Adult System of Care Director, Behavioral Health Care Services

THE COUNTY

Alameda County, located on the east side of San Francisco Bay, is California's seventh-largest county.  The County employs 9,080 full-time employees and operates on an annual budget of $2.39 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. 

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 administrative direction, oversees and manages the Adult Services System of Care including mental health treatment and recovery and substance use services provided through county programs, community based organizations and private providers and agencies; provides leadership in organizational policy, system design, system integration, and planning and program development of adult services; and performs related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This single position class is located in Behavioral Health Care Services (BHCS)and reports to the Deputy Director, Behavioral Health Care Services. The Adult System of Care Director differs from the next higher class of Deputy Director, Behavioral Health Care Services in that the latter has overall planning, administrative and policy development responsibilities for BHCS. It differs from the next lower class of Associate Director, Adult Services in that the latter provides direct programmatic and administrative support to the Adult System of Care Director.

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 a health care organization as it navigates change as a result of health care reform; will possess considerable experience directing the operations of mental health and substance use services for adults 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 mental health services for the communities within Alameda County.

The ideal candidate for this position will also have a track record of success overseeing behavioral health care services for adults in a managed care setting and will be highly respected as:

•  Technically adept and prepared for advancement to assume the full range of organizational, policy development and administrative responsibilities over behavioral health service delivery for adults.
• 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 collaborative 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.
• 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 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.
• Someone who values and supports knowledge management and quality improvement principles, processes the tools to ensure continual organizational improvement and achievements.
• 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.
• 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 BHCS for Alameda County communities.

 For more information about the department of Behavioral Health Care Services, please visit the departmental website and/or Annual Budget Document found on acgov.org.

Knowledge of:

•  Administrative principles, practices and techniques of county, state and federal behavioral health and integrated systems and their regulations.

• Principles and practices of governmental budgeting, funding and grant/contract management.
• Community needs, resources and organizations related to behavioral health care.
• Behavioral health and integrated health care services, including delivery models between behavioral health and primary care.
• Methods of effective community organization and its role in behavioral health treatment and prevention programs.
• Program evaluation methodologies and management and data analysis.
• Organizational dynamics and development.
• Clinical standards of practice and licensure requirements.
• Management principles and practices, including strategic work planning, employee supervision and resource allocation.
• Computer applications related to the work, including electronic health record systems.
• Office administrative practices and procedures, including records management and the operation of standard office equipment.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate quality leadership and sound decision making.
• Plan, prioritize and organize.
• Manage a complex service system with multiple programs, providers and partners.
• Provide effective leadership in a variety of settings with diverse parties.
• Develop, analyze and monitor budget.
• Analyze and interpret data and utilize data in decision-making.
• Analytically problem-solve.
• Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity.
• Demonstrate the principles of wellness and recovery and cultural responsiveness.
• Demonstrate flexibility.
• Manage multiple and changing priorities.
• Establish and maintain cooperative work and contractual relationships with county departments, and other agencies, community-based organizations, private providers and organizations, and the community.
• Work independently, collaboratively with multidisciplinary team, community resources and organizations

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:  1) A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process; 2) A review of candidates’ Supplemental Questionnaires to select the best qualified applicants to continue in the process; 3) An oral examination which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral 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 many be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.