Assistant Director, Assisted Outpatient Treatment
City of New York
Job Description
Multi-civil service title recruitment strategy: Open to candidates who are permanent or reachable in the Comparable civil service titles of:
- Administrative Director of Social Services (Non-Managerial)
- Health Services Manager (Non-Managerial)
- Senior Consultant (Public Health Social Work)
Division/Program Summary Description:
The Bureau of Mental Health’s (BMH) mission is to improve mental health and wellness for people in New York City, and to eliminate racial and other long-standing societal disparities by providing services, resources, and opportunities to New Yorkers that are grounded in accurate, data-driven information that fosters community participation, thus reducing the stigma around mental health. The Office of Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) is responsible for the management and oversight of the Assisted Outpatient Treatment Program in New York City. The New York State Legislature passed Kendra’s law as an amendment to the Mental Hygiene Law to allow for outpatient civil commitment of individuals with histories of serious mental illness, difficulty engaging in rehabilitation, and who present high risk to themselves or the community. The program enables these individuals to live safely in the community, avoid repeated inpatient hospitalizations, and ensure they have access to comprehensive outpatient services.
Position Summary:
The Assistant Director monitors the overall day-to-day activities for the AOT team, identify opportunities for programmatic improvements and make recommendations for changes in policy and procedures, provide direct supervision, professional development support and performance review to AOT staff and ensure that administrative support functions are completed efficiently and timely.
Job Duties and Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Deputy Director of Administration, the Assistant Director will:
- Monitor the overall day-to-day activities for the AOT team, identify opportunities for programmatic improvements and make recommendations for changes in policy and procedures.
- Provide direct supervision, professional development support and performance review to AOT staff.
- Ensure that clinical records are maintained according to the AOT policy and procedure guidelines.
- Ensure that Social Work Supervisors review work completed by the AOT Case Monitor using reports from the AOT data system to guide their review.
- Develop relationships with community mental health agencies, hospitals, and NY State Office of Mental Health liaisons to insure that AOT meets the needs of the consumers served.
- Ensure that the referral/investigation process is followed according to the AOT policy and procedure.
- Ensure that Social Work supervisors review work completed by the AOT Case Monitor using reports from the AOT data system to guide their review.
- Ensure that administrative support functions are completed efficiently and timely (i.e. medical records are requested, court paperwork is filed, exam and court calendars are updated, consumer records are filed, AOT data system is updated, and communication is made with Mental Hygiene Attorneys, representatives at the NY State Office of Mental Health, hospitals, provider programs, etc.).
- Ensure staff coverage and caseload coverage.
- Handle staff performance issues, time and leave issues, etc.
- Assess work activities and make recommendations to changes as needed.
- Contribute to updating and making changes to the AOT policy and procedure manual.
- Help to ensure that policy guidelines are understood and adhered to by staff and community program providers.
- Provide regular reports on program performances, trends and recommendations to senior management and executive leadership.
- Assist Deputy Director of AOT Administration and senior management as needed with additional special projects.
Preferred Skills:
- The ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge of Assisted Outpatient Treatment, mental health treatment services, and the service delivery system; excellent managerial, quantitative, oral, and written communication skills; experience providing program oversight; experience providing supervision.
Why you should work for us:
- Loan Forgiveness: As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal/state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs that lessen your payments or even fully forgive your full balance. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website (https://studentaid.gov/pslf/)
- Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as:
o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment.
o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position’s associated union/benefit fund.
o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement.
o a tax-deferred savings program and
o a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers.
- Work From Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home.
- Job Security - you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work.
Established in 1805, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC Health Department) is the oldest and largest health department in the U.S., dedicated to protecting and improving the health of NYC. Our mission is to safeguard the health of every resident and cultivate a city where everyone, regardless of age, background, or location, can achieve their optimal health. We provide a wide array of programs and services focused on food and nutrition, anti-tobacco support, chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS treatment, family and child health, environmental health, mental health, and social justice initiatives. As the primary population health strategist and policy authority for NYC, with a rich history of public health initiatives and scientific advancements, from addressing the 1822 yellow fever outbreak to the COVID-19 pandemic, we serve as a global leader in public health innovation and expertise.
Come join us and help to continue our efforts in making a difference in the lives of all New Yorkers!
The NYC Health Department is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation to all individuals. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Sye-Eun Ahn, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, at sahn1@health.nyc.gov or 347-396-6549.
Qualifications
1. A Master's Degree in Social Work from an accredited school of social work and three years of full-time satisfactory experience practicing social work utilizing one, or a combination of, casework, group work and community organization methodologies, at least two years of which must have been in a supervisory capacity.
2. Certification/License Requirements: A valid Certified Social Worker (CSW) certificate or Licensed Master of Social Work license (LMSW) issued by the New York State Department of Education must be obtained within one year of the date of appointment. Employees who fail to obtain their CSW or LMSW within one year after appointment will automatically have their probationary period extended for no more than six months. Failure to obtain the CSW or LMSW by the end of 18 months of service will result in dismissal.
3. Special Note: Section 424-a of the New York Social Services Law requires an authorized agency to inquire whether a candidate for employment with child-care responsibilities has been the subject of a child abuse and maltreatment report. The agency has the discretion to assign a candidate who has been the subject of a child abuse and maltreatment report to a position with no child-care responsibilities.
Additional Information
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
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