Critical Care Manager, BHCS

THE AGENCY

Alameda County's Health Services Program is administered by the Health Care Services Agency and includes the following program areas: Behavioral Health Care, Public Health, Environmental Health, and Agency Administration/Indigent Health. The ultimate mission of the Health Care Services Agency is to provide fully integrated health care services through a comprehensive network of public and private partnerships that ensure optimal health and well-being and respect the diversity of all residents. Health Care Services Agency currently has multiple career opportunities for experienced professionals to become part of a service delivery team dedicated to the optimal health and well-being of Alameda County residents. 

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE

It is the mission of Behavioral Health Care Services to maximize the recovery, resilience and wellness of all eligible Alameda County residents who are developing or experiencing serious mental health, alcohol, or drug concerns. We envision communities where people realize their potential, and where stigma and discrimination against those with mental health, alcohol and/or drug issues are a thing of the past.

Only through exemplifying the following Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services values will we be successful:

ACBHCS

Access - where every door is the right door for welcoming people with complex needs;

Consumer and Family Empowerment - through shared decision‐making best practices, that clinically produce effective outcomes;

Best Practices - business excellence that uses public resources cost‐effectively;

Health and Wellness - by integrating emotional, spiritual and physical health care;

Culturally Responsive - appropriate services built on the strengths and life experiences of culturally diverse consumers and their families;

Social Inclusion - utilizing advocacy and education to eliminate stigma, discrimination, isolation, and misunderstanding of persons with mental illness and substance abuse.

For more information about the department of Behavioral Health Care Services, please visit www.acbhcs.org/

THE POSITION

Under general direction manages and monitors acute, sub-acute, and crisis system resources and authorizes services for adults or adolescents on involuntary psychiatric holds or in need of acute psychiatric care; provides oversight of high level behavioral health services provided by community-based organizations; ensures appropriate levels of care that meet clinical quality of care standards; facilitates treatment and discharge plans with other system partners such as Social Services Agency, Probation Department, Sheriff’s Department, the Regional Center and other hospitals as appropriate.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

 The Critical Care Manager, BHCS, is a licensed clinical professional, fully-trained and professionally skilled upon entrance into the classification. The work is generally performed in an urgent or emergency care setting and other sites where travel may be required. This position has extensive contact with County and contract service providers who provide clinical services to Behavioral Health Care Services (BHCS) clients.

This class is distinguished from other clinical classes in that the Critical Care Manager, BHCS is responsible for administrative and managed care tasks that entails a high level of influence and authority in making decisions that shape policy and procedures concerning acute and sub-acute care services.  The responsibilities include providing technical and clinical direction to other professionals and acting as a liaison to other clinical classes who provide direct service delivery.  Critical Care Managers report directly to a System of Care Director (Director, Children and Youth Services, Adult Services System of Care Director, Older Adult System of Care Director, or Transitional Age Youth System of Care Director).

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

In addition to the meeting the minimum qualifications and possessing the knowledge and skills listed below, the ideal candidate for this position will have considerable experience in the delivery of psychiatric services to children and adolescents in a managed care context with expertise in the provision of psychiatric emergency and crisis services and will exemplify the following critical attributes:

•  A collaborative strategic partner who is able to build strong ties with psychiatric emergency room and inpatient staff as well as other departments and  community providers in an effort to maximize resources and achieve positive outcomes.
•  Someone who has a clear understanding of the role and function of psychiatric emergency services.
• Understanding the impact of managed care, authorization services, quality assurance and regulatory bodies on the delivery of psychiatric emergency and crisis services.
• Understanding the meaning of “Medical Necessity” in psychiatric emergency and crisis service environments and the impact that may have upon clients, providers, family and the community.
• Someone who understands the elements of quality assessments in a psychiatric emergency room environment and is familiar with newer standards of mental health treatment such as screening for trauma history, avoiding seclusion and restraints, maximizing recovery, and the use of crisis plans and advanced directives.
• Skilled at collaboration in acquiring and communicating information, supporting accurate evaluation, and producing best outcomes.
• A flexible and practiced problem-solver with good judgment-capable of thinking logically, taking initiative and reacting calmly under pressure in order to arrive at sound conclusions, well-supported decisions and appropriate plans/actions.
• An effective communicator with excellent interpersonal skills focused of building as environment where diverse, multidisciplinary service providers are engaged in working together to enhance the delivery of BHCS for Alameda County.
• Ability to develop systems to monitor activities or outputs that are easy to use and provide timely and pertinent information as well as the use of data for planning and quality improvement.
•  Someone who makes a positive impact on others by displaying confidence, creating good first impressions and earning professional trust and respect of others.

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.  The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN:

*WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN*

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statues.  To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.