Plans, organizes and supervises the medical component of services offered by the Mental Health Division of the County's Health Services Department; serves as a member of the Mental Health Division's management/supervisory team.

This single position classification is characterized by the responsibility for the direction and evaluation of the medical component of services provided by the Mental Health Division of the County Health Services Department.  The incumbent provides clinical consultation to others in the Mental Health Division and clinical direction to medical personnel.  This class is responsible for the supervision of medical services and participation in the formulation of policy and procedures for the Mental Health Division.

Receives administrative direction from the Deputy Director, Mental Health.
 
Provides supervision to County and department management staff.

Drafts, monitors, and enforces psychiatric medical standards and practices.  Provides psychiatric consultation, participates in the hiring of professional staff, serves on or chairs committees including medication monitoring, peer review, and quality assurance; reviews Treatment Plans and client Incident Reports and participates in Utilization Review and other processes to insure conformance with program and licensing standards; adjusts treatment procedures as needed.
 
Practices psychiatry in all clinical settings; assesses and prescribes medications for mental health patients.
 
Consults with the Mental Health Director on the clinical and medical needs of a variety of programs; assists in planning and development of service delivery; plans and implements medical policies and procedures.
 
Acts as medical liaison with private physicians and representatives of hospitals, agencies, departments and community organizations who work with Mental Health Psychiatrists and clients/patients; works with graduate and/or medical school representatives to obtain graduate and/or psychiatric resident assistance; coordinates and negotiates with public and privately operated hospitals regarding provision of services to County mental health clients.

Provides medical direction and consultation to the division of Mental Health's County operated programs and consultation to its contracted agencies, particularly in the areas of quality assurance, medication monitoring, and peer review.

Plans, organizes, implements, evaluates and conducts in-service training and staff development programs.
 
Provides medical back-up for "on call" psychiatrist.
 
Writes annual clinical performance evaluation of staff psychiatrists and performs annual clinical performance monitoring of contract psychiatrists.

Knowledge of:
 
Community mental health systems and practices; community mental health program goals and limitations.
 
Principles and practices of general and preventative psychiatry; methods and procedures used in diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders; principles and practices of psychiatric treatment in a variety of clinical environments; psychiatric medications and their interaction with other prescription drugs.
 
General medicine and its relationship to mental illness.
 
Legal environment of psychiatric practice.
 
Quality assurance, utilization review, clinical management and medication monitoring systems, procedures and practices.
 
Principles and practices of supervision.
 
Community organizations as related to medical and mental health services.
 
Public administration practices related to personnel.
 
Budgeting and cost control.
 
Skills to:
 
Operate office equipment including a personal computer, copy and fax machines and printers.
 
Ability to:
 
Plan, direct, coordinate and evaluate psychiatric services; determine clinical and medical needs of community mental health programs.
 
Formulate, implement and evaluate treatment methods and procedures; practice psychiatry in a community mental health delivery system.
 
Referrals to local and regional providers of social, medical and/or other specialized services.
 
Maintain currency in and apply knowledge of treatment modalities, medications and laws governing psychiatric practice.
 
Determine and evaluate levels of achievement and performance; secure cooperation and teamwork among professional and/or support staff; plan and conduct effective in-service training programs.
 
Maintain confidentiality of information.
 
Deal firmly and fairly with clients of various socio-economic backgrounds and temperaments; understand program objectives in relation to departmental goals and procedures; collect and analyze data to establish/identify needs and evaluate program effectiveness; develop goals and objectives.
 
Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with people of diverse socio-economic backgrounds and temperaments.
 
Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.

Experience: 
  
Considerable experience as a practicing psychiatrist in a community mental health environment
           
Education/Training: 

Medical Doctor degree from an accredited college or university with completion of a residency in  Psychiatry.
     

Possession of a valid Physicians and Surgeons License issued by the California Board of Medical Quality Assurance and written evidence of successful completion of a psychiatry residency.
 
Possession of or ability to obtain a valid class C California driver's license may be required.
 

Independent travel will be required. 

Selectees for employment must as a condition of employment sign a statement agreeing to comply with Section 11166 of the California Penal Code relating to child abuse reporting.

Physical Ability:  Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.
 
Sensory Requirements:  Some tasks require visual perception and discrimination.  Some tasks require oral communications ability.
 
Environmental Factors: Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

"SOLANO COUNTY IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER"

SALARY POLICIES - The starting salary is ordinarily the first rate shown on the front of the announcement.  After satisfactory completion of approximately six months, a 5% salary advancement may be authorized.  Thereafter, further increases are possible upon completion of additional periods of six months, twelve months, and eighteen months, assuming satisfactory service.  Longevity, shift differential, bilingual, call back and stand by pay are provided for some classifications.  Effective December 1, 1998, all new hires are required to participate in the Direct Deposit Program.

Based on the information provided in the application documents, the best qualified applicants will be invited for further examination. All applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. Depending upon the number of applications received, the selection process may consist of a resume screening, written and/or practical exam, oral interview, or any combination. Depending on the job class, candidates may need to successfully pass a post-offer drug screening test prior to employment.  Information contained herein does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract. These provisions are subject to change.

All additional application materials as requested in the job announcement, (ie. copies of diploma and/or transcripts, certificates, DD-214) must be submitted with the Document Cover Sheet and are due within five (5) calendar days of the final filing date or within five (5) calendar days from application submittal if the recruitment is Open & Continuous or Open until Filled.  Please visit the County of Solano website, www.jobsatsolanocounty.com to apply.  Any further questions can be directed to the Department of Human Resources, (707) 784-6170 open Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.  Paper applications may be completed in person during office hours. EOE/AA

To be eligible, you must be an applicant for initial County employment, have served at least 181 consecutive days of active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and have received either an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions.  A COPY OF YOUR DD 214, SHOWING DISCHARGE TYPE, MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT WITHIN FIVE DAYS FROM THE DATE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION.  If you have a service connected disability, you must submit a recent award letter from the VA stating you are receiving disability benefits for service connected reasons.  Disability must be rated at least 10% to be eligible for disabled veteran's points.  Veteran's preference 5 points Disabled Veterans 10 points.

It is the policy of Solano County that all employment decisions and personnel policies will be applied equally to all County employees and applicants and be based upon the needs of County service, job related merit, and ability to perform the job.

PLEASE NOTE: All persons hired will be required to participate in the direct deposit program.