Minimum Qualifications
LOCATION OF (1) POSITION TO BE FILLED
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES
Education and Experience
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in a social or behavioral science or other related acceptable field and experience equivalent to substantial (five or more years of) full-time increasingly responsible professional mental health program or staff work including, at least, two years of responsible professional program monitoring work; qualifying full-time professional mental health program or staff experience may be substituted for the required education, on a year-for-year basis, to a maximum of four years; additional graduate coursework in a social or behavioral science or other related acceptable field may be substituted for the required experience, on a year-for-year basis to a maximum of two years, there being no substitution for the required two years of specialized experience.
Other Requirements
Necessary Special Qualifications: Candidates for positions with the Tennessee Department of Corrections are required upon appointment to be licensed or certified in a mental health related field at the master’s or doctoral level.
Examination Method
Education and experience, 100%.
Job Overview
Summary: Under general supervision, is responsible for professional mental health staff advisory and coordinative work of considerable difficulty; and performs related work as required.
Distinguishing Features
This is the highest class in the MH Program Specialist sub-series. An employee in this class is responsible for centralized monitoring and the giving of advice and guidance to program persons for a specified major program component or components. This class differs from that of MH Program Specialist 2 in that an incumbent of the latter functions at the working level and is not responsible for duties relative to statewide programs.
Competencies (KSA's)
- Assists in developing major policy and procedure with wide application such as may relate to the state plan for alcohol and drug abuse services, alcohol and drug abuse training network, major components of the program dealing with children, and other programs.
- For review, prepares major statements of policy and procedure for program; disseminates policy and procedure to the field together with necessary explanation; assists others in understanding policy and procedure.
- Studies program and compares it to existing law, policy, procedure, rules, and regulations and prepares reports on condition of compliance; reviews reports on surveys with superior and with program personnel in order to gain cooperation and compliance; performs follow-up reviews as necessary.
- Performs a variety of personal contacts in giving and obtaining information and in explaining rules and regulations and findings of surveys.
- Prepares a variety of reports relating to functional area of assignment; maintains various records as necessary.
- May train less experienced staff in work.
State Employee Benefits
- Insurance There are a variety of insurance options available to state employees including:
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Annual Leave Full-time employees earn annual leave each month at a rated based on years of service as follows:
- Years of Service
- 0 up to 5
- 5 up to 10
- 10 up to 20
- 20 or more
- Annual Leave Earned per Month
- 1 day
- 1 and ½ days
- 1 and ¾ days
- 2 days
- Maximum Allowable days
- 30 days
- 36 days
- 39 days
- 42 days
- Leave earned in excess of the maximum allowable days will be transferred to the employee's sick leave account annually on the employee's anniversary hire date.
- Sick Leave All full-time employees accrue 1 day (7.5 hours) of sick leave per month, provided they work the major portion of that month.
- Bereavement Leave Leave with pay is granted for three days in the event of the death of an employee's spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, parents, grandparents, siblings, stepparents, foster parents, or parents-in-law without charge to the employee's leave time. Two additional days of sick leave may be granted to provide a total of five days absence for this purpose.
- Family Medical Leave Allows up to twelve work weeks of leave* each year to eligible employees for certain family and medical reasons. Continued health insurance coverage is provided during the leave period, and the employee is reinstated to the same or an equivalent position once the leave period has ended.
- Leave may or may not be paid leave, depending on individual employee's leave balances for earned leave.
- Parental Leave Parental leave is an absence from work granted any employee who has been employed in state service for at least 12 consecutive months as a full-time employee. Parental leave is a combination of sick, annual, or special leave without pay for a period not to exceed four months following the birth of a child.
- Military Leave Granted in accordance with applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations.
- Holidays Each year, full-time state employees receive 11 holidays off with pay.
- Retirement State employees are automatically members of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System . (TCRS) Employees must accrue 5 years of creditable state service to be vested (guaranteed retirement benefits when age requirements are met). Vested members of TCRS become eligible for service retirement upon completion of 30 years of creditable service or upon attainment of age 60.
- Deferred Compensation Employees may choose to make pre‑tax contributions to a variety of investment options through the 401(k) plan or the 457 plan. A minimum $20 monthly contribution is required to participate in the plans. For the 401(k) plan, the state will match the $50 per month minimum contribution. The $50 match policy is evaluated on an annual basis.
- Flexible Benefits Plan Under this program certain specific expenses (e.g.,medical and dental insurance premiums, medical expenses, dependent day care expenses) can be deducted from an employee's paycheck prior to taxes, resulting in a lower taxable income level.
- Higher Education Fee Discounts and Waivers A 25% discount on undergraduate tuition at any state operated institution of higher learning in Tennessee is available to children 23 years of age or under of full time state employees. In addition, full‑time state employees with six months of continuous service are eligible to have tuition fees waived for one course per semester at a state institution. For further information on higher education discounts, click on Chapter 1540 on the Secretary of State Rules and Regulations web page.
- Baccalaureate Education System Trust (BEST) Program (BEST) The Baccalaureate Education System Trust (BEST) was created by the Tennessee General Assembly for the purpose of providing Tennessee families with a means to save for their children's future college education costs.
- Wellness Program The State Employee Wellness Program works to increase employees´ knowledge of options for healthier lifestyles through information and events that focus on improving behaviors affecting your health. Some specific benefits offered through the program include health risk assessments, fitness events, smoking cessation programs, and various other benefits.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) EAP is a confidential counseling and referral service for all employees and their dependents. All services are strictly confidential and can be accessed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
01
Please carefully review the minimum qualifications listed below for MH PROGRAM SPECIALIST 3 and then answer the question which follows. Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in a social or behavioral science or other related acceptable field and experience equivalent to substantial (five or more years of) full-time increasingly responsible professional mental health program or staff work including, at least, two years of responsible professional program monitoring work; qualifying full-time professional mental health program or staff experience may be substituted for the required education, on a year-for-year basis, to a maximum of four years; additional graduate coursework in a social or behavioral science or other related acceptable field may be substituted for the required experience, on a year-for-year basis to a maximum of two years, there being no substitution for the required two years of specialized experience. Q. To the best of your understanding of the minimum qualifications listed above, do you believe you meet the requirements for MH PROGRAM SPECIALIST 3? (Note: Your qualifications must be documented in your application and are subject to verification.)