Director of Behavioral Health - DC Department of Corrections
Washington, Washington DC, United States
Job Summary
Occupation
Physician
Specialty
Psychiatry-Forensic
Salary
$114,746
– $129,090
• yearly
Degree Required
MD/DO
Position Type
Full-Time
Work Environment
Inpatient
Location
Washington DC, Washington DC, United States
Visa Sponsorship
Yes
Job Description
Last Update:
8/23/24
Director of Behavioral Health (DOC)
INTRODUCTION
Under the supervision of the DOC Medical Director, the Director of Behavioral Health shall provide oversight for all Behavioral Health services at Unity Health Care's program at the Department of Corrections.
Job Responsibilities
Identifies, implements, and supervises the clinical delivery of best-practice behavioral health care.
Oversees mental health and substance use services and programs, including therapeutic housing units focused on mental health and substance use, at the DOC
Responsible for programmatic design and development, based on the most recent research and best practices, including trauma-informed care
Assures that all Behavioral/ Mental Health providers function collaboratively with the other health and human services offered at the DOC
Assures that all personnel of the Department are fully compliant with the administrative policies and procedures of Unity Health Care and the DC Department of Corrections.
Assures that all Behavioral/ Mental Health providers carefully observe HIPAA and other local and Federal compliance regulations.
Assures that Behavioral/ Mental Health providers are fully trained in all aspects of their work and especially in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
Provides monthly clinical supervision to Behavioral/ Mental Health providers to assure accuracy and quality in their work.
Periodically monitors psychiatric and mental health records, provides appropriate feedback, and, when necessary, takes corrective action; and oversees peer review of Behavioral/ Mental Health providers.
Ensures all Behavioral/Mental Health providers and staff receive yearly performance evaluations as well as other periodic evaluations as required by Unity (new hire, probationary, etc.)
Establishes collaborations and partnerships with mental health providers and agencies within the District of Columbia
Participates effectively as a representative of Unity with D.C. Departments of Behavioral Health, other officers of the District of Columbia, and with local and national community/advocacy groups.
Assists in preparing testimony on mental health policy, and, when requested, testifies on behalf of Unity Health Care.
Participates effectively with the Medical Director and program managers/leadership to provide leadership and ensure coverage for all Behavioral Health services at the DOC
Participates fully in all aspects of continuing quality improvement efforts and in the process of outside agency evaluation and accreditation review.
Performs or has performed clinical duties of a Mental Health Clinician.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
• Licensed to practice psychology in Washington, DC
• 5+ years of senior management experience required.
• At least 3 years of related experience with chronically mentally ill.
• Prior correctional/criminal justice/re-entry experience preferred
Skills
• Familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within the field.
• General knowledge of psycho-pharmacology
• Expert knowledge of team work, team intervention models and the ability to work in multi-disciplinary settings
• Ability to provide supervision, performance evaluations, and the ability to work in multi-disciplinary settings.
• Ability to determine appropriateness to transferring inmates to and from the mental health units to general population as clinically indicated.
• Ability to provide comprehensive clinical psychological services to inmates and those inmates who have severe mental illness.
• Ability to conduct psychological assessments, if needed and the incumbent is a psychologist.
• Skill in conducting individual and group psychotherapy, and ability to provide supervision to the behavioral health team.
• Ability to make sound decisions and act quickly in critical circumstances.
• Knowledge of the major mental illness specialty area of psychology and expert knowledge of diagnostics based on DSM-IV-TR.