Program Specialist II (Office of Mental Health)

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Early Intervention (MH/DD/EI) is committed to promoting a vision of wellness, recovery, and resiliency by contracting for services to support the recovery journeys of its residents who experience mental health challenges.

The Program Specialist II assists the Deputy Administrator of Adult Mental Health in the planning, program development, program coordination and evaluation of mental health services. This position includes working on projects that require regional, statewide and interagency collaboration.

The Program Specialist II promotes recovery and resiliency through community education, training and/or technical assistance to all stakeholders including families, individuals who receive services, community organizations and service providers. This individual fosters collaborative relations between the Mental Health Office and contracted service providers, other community agencies, the regional Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and other stakeholders through effective communication and timely problem-resolution.

Reporting directly to OMH's Deputy Administrator of Adult Mental Health, the Program Specialist II:

• Effectively upholds, cultivates and communicates HHS core values, ensuring they are operationalized in all areas of oversight;
• Develops and manages initiatives with measurable outcomes;
• Demonstrates proactive problem solving and ensures management of issues and trends;

• Assists the Deputy Administrator in conducting the formal and informal needs assessment; participates in the development of the Services annual plan;
• Develops and writes Request for Proposals for new services and reviews proposals for new services;
• Works with service providers around the initiation of new programs and/or changes in existing programs to promote quality improvement; and participates in the budget process when needed;
• Responsible for oversight of multiple initiatives and leading multiple projects to completion to support the continued improvement of the mental health system;
• Acts as a liaison with other human service agencies and provides ongoing technical assistance to services providers;
• Develops policies and procedures to insure program effectiveness;
• Develops and uses holistic program monitoring tools; and provides the technical assistance and resources necessary to assure that service providers are using best practices and striving for service excellence;
• Participates in evaluating the effectiveness of Mental Health services; conducts site visits; insures compliance with state and federal regulations; and County policies and procedures;
• Develops reporting formats and summaries; reviews regular reports and provides analysis;
• Receives grievances and complaints from individuals who receive services or family members, service providers and all involved parties according to department's policy and procedures. Negotiates and resolves each situation to a satisfactory outcome;
• Program Specialist 2 staff provides direct supervision to Program Specialist I staff in the oversight of Mental Health programs to ensure that programs and services are monitored for quality and compliance to contracts;
• The Program Specialist 2 provides direction and support for the overall program promote professional development, to expand knowledge of the service system and ensure the use of best practices;
• Other duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Bachelor's Degree;
• Two to three years' experience in Mental Health Service Delivery;
• Knowledge of principles and practices of mental health program planning and development as it relates to the implementation of direct services and operational procedures and County MH/DD programs;
• Knowledge of the structure, organization and methods of public and private mental health agencies and institutions;
• Knowledge of the principles and methods applied to collecting, reviewing, analyzing and interpreting data;
• Knowledge of federal, state and county legislation, policies and procedures related to mental health delivery;
• Knowledge of modern basic principles and practices of management and supervision;
• Ability to analyze and evaluate mental health program plans and operations;
• Knowledge of basic computers skills.

• Effective interpersonal, verbal & written communication skills;
• Negotiation/conflict resolution skills;
• Organization & time management skills;
• Problem solving skills/techniques;
• Short & long range planning techniques;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships;
• Excellent analytical and planning skills;
• Effective supervisory skills;
• Excellent presentation skills;
• Computer proficiency required for basic computer programs including but not limited to Microsoft Office, Word, Excel and Outlook.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; and talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands or arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and depth perception.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.