Behavioral Health Program Manager

State of Connecticut•Middletown, CT

22h•Onsite

About The Position

The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking a full-time Behavioral Health Program Manager for Whiting Forensic Hospital (WFH) in Middletown. This position provides essential leadership to ensure WFH maintains a robust quality management program, achieves continuous regulatory readiness, and delivers safe, high-quality forensic psychiatric care. The role involves assisting in the leadership and daily operations of the Quality Department, planning and managing quality improvement, compliance, and patient safety initiatives, and developing program goals aligned with the DMHAS mission. The manager will also assist in developing policies and procedures, interpreting laws and regulations, and ensuring compliance with various health and accreditation standards. Key responsibilities include overseeing incident reporting, performance improvement, Health Information Management, and Patient Advocacy. The position also involves assessing program performance, training and supervising staff, coordinating administrative and clinical activities, collaborating with stakeholders, and participating in budget planning and staff development. A comprehensive medical examination, including drug screening, is required following a conditional offer of employment, and all state employees must comply with Connecticut’s Drug-Free Workplace Policy.

Requirements

Eight (8) years of experience in business or health care administration or program development involving responsibility for financial management or budget development or grants management or professional health care or social services experience.
College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) years of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
A Master's degree in public or health care administration, a Master's degree in business administration with a specialization in health services or hospital administration, a Master’s degree in social work or a Master’s degree in a related health care discipline may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.
Considerable knowledge of principles and practices of public administration; principles of mental health treatment and program design; managed care system principles and practices; clinical treatment methodologies and programs for psychiatric clients; community resources; Knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; relevant agency policies and procedures; assertive treatment programs; quality assessment and/or improvement techniques and accreditation body standards; Considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills; Ability to analyze and prepare budgets; prepare and administer grants.

Nice To Haves

Experience with hospital operations
Experience with data and technology applications
Experience with data collection, analysis and creation of spreadsheets
Experience managing policies and ensuring compliance in a healthcare or behavioral health setting
Experience applying regulatory standards and supporting successful surveys
Experience in Quality Management, including incident reviews and performance improvement, including QAPI
Experience preparing and presenting compliance and quality reports
Experience in utilizing Microsoft Office applications and Incident Reporting systems
Experience in regulatory surveys and Corrective Action Plan support and management

Responsibilities

Assisting in the leadership and daily operations of the Quality Department and its specialized programs
Planning, coordinating, and managing quality improvement, compliance, and patient safety initiatives
Developing, implementing, and evaluating program goals and objectives that align with the DMHAS mission and organizational priorities
Assisting in the development and implementation of agency policies, procedures, and administrative practices
Interpreting and administering applicable laws, regulations, accreditation standards, and agency policies
Ensuring ongoing compliance with Department of Public Health, The Joint Commission, DMHAS, and other regulatory and accrediting body requirements
Overseeing incident reporting, performance improvement activities, policy management, Health Information Management, and Patient Advocacy functions
Assessing program performance, identifying opportunities for improvement, and implementing corrective actions
Training, mentoring, supervising, and evaluating staff
Coordinating administrative, clinical, and operational activities that support quality outcomes and regulatory compliance
Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to support program operations and continuity of care
Participating in budget planning, resource allocation, recruitment, hiring, and staff development
Providing leadership for hospital-wide quality improvement and performance management initiatives
Performing other related duties as required