Senior Program Manager of Behavioral Health - Emergency and Forensic Clinical Services

Butte County•Oroville, CA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

This classification is scheduled to receive a 5% COLA effective July 2026. The Butte County Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF) is seeking to fill the PHF Program Manager position which will be the leader of a team of professional staff who provide support for adult patients receiving inpatient psychiatric care at our facility located in Chico. The Psychiatric Health Facility is a 16-bed, 24-hour acute non-medical facility that provides a safe environment for voluntary and involuntary clients needing acute care for mental illness to receive support and treatment. We are looking for a dynamic manager that can work with multiple disciplines as well as provide support in a facility that follows multiple state regulations. FLSA: Exempt DEFINITION Under direction, plans, organizes, and manages the work of staff supporting a clinical services program and operation which provides direct services to targeted populations/groups within the County; program management responsibilities encompass designing, developing, and implementing program services; recommends and implements program goals and objectives, and ensures program compliance with mandated requirements. Non-traditional working hours/shifts (weekends, nights and holidays) may be required depending on specific assignment; performs related duties as assigned. SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED Receives direction from an Assistant Director. Exercises direct supervision over supervisory, professional, technical, and administrative support staff through subordinate levels of supervision. CLASS CHARACTERISTICS This is the second level program management classification responsible for managing and directing the Psychiatric Health Facility, Crisis Services Unit or Forensic Programs which provide services and support to the community. Responsibilities include developing and implementing policies and procedures for assigned program, budget administration and reporting, and program evaluation. Incumbents serve as a professional-level clinical resource for organizational, managerial, and operational analyses and studies. Performance of the work requires the use of independence, initiative, and discretion within established guidelines. Employees serve as a specialist, liaison and advocate for the program, with regular contact with County management and peers, other government, private sector or community-based organizations, and members of the public. Positions at this level are responsible for managing clinical programs with a greater level of risk, liability, and compliance; able to provide acute care crisis program support, triage management, coordinate DHCS reviews and contract monitoring, communicate complex funding requirements and regulations, lead and train department and community on high-risk and emergent community needs, and/or 51/50 Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPS) requirements.

Requirements

Understanding of Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPS) requirements and ability to manage conservatorship referrals and treatment recommendations.
Understanding of criminogenic thinking and behavior and ability to therapeutically intervene with these populations and characteristics.
Board of Behavioral Sciences Clinical Guidelines.
State Medi-Cal guidelines and documentation standards.
Principles and practices of employee supervision, including planning and assigning work, performance review and evaluation, discipline, and the training of staff in work procedures.
Principles and practices of leadership.
Operations and services provided within assigned program area, as well as its stated mission, scope and priorities.
County, department, and program-specific policies and procedures.
Biological, behavioral, and environmental aspects of emotional disturbances, mental disability, developmental disability, and substance abuse.
Protocols and practices in behavioral healthcare and principles of psychotherapeutic techniques and procedures including the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV-TR).
Principles and practices of program management including planning, development, implementation, and evaluation.
Basic principles and practices of budget development and monitoring.
County socioeconomic and cultural demographics.
Methods and techniques of communicating with diverse populations.
Emergency management principles and practices.
Public speaking principles.
Methods and techniques of assessing community needs in assigned program area.
Resources within the community available to program clients.
Applicable federal, state and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances and procedures relevant to assigned areas of responsibility including confidentiality laws.
Principles and practices of complex recordkeeping and documentation.
Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.
Techniques for working with individuals with significant behavioral health challenges.
The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.
Select and supervise staff, provide training and development opportunities, ensure work is performed effectively, and evaluate performance in an objective and positive manner.
Develop and implement goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures, and work standards.
Effectively manage and administer program operations and activities.
Adapt to changes in priorities or resources that impact pre-established timelines and courses of action.
Maintain awareness of the functioning and status of multiple work groups or program areas simultaneously.
Navigate a large organization and its competing priorities for effective program management.
Delegate work assignments and appropriate level of responsibility to employees in order to ensure the completion of work assignments and projects.
Identify, analyze, and evaluate situations or problems to determine appropriate courses of action.
Work with internal and external stakeholders to identify community care needs in assigned program.
Ensure the maintenance and retention of complex records, files, reports, and other documents.
Generate a variety of business documents including letters, memoranda, reports, and other written material.
Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
Effectively represent the department and the County in meetings with governmental agencies; community groups; various business, professional, and regulatory organizations; and in meetings with individuals.
Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural and legal guidelines.
Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework related to Social Work, Marriage Family Therapy or Counseling; and Three (3) years of professional program, budget or supervisory experience in a behavioral health setting that includes two (2) years of licensed professional experience in a behavioral health work environment and a minimum of one (1) year of supervisory experience.
Must possess a valid California license as either a Clinical Social Worker, Marriage Family Therapist or a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (Board of Behavioral Sciences).
Must possess a valid US driver’s license upon date of application.
Must obtain California driver’s license following hire date per California DMV regulations.

Responsibilities

Perform Senior Program Manager of Behavioral Health – Emergency and Forensic Clinical Services duties in a locked facility with constant and direct patient interaction the entirety of shift.
Required to perform complex forensic, mental health, or substance use related evaluations, and evaluates subordinate’s assessments.
Attends court proceedings and is expected to interact with Judges, District Attorneys, Probation, Public Defenders, County Counsel, and other agency officials.
Advises Court personnel of department regulations and guidelines for the performance of emergency and forensic evaluations.
Attends emergency and forensic stakeholder meetings as required.
Daily and ongoing exposure to volatile, acting out, verbally aggressive and physically violent clients, including clients who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol or with a history of criminal violence.
Required to physically intervene and/or restrain clients.
Provide regular/ongoing redirection of inappropriate behaviors.
Respond as needed to cover shifts to meet mandatory staffing requirements (weekends, holidays, and afterhours included).
Facilitate and participate in LPS related certification hearings, LPS conservatorship hearings, Mental Health Diversion proceedings, and other court procedures as required.
Transport and monitor involuntary clients within community.
Offer/provide rehabilitative and recreational opportunities and physical activity to patients.
May evaluate patients in a variety of in- and out-patient settings, such as Juvenile Hall, County Jail, County behavioral health offices, hospital emergency, Crisis Response, and other settings; obtains a patient history and conducts behavioral status exam.
May respond to community-based environments (upon referral and acute need), with less access to other in-person behavioral health resources, including but not limited to: homeless encampments, homeless shelters, personal homes, and sober living environments.
Receives and responds to crisis hotline and emergency calls, walk-ins, and field contacts; provides evaluation and diagnosis of patients and makes appropriate referrals for support services; works with hospital medical staff and County behavioral health management to evaluate the client’s risk or danger to self and others; assists in establishing an aftercare plan, or psychiatric hospitalization, depending on the client’s best interests.
Plans, organizes, and manages the work of staff supporting a program which provides direct services to diverse populations/groups within the community, or within the County.
Ensures continuity of operations for Inpatient Psychiatric care; provides 24/7 on-call support for identified programs on a rotating basis; assists with emergencies and related triage management; manages contracted service providers on-site; oversees community designated staff and providers.
Leads and provides training to department and community on Crisis Services, 51/50 LPS requirements and standards; interfaces directly with acute care hospitals, law enforcement, school districts and news media.
Responds to emergent community needs linking high-risk clients between emergency room into Substance Abuse treatment services, including residential and detox support; informs community members and stakeholders on the complex requirements of substance abuse funding and regulations.
Monitors and audits program regularly to ensure safety and standards are being met.
Ensures that the program is staffed with qualified individuals by resolving performance problems, documenting performance according to policy; training and developing staff; and assisting in the selection, hiring, and promotion of staff; provides guidance to subordinate supervisors regarding personnel matters.
Manages the program’s daily work activities and operations, directly or through subordinate supervisors, by establishing performance levels, communicating goals and performance expectations, and monitoring and reviewing work to ensure conformance to established policies and procedures, and standards for quality and timeliness.
Assesses service delivery and communicates findings to upper management; implements changes to improve efficiency and service quality; maximizes effectiveness of program operations and ensures alignment with the department’s mission; recommends and implements goals and objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, and internal controls.
Directs the collection and compilation of data and narratives for program evaluation; prepares reports for submission to County management and oversight agencies on program metrics and outcomes; takes action on program evaluation outcomes as directed by management.
Directs and participates in resource acquisition and management; ensures that facilities used for program meet compliance requirements.
Develops, communicates and implements program action and/or operational plans and creates resources for organizations or individuals participating in program execution; conducts program training, drills and other methods to ensure participants are properly trained and understand their role(s) within program operations.
Interprets laws and regulations to determine relevancy to program operations and services; affirms program compliance, or recommends measures to ensure, compliance with laws and regulations.
Prepares a variety of administrative and technical reports, as well business correspondence and presentations; presents reports and to internal and external stakeholders; conducts outreach presentations to community and advocacy groups.
Serves as a staff resource by providing consultation and guidance to staff or other County management and employees with respect to service delivery or operational effectiveness issues.
Assists in development of the budget for assigned program by preparing cost estimates and projections and performs ongoing monitoring of expenditures to ensure compliance with budget provisions.
Works with internal County staff and external agencies, community groups, contractors, and other public and private organizations to determine needs for shared services and collaborative projects, or the provision of services by contracted agencies.
Ensures that information regarding services and policies is provided accurately and thoroughly to interested parties and responds to sensitive complaints from the community and County staff.
Adheres to the confidentiality standards of the Privacy Act of 1974 (U.S.C. § 552a), as amended.
Attends and participates in professional group meetings; may serve as a committee chair or facilitator; stays abreast of new trends, innovations and best practices in the area of assignment.
Performs related duties as assigned.