Quality Management Program Director, BHCS

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION.  The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.  Applications will only be accepted on-line.

Supplemental Questionnaire:  A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application.  Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.  Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

Qualified bilingual persons who speak English and are also fluent in: Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Korean, Mien, Tagalog, Amharic, Farsi, Dari, Tigrigna, Russian, Romanian or Sign Languages are especially encouraged to apply. There is an additional bi weekly compensation for persons in positions designated bilingual. Qualified candidates may be tested to demonstrate language proficiency.

THE COUNTY

Alameda County, located on the east side of San Francisco Bay, is California's seventh-largest county.  The County employs 9,700 full-time employees and operates on an annual budget of $3.4 billion.  Oakland, the County seat, is California's eighth largest city.  One and a half million people call Alameda County home and live in a variety of incorporated cities, unincorporated communities and rural areas.  As a major urban county, Alameda provides a full range of services to its citizens.  The County is a blend of culturally and ethnically diverse communities, and its mixture of cosmopolitan and suburban areas provides the perfect environment for families and their active lifestyles.  The County offers extensive cultural resources, countless recreational opportunities and an array of fine public and private colleges and universities.

THE HEALTH CARE SERVICES 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.  For more information about the department of Health Care Services, please visit www.acgov.org/health/

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, develops, plans, organizes, and manages the activities of the Quality Management Program of Alameda County Behavioral Health (ACBH), a department of the Health Care Services Agency.  The Quality Management Program Director is responsible for the overall direction, coordination and implementation of the Quality Program for ACBH.  This will include the design, implementation, management, and evaluation of Quality Assurance (QA), Quality Improvement (QI), Final Rule, and other Regulatory requirements; and related Patient Access activities to ensure the quality of client care and services provided in outpatient/community and inpatient/residential health care settings.  Assures the design and implementation of behavioral health programs and services (including mental health and substance abuse programs) are in compliance with associated certification and regulatory guidelines requirements administered at the local, state, and federal levels.  Maintains an organizational commitment which drives departmental standards related to the provision and support of high-quality mental health and substance abuse programming consistent with the department’s mission, vision, values, and strategic direction; and performs related duties as required.

This single-position class is located in the Alameda County Behavioral Health Department and reports to the Plan Administrator (Deputy Director).  The Quality Management Program Director serves in a leadership role in developing, implementing, directing, and evaluating continuous quality improvement and ensures that the ACHB quality programs are in compliance with the state and federal requirements; in addition to compliance with customer and regulatory requirements for quality, safety and reliability.  This class is distinguished from the next higher class of Plan Administrator (Deputy Director) in that the latter class has overall planning, administrative and policy development responsibilities for Alameda County Behavioral Health.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

In addition to the minimum qualifications and knowledge and skills listed below, ideal candidates for this position will have a track record of success leading and overseeing Quality Management Programs; will possess considerable experience directing the operations of Quality Improvement and Quality Assurance as well as serving as a key business partner working to develop collaborative partnerships to further enhance and supplement services; and be able to effectively strategize, plan, organize, and lead programmatic, policy and budget development activities.  This position is most suited for an experienced, well organized leader interested in joining a progressive health care organization of passionate professionals dedicated to enhancing quality improvement that supports clinical outcomes and improves health status for clients.

The ideal candidate will also be highly respected as:

• Someone who will take personal pride and satisfaction contributing as a valued organizational leader with heightened business acumen able to build a strong organization that delivers results while exemplifying the use of resources wisely and responsibly.
• A service delivery expert with considerable experience managing a quality management and improvement programs, based on departmental metrics in clinical quality of care, utilization of health resources, client/consumer/family satisfaction and administrative processes that support organizational priorities, ensuring the highest level of service delivery to diverse customers and that outcomes are competitive with external benchmarks.
• Someone who values and supports knowledge management and quality improvement principles, processes and tools to ensure continual organizational improvement and achievements.
• Someone who is flexible and adept at managing effectiveness of self and others when experiencing and leading change within new structures, processes, requirements, or cultures.
•  A collaborator who believes in and inspires teamwork and collaboration by being accessible, supportive, open-minded, and empathetic; and builds and maintains constructive relationships that result in diverse work teams that better serve our diverse communities. 
• A practiced problem solver with good judgment capable of thinking logically, taking initiative and reacting calmly under pressure in order to arrive at sound conclusions, make well supported decisions and take appropriate action.
• An effective communicator with excellent interpersonal skills focused on building an environment where diverse, multidisciplinary service delivery teams can work together to enhance the delivery of behavioral health care services for Alameda County communities.
• Someone capable of making a positive impact on others by exuding an air of confidence, creating good first impressions, professionally commanding attention, and earning professional trust and respect of others.
• A visionary who sets strategy in collaboration with others; seeks innovative ways to get things done; and enlists others in realizing the vision while adeptly working within a changing environment.
• A strategic partner who actively engages with other agencies and departments to meet overall countywide needs while leveraging financial and other resources to maximize results and achieve positive outcomes.
• A business partner with heightened business acumen able to build a strong organization that delivers results while exemplifying the use of resources wisely, responsibly, effectively, and efficiently.
• An advocate of professional development opportunities who promotes personal and professional growth for self and others; and inspires and facilitates the continual learning of employees at all levels of the organization.

For a detailed listing of the essential responsibilities and core competency requirements for this position, please click here for the job description.

Education:   Master’s Degree in Psychology, Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, Business Administration, Health Care Administration, Public Administration, Public Health Administration or related field; Board Certification in Psychiatry; or a Law Degree and related study/course work or practice in Health care or Behavioral Health care.  

AND

Experience:   The equivalent of five years of full-time quality improvement or compliance/management post-graduate experience, including the development and implementation of Quality Improvement (QI) activities assessing the quality of client care and services in an outpatient/community or governmental institution, and/or inpatient/residential health care settings.  At least three years of this experience must have included supervision of professional staff.   

Certification as CPHQ (Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality), HCQM (Health Care Quality and Management) or other closely related certification is preferred.    

License:   Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.  

NOTE:   The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.  

NOTE:   The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.  

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:  

• Management principles and practices, including work planning, employee supervision and resource allocation.
• Current quality improvement principles, best practices and trends in the health care delivery system.
• Principles of outcome measurement in system evaluation.
• Community/organizational and pubic/private partnership dynamics and development.
• Strategic planning and implementation.
• Relevant federal, state, and local regulations and behavioral care standards.
• Current trends, research, and issues in treatment and prevention as they relate to QA/QM/QI in a managed behavioral health care system.  
• Clinical standards of practice and licensure requirements; including certification standards related to the provision of health care.
• Project management skills, including project planning, resource allocation, work plan management, tracking and reporting.
• Culturally responsive practices in health care and community organizations.
• Computer applications related to the work.
• Office administrative practices and procedures, including records management and the operation of standard office equipment.  

Ability to:  

• Provide strong leadership and management.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Interact effectively with internal and external auditors, administrators, staff and stakeholders.
• Analyze and use data in decision making.
• Plan and organize.
• Demonstrate analytical and evaluation skills.
• Analyze budgets.
• Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity.
• Work effectively with diverse populations and communities.
• Work independently and prioritize objectives
• Analyze and problem solve.
• Be flexible.  

The examination will consist of the following steps: 1) A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. 2) Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process which is a review of candidates' Supplemental Questionnaires to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the process. 3) Those candidates selected as best qualified will move on to the next step in the examination process, an oral interview examination which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview examination may contain situational exercises.

CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position.  Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

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: 

**The combined oral examination/hiring interview, in addition to establishing an eligibility list, may serve as the final selection interview for vacancies in this classification.

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/divisions/ps/application.htm

Alameda County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being

• Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
• Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
• Vision or Vision Reimbursement
• Share the Savings
• Basic Life Insurance 
• Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance 
• County Allowance Credit
• Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
• Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future

• Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
• Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance

• 11 paid holidays
• Floating Holidays
• Vacation and sick leave accrual
• Vacation purchase program
• Management Paid Leave**
• Catastrophic Sick Leave
• Group Auto/Home Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Guaranteed Ride Home
• Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
• Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
• Child Care Resources
• 1^st United Services Credit Union 

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement.  This provides a brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the "My applications" button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Nicole Lewis-Bolton, Human Resources Analyst II

Human Resource Services, County of Alameda

(510) 272-6468 • nicole.lewis-bolton@acgov.org

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve, and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.  All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of:  race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.