Mental Health Program Specialist 1/Trainee, Central Office;

New York State Office of Mental Health; Village of Menands (NY); Hybrid; USD 56,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The New York State Office of Mental Health is recruiting for a Mental Health Program Specialist 1 (Grade 18) to support the internal Medicaid Compliance Program across state-operated facilities. Under supervision, you will assist in developing policies, coordinating training, and tracking compliance activities to ensure program effectiveness.

Qualifications include a bachelor's degree in related fields and two years of relevant experience; a master's degree may substitute one year of specialized

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in the listed fields AND two years of professional clinical or administrative experience in a mental health program.

Responsibilities

• Assist with creating, revising, and disseminating written compliance policies and procedures.
• Assist with maintaining an annual compliance training plan and disseminating training.
• Assist with publicizing accessibility of reporting compliance issues.
• Maintain records of reported compliance concerns and track statuses through resolution.
• Collect and analyze data to identify Medicaid compliance risk areas and support internal monitoring.
• Collaborate with the Bureau of Audit & Compliance Services for internal reviews and audits.
• Assist with preparing for quarterly Compliance Committee Meetings and support Committee responsibilities.
• Track data related to compliance activities and audits.
• Prepare and maintain documentation for annual reporting and leadership briefings.
• Assist with managing an electronic compliance mailbox.
• Assist with completing self-assessments to ensure adherence to Medicaid Compliance Program requirements.
• Monitor implementation of corrective action plans to prevent recurrence.
• Assist with researching applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and guidance.
• All other duties as assigned.

Education

Bachelor's degree in child and family studies, counseling and community psychology, creative arts therapy, criminal justice, health administration, hospital administration, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, nursing, psychoanalysis, psychology, public administration, public health, public policy, recreation therapy, rehabilitation counseling, social work, sociology, or special education

Master's degree can substitute for one year of specialized experience

Job description

Duties Description

The Office of Mental Health (OMH) is recruiting to fill one Mental Health Program Specialist 1, Grade 18, position within the Division of Community Program Policy & Management, Bureau of Behavioral Health Policy Development & Implementation. Under the general direction of the Bureau Director and Medicaid Compliance Officer, the Mental Health Program Specialist 1 will support OMH's internal OMH Medicaid Compliance Program for all state-operated facilities and ensure its effectiveness.

Duties Description

The Office of Mental Health (OMH) is recruiting to fill one Mental Health Program Specialist 1, Grade 18, position within the Division of Community Program Policy & Management, Bureau of Behavioral Health Policy Development & Implementation. Under the general direction of the Bureau Director and Medicaid Compliance Officer, the Mental Health Program Specialist 1 will support OMH's internal OMH Medicaid Compliance Program for all state-operated facilities and ensure its effectiveness.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Assist with creating, revising, and disseminating written compliance policies and procedures;
• Assist with maintaining an annual compliance training plan, and revising and disseminating an annual compliance training to affected individuals;
• Assist with publicizing and ensuring accessibility of established lines of communication for reporting compliance issues;
• Maintain records of reported compliance concerns, maintaining confidentiality as appropriate, and track statuses through resolution;
• Collect and analyze data to identify potential Medicaid compliance risk areas, and support the Medicaid Compliance Officer to conduct routine internal monitoring activities of high-risk areas;
• Collaborate with the Bureau of Audit & Compliance Services to support internal Medicaid Compliance reviews and audits;
• Assist the Medicaid Compliance Officer with preparing for quarterly Compliance Committee Meetings and support the Medicaid Compliance Committee with associated responsibilities;
• Track data related to compliance activities, including reported concerns, and internal and external audits;
• Prepare and maintain documentation of compliance-related issues, efforts, and documents for annual reporting and leadership briefings;
• Assist with management of an electronic compliance mailbox;
• Assist with completing self-assessments to ensure internal adherence to Medicaid Compliance Program requirements;
• Monitor implementation of corrective action plans to ensure instances of non-compliance are addressed sufficiently to prevent recurrence;
• Assist with research of applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and guidance;
• All other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Non-Competitive Minimum Qualifications Under the NY HELPS Program:

A bachelor's degree in child and family studies, counseling and community psychology, creative arts therapy, criminal justice, health administration, hospital administration, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, nursing, psychoanalysis, psychology, public administration, public health, public policy, recreation therapy, rehabilitation counseling, social work, sociology, or special education AND two years of professional clinical or administrative experience in a federal or state operated, licensed, certified, or funded mental health program.

A master's degree in child and family studies, counseling and community psychology, creative arts therapy, criminal justice, health administration, hospital administration, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, nursing, psychoanalysis, psychology, public administration, public health, public policy, recreation therapy, rehabilitation counseling, social work, sociology, or special education can substitute for one year of specialized experience.

Mental Health Program Specialist Trainee 1: Candidate's must possess a bachelor's or higher degree in child and family studies, counseling and community psychology, creative arts therapy, criminal justice, health administration, hospital administration, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, nursing, psychoanalysis, psychology, public administration, public health, public policy, recreation therapy, rehabilitation counseling, social work, sociology, or special education.

Advanced placement to the Trainee 2 or Journey level may be possible depending on education and experience.

Transfer Opportunity: Candidates must be employed by New York State to be eligible. In order to be eligible for transfer, candidates must have one year of permanent competitive or 55-b/c service as a Mental Health Program Specialist Trainee 1, Mental Health Program Specialist Trainee 2, or Mental Health Program Specialist 1 and be eligible for lateral transfer; OR be eligible to transfer under Section 70.1 of the Civil Service Law.

Additional Comments

The starting salary for this position will vary based on the selected candidate’s education and/or experience. Candidates appointed at a trainee level will be required to successfully complete the traineeship to advance to the full performance level title and salary:

$56,183 (Mental Health Program Specialist Trainee 1)

$62,694 (Mental Health Program Specialist Trainee 2)

$69,964 (Mental Health Program Specialist 1, full performance level)

For current New York State employees, the starting salary is based on the candidate’s salary at the time of hire.

Specific scheduled hours and telecommuting availability for this position will be discussed during the interview process. Please note, employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to operational needs and Agency Telecommuting Program Guidelines.

The Mission of the New York State Office of Mental Health is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a focus on providing hope and supporting recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. Applicants with lived mental health experience are encouraged to apply. OMH is deeply committed to supporting underserved individuals, organizations, and communities. To this end, OMH is focused on implementing activities and initiatives to reduce disparities in access, quality, and treatment outcomes for underserved populations. A critical component of these efforts is ensuring OMH is a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees' unique attributes and skills are valued and utilized to support the mission of the Agency. OMH is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). For the duration of NY HELPS, this title maybe filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply.

At a future date, it is expected that employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.