Review Vacancy
AgencyMental Health, Office of
TitleMental Health Program Specialist 3 (Clinical) – (NY HELPS), Central Office;
Occupational CategoryOther Professional Careers
Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)
Salary RangeFrom $93530 to $117875 Annually
Appointment Type Contingent Permanent
Minimum Qualifications Non-Competitive Minimum Qualifications Under the NY HELPS Program:
A bachelor’s degree in a health or human services area and four years of professional clinical experience in a mental health program. +
+Educational Substitutions: A master's degree in clinical mental health counseling, clinical psychology, community mental health counseling, counseling and community psychology, counseling, forensic psychology, mental health counseling, nursing, psychoanalysis, psychology, rehabilitation counseling, or social work can substitute for one year of specialized experience.
Transfer Opportunity:
Candidates must have permanent status as a Mental Health Program Specialist 3 (Clinical) and be eligible for lateral transfer; OR be eligible to transfer via Section 70.1 or Section 52.6 of the Civil Service Law by having at least one year of permanent service in a qualifying title within two salary grades or one M-grade of this position
Preferred Qualifications:
Eligible candidate(s) will hold a current New York State Education Department license as a clinical social worker (LCSW) or a licensed psychologist.
The ideal candidate(s) will have supervisory experience. The ideal candidate(s) will have a minimum of three years of experience working with children and/or adolescents with mental illness, as well as utilization management experience, including familiarity with the review of medical evidence, psychiatric evidence, a knowledge base of child-serving systems in New York State federal or state statutes, regulations and guidelines, and any other pertinent evidence to determine whether it is appropriate and necessary for an individual accessing a psychiatric inpatient level of care.
Generally speaking, this role requires strong organizational skills, excellent communication and writing skills; critical and analytical thinking; the ability to work independently; provide clinical supervision, and the ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and communicate with professionals with both clinical and non-clinical backgrounds.
Duties Description The Office of Mental Health (OMH) is recruiting to fill a Mental Health Program Specialist 3 (Clinical), Grade 25, in the Division of Integrated Community Services for Children and Families. Under the guidance and general direction of the Medical Director’s Office, the Mental Health Program Specialist 3 (Clinical) position will lead the RTF Authorization and Admissions Unit. This position will oversee the multi-disciplinary teams responsible for processing applications for RTF eligibility, making children's Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) eligibility and medical necessity determinations, Medicaid Childhood Disability determinations, and manage RTF admissions.
Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Coordinate and oversee the operation of the RTF Authorization Process and RTF admissions
• In coordination with OMH counsel, and Psychiatrist 2, oversee the process for Fair Hearing requests including evidence preparation, submission, and attendance/participation as the OMH representative
• Develop and maintain relevant internal training materials, policies, procedures, guidance, etc., coordinate with the Division for dissemination of such materials, and training and technical assistance as appropriate, as well as subsequent revisions as needed
• Oversee data related to RTF authorization and related processes
• Manage communications to and from stakeholders including monitoring and oversight of relevant distribution lists and shared email boxes and dissemination of information, including but not limited to written updates, and appropriate follow-up as needed
• Provide expert technical assistance and consultation to county mental health departments and providers, to ensure effective care coordination and the delivery of quality mental health services to children, youth, and their families.
• Maintain a knowledge of and working relationships with RTF providers of service and their intake processes, including visits to each RTF and annual meetings with intake staff, as directed
• As requested, provide trainings, educational presentations, resources, tools, including the development of such resources as required, including but not limited to county mental health departments, providers, advocates and families on RTF application and review processes
• Collaborate with OMH Central Office Inpatient and Residential Unit and Field Office staff on RTF referral, authorization, admission, continued stay, discharge and significant incident patterns and trends with ad hoc communications, regular reports, and meetings
• Leading and participating in specialized work groups to revise or develop new policies, guidance, regulations, and statutes or revise or develop new inpatient and residential program types or at the request of leadership development or implementation of other Division or agency initiatives, etc.
• Identifying any RTF eligible population, RTF level of care, and inpatient and residential system barriers or needs and producing solution-focused recommendations for remediation and risk management
• Manage RTF requests for waivers in consultation with the OMH Central Office Inpatient and Residential Unit
• Manage Prior Approvals for RTF Bed Reservations, as directed
• Provide administrative support and other relevant support to the RTF Admissions Advisory Board or relevant workgroups, committees, etc. as needed
• Other duties as assigned
Additional Comments Employment with New York State offers unmatched benefits, individual support, and career mobility for motivated individuals including: NYS pension and retirement programs; annual cost of living and performance advance increases; comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans; flexible spending accounts for health and dependent care; paid time off, including thirteen paid holidays per year, and paid personal leave, vacation leave, and sick leave.
Specific scheduled hours and telecommuting availability for this position will be discussed during the interview process. Please note, employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to operational needs and Agency Telecommuting Program Guidelines.
The Mission of the New York State Office of Mental Health is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a focus on providing hope and supporting recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. Applicants with lived mental health experience are encouraged to apply. OMH is deeply committed to supporting underserved individuals, organizations, and communities. To this end, OMH is focused on implementing activities and initiatives to reduce disparities in access, quality, and treatment outcomes for underserved populations. A critical component of these efforts is ensuring OMH is a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees' unique attributes and skills are valued and utilized to support the mission of the Agency. OMH is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). For the duration of NY HELPS, this title maybe filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply.
At a future date, it is expected that employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
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Email Address OMHHRM@OMH.NY.GOV
Address
Street NYS Office of Mental Health
44 Holland Avenue
Notes on ApplyingTo be considered for this position, interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume in Microsoft Word or PDF format to omhhrm@omh.ny.gov. Please include the title of the position, location, and Vacancy ID #173180 in the subject line of your email when applying.
You are advised that, should you accept a job offer with the Office of Mental Health, you may be required to be fingerprinted and pay a fingerprint fee.