Regional Mental Health Director (DOC)

State of Connecticut•Wethersfield, CT

19d•Onsite

About The Position

The Connecticut Department of Correction is hiring a Regional Mental Health Director (RMHD) to administer and oversee mental health services in an assigned region for people in the department’s care and custody, including people under Parole and Community Services supervision. The role combines administrative leadership with direct care and clinical oversight of the agency’s psychiatry services division. It guides policy and care delivery and helps ensure continuity of care when individuals return to the community. The RMHD oversees more than 30 psychiatrists and psychiatric advanced nurse practitioners across 13 correctional facilities. The position is based at the DOC Central Office in Wethersfield, Connecticut, with split time at a state correctional facility. The schedule is full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The position requires experience as a board-certified psychiatrist in a hospital, clinical setting, or correctional facility, including at least one year in a supervisory capacity or as a leader of programs and processes. Incumbents must hold an unrestricted Connecticut license to practice medicine and surgery and retain certification as a psychiatry specialist from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Travel may be required.

Requirements

Experience in a hospital, clinical setting, or correctional facility as a board-certified psychiatrist.
At least one year of the required general experience must be in a supervisory capacity or as a leader of programs and processes.
Unrestricted license to practice medicine and surgery in Connecticut.
Certification as a psychiatry specialist by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, which must be retained.
Considerable knowledge of and ability to apply management principles and practices.
Knowledge of relevant state and federal laws, statutes, regulations, agency policies, and procedures.
Knowledge of mental health principles, practices, and techniques, particularly diagnosis and treatment of offenders, and recent developments in the field.
Knowledge of administration, clinical operations, functions, and systems involved in mental health service delivery.
Considerable interpersonal, oral and written communication, organizational, and analytical skills.
Ability to teach and provide clinical supervision.

Nice To Haves

Experience in forensic or correctional psychiatry or with justice-involved populations.
Experience with both inpatient and outpatient psychiatry.
Experience providing clinical supervision to psychiatrists and/or psychiatric APRNs.
Eligibility to participate in federal health care programs may be required.
Additional specialist certification in an area such as geriatrics, ABI/TBI, forensics, or substance abuse may be required.
Appropriate current licenses, certifications, or permits may be required.
Bilingual ability may be required.
A valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license may be required.

Responsibilities

Direct staff and mental health care operations in an assigned region.
Coordinate, plan, and manage daily mental health service programs for offender, inmate, and parole populations.
Lead the mental health services team in achieving agency goals and objectives.
Help develop, implement, and evaluate policies, goals, and objectives in alignment with national standards, agency policies, accreditation requirements, and statutes.
Interpret and administer applicable laws.
Provide ongoing performance feedback and evaluations, and initiate and enforce progressive discipline when necessary.
Maintain contact with individuals inside and outside the agency who may affect programs and services.
Help develop programs and activities, including mental health service standards and criteria.
Implement new procedures and revisions to procedures.
Determine or assist in determining appropriate mental health staffing levels and resource allocation, while complying with collective bargaining agreements and labor laws.
Monitor mental health services for compliance with licensing requirements, laws, regulations, and policies.
Enforce mental health services policies and agency administrative directives.
Coordinate with human resources on the hiring, retention, training, and promotion of qualified staff.
Ensure regional mental health operations remain within budgetary guidelines.
Regulate the number of infirmary beds at designated facilities.
Coordinate offender admissions and transfers when required for mental health reasons.
Conduct risk management assessments of care, including fiscal, mental health, and security considerations, to ensure quality treatment.
Provide expert testimony in court.
Participate on committees and boards.
Lead staff recruitment and hiring, including outreach, interviews, and selection.
May participate in quality assurance studies and investigations.
May represent the Commissioner in mental health lawsuits.
May provide mental health consultation and direct care, including second opinions.
Perform related duties as required.