience in the field of public mental health or mental health administration.

Special Requirements/Conditions:

License Requirements:

Possess and maintain a valid California class C driver license, or the ability to provide suitable transportation which is approved by the appointing authority.
Possession of a valid Physician's and Surgeon's Certificate issued by the State of California. If licensed in another state, candidates may participate in the recruitment and examination process, however, possession of a valid Physician's and Surgeon's Certificate issued by the State of California is required at the time of appointment.
Possession of a State and/or Federal narcotic license for the administration of narcotics.
Background Investigation: Fingerprinting.

Other Special Requirements: Availability to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends and holidays. Physically and mentally capable of performing the position's essential functions as summarized in the typical tasks section of this specification.

PREVIOUS CLASS TITLES: Program Chief-Mental Health Services, Director of Mental Health-MD, Psychiatric Medical Director

EST: 4/88 REV: 10/07, 5/07, 9/03, 11/00 Analyst: CJS, DTW, CE, PT