Introduction
Join a dedicated team at the southeastern mental health authority and make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals receiving behavioral health services. The southeastern mental health authority (SMHA), under the umbrella of the State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) is seeking an experienced psychiatrist for the position of DMHAS Local Mental Health Authority Medical Director (PCN 127050) to join our team. Within our Clinical Administration Division, you will be providing leadership to our facility in Norwich. Find out more information on this great opportunity below.
Why join us?
Psychiatrists at DMHAS consistently highlight the rewarding nature of serving this population and the strong, collegial atmosphere within our system. As one current DMHAS psychiatrist, Dr. M. Patrascu, shares:
If you love psychiatry, the DMHAS patient population will offer a unique learning and practice experience, exposure to a variety of disorders and people who need help, support, people who have very little. I have been lucky to work with people who are dedicated, selfless and willing to go the extra mile, grounded and with good work ethic.
- See the benefits we offer by visiting our State Employee Benefits Overview page.
- Professional growth and development opportunities.
- A healthy work/life balance to all employees.
- The opportunity to:
- Join a vibrant professional learning community of Board-Certified Psychiatrists
- Support an agency deeply committed to improving the lives of those we serve
- Make a meaningful difference in the public sector
Norwich is an excellent area to live with due to its quality of life, rich history and vibrant community. Southeastern Connecticut offers a range of cultural and recreational activities, with beautiful parks, museums, and historic sites, providing ample opportunities for leisure and family time. Families in Connecticut have access to high quality schools and healthcare facilities, and the Norwich's convenient location to major metropolitan areas, make it an ideal place for those seeking a balance between a fulfilling career and a high standard of living.
What you’ll be doing:
- Provide continuous clinical oversight to ensure high-quality patient care
- Lead, guide, and support clinical staff in medical decision-making
- Oversee program integrity and ensure adherence to clinical protocols
- Maintain compliance with all state and federal regulatory requirements
- Conduct mandated clinical reviews and quality assurance activities
- Supervise and mentor medical staff to uphold standards of practice
- Ensure timely clinical decisions that support operational stability
- Safeguard public health and safety through effective medical governance
- Monitor and ensure the facility meets statutory requirements for medical oversight
- Mitigate risks related to compliance lapses, regulatory penalties, and patient care outcomes
About our agency:
The State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), is a health care agency whose mission is to promote the overall health and wellness of persons with behavioral health needs through an integrated network of holistic, comprehensive, effective, and efficient services and supports that foster dignity, respect, and self-sufficiency in those we serve.
Southeastern Mental Health Authority (SMHA) is a community mental health agency operated by the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). Its primary goal is to provide high quality behavioral health services to those in our community with mental health and substance use disorders who are 18 years or older and reside in New London County and its surrounding towns. Services, which include case management, outpatient behavioral health, crisis intervention, respite care, and forensic services, are recovery oriented and offered in a trauma informed and culturally sensitive manner. We support individuals to identify and achieve their own goals in recovery, fostering independence, dignity, and ability.
Start with us! Stay with us! Grow with us!
Please note:
- A comprehensive medical examination, including a drug screening, will be required of all applicants upon a conditional offer of employment.
- All state employees must adhere to Connecticut's Policy for a Drug Free Workplace.
Purpose of job class (Nature of work)
In the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Local Mental Health Authority this class is accountable for administering designated agency medical, clinical and behavioral health services programs and operations.
Examples of duties
- Administers staff and operations of a designated hospital, facility, regional medical area or behavioral health services program;
- Develops, implements and evaluates policies, goals and objectives;
- Assists in development of programs and activities including development of medical service standards and criteria;
- Implements new procedures and procedural revisions;
- Determines or assists in determination of appropriate staffing levels and directs or assists in management and coordination of staff;
- Implements performance review standards for staff;
- Maintains contact with individuals within and outside of agency who might impact programs and services;
- Administers state and federal regulations pertaining to medical and psychiatric health care programs, services and operations;
- Participates on various committees and boards;
- Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
- May testify in court as needed;
- May conduct training;
- May be responsible for coordination of accreditation activities;
- May serve as agency liaison with external medical, behavioral health planning, advisory groups, courts and other state medical and service agencies;
- May monitor contracts with medical services vendors;
- May participate in quality assurance studies and investigations;
- May develop processes and practices to improve quality and cost of patient care;
- Performs related duties as required.
Knowledge, skill and ability
- Considerable knowledge of
- and ability to apply management principles and practices;
- principles, practices and issues of medicine and psychiatry with particular reference to diagnosis and treatment of behavioral health patients;
- recent developments in field of psychiatry and medicine;
- Knowledge of administration and clinical operations, functions and systems involving medical service delivery;
- Considerable
- interpersonal skills;
- oral and written communication skills;
- organizational skills;
- analytical skills;
- Ability to teach and provide clinical supervision.
Minimum qualifications - general experience
Experience in a hospital, clinic or correctional facility as a board certified psychiatrist.
Preferred qualifications
- Experience providing clinical leadership in a healthcare or public health setting
- Experience supervising medical or clinical staff
- Experience ensuring compliance with state and federal medical regulations
- Experience with quality assurance, clinical policy development, and medical oversight
- Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams
- Experience providing medical oversight in a facility, program, or agency setting
- Strong ability to manage clinical operations and support complex decision-making
Special requirements
- Incumbents in this class must possess a license to practice medicine and surgery in Connecticut.
- Incumbents in this class must possess and retain certification as a specialist in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
- Incumbents in this class must possess and maintain eligibility for participation in federal health care programs as defined in 42 U.S. 1320a-7b(f).
- Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain certification as a specialist in an area such as geriatrics, ABI/TBI, forensics, substance abuse, etc.
- Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a faculty appointment at either the Yale School of Medicine or the UConn School of Medicine.
- Incumbents in this class may be required to possess appropriate current licenses, certifications or permits.
- Incumbents in this class may be required to be bilingual.
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.