Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Medical Director

Merced County
Merced, CA

Please Note:This is an at-will classification under the direction of and serves at the pleasure of the Director of Behavioral Health & Recovery Services/Public Guardian-Conservator.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Consults, advises, and makes recommendations to the Director of Behavioral Health & Recovery Services regarding the scope and quality of psychiatric, medical and other professional services provided.

  • Supervises, assigns, trains, and evaluates psychiatric and clinical staff including independent contract status physicians and other positions.

  • Coordinates the planning and implementation of medical training and education for physicians.

  • Assists with the recruitment of physicians for the departments.

  • Provides medical oversight for medical/clinical services of the Mental Health Plan.

  • Assures appropriate medical and psychiatric consultation and liaison with primary health care providers and physicians.

  • Makes appropriate business decisions in overseeing, directing, and managing assigned activates.

  • Provides strategic leadership through communication, demonstration, and accomplishment of the organizational mission, vision, and values.

  • Analyzes legislation and regulations for impact on mental health and substance abuse services.

  • Implements appropriate departmental compliance procedures.

  • Provides psychiatric, diagnostic, and therapeutic services including continuing patient care; jail-based psychiatric care; acute psychiatric care; emergency on-call consultation; conservatorship evaluation and court testimony.

  • Consults with other medical and substance abuse practitioners.

  • Directs nursing follow-up care.

  • Completes medical records and court reports to mandated standards.

  • Evaluates social support/rehabilitation needs. Also educates patient/families/staff and oversees intake and treatment plans.

  • Establish, implement, and achieve goals and objectives.
Experience:
Five (5) years progressively responsible experience in the practice of medicine in psychiatry.

License:
Possession of a valid license to practice medicine issued by the California Medical Board.

Certification:
Board certified or Board eligible in Psychiatric Medicine by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

OR

Experience:
Five (5) years of progressively responsible executive or senior administrative experience overseeing behavioral health or specialty mental health programs.

License:
Possession of a valid Physician and Surgeon license issued by the Medical Board of California.
  • Operate a personal computer and other office equipment.

  • Communicate effectively with others in person and over the telephone.

  • Provide psychiatric, medical and medication evaluations and crisis intervention.

  • Provide psychiatric consultations to primary care physicians treating mental health or substance abuse illnesses.

  • Provide medical direction and oversight of County-operated Psychiatric Health Facility.

  • Analyze data, interpret policies, procedures and regulations, develop appropriate conclusions, and prepare reports.

  • Meet deadlines under stressful conditions.

  • Develop, interpret and enforce policies, procedures and processes regarding medical/psychiatric services.

  • Plan and ensure adequate medical staffing.

  • Supervise, train, direct and evaluate medical and clinical staff

  • Resolve conflicts and respond appropriately to complaints.

  • Complete multiple priority projects with conflicting deadlines.

  • Maintain confidential information in accordance with legal standards and/or County regulations.

  • Frequent use of depth perception, peripheral vision and color perception.

  • Sit, stand, or walk for extended periods.

  • Frequently lift, carry, reach, push, pull, twist and manipulate large and small objects.

  • Kneel, bend, twist, squat, balance and crawl.

  • Frequent use of hand-eye coordination.

  • Frequent use of data entry device including repetitive hand and arm motion.

  • Occasionally lift and carry up to 40 pounds.

  • Normal dexterity, frequent holding and grasping.

  • Represents the department with other government jurisdictions and community partners.

  • Regular attendance is an essential function.
Knowledge of:
  • General psychiatric medicine and forensic psychiatry

  • Psychosocial rehabilitation

  • Laws, legislation and regulations impacting mental health and substance abuse services

  • Community support systems.

  • Fundamentals of staff supervision, training and development.
Ability to:
  • Work effectively in a multidisciplinary team

  • Supervise and direct medical and clinical staff

  • Conduct and coordinate training

  • Manage patient flow efficiently

  • Consult/collaborate with multiple systems

  • Work with seriously mentally ill and their families.
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