Regional Mental Health Director (DOC) #261014-2743MD-001

State of Connecticut; Wethersfield (CT); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

State employee benefits overview

Hazardous Duty pension

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction, seeks a Regional Mental Health Director to oversee psychiatry services across a defined region. The role combines administrative leadership with direct clinical oversight of a large team in central office and facilities.

Based in Wethersfield with time at state correctional facilities, the RMHD guides policies, ensures continuity of care, and aligns mental health services with state standards and budgets.

Qualifications

• Board-certified psychiatrist with medical degree.
• Experience supervising interdisciplinary clinical teams.
• Experience in correctional or forensic psychiatry preferred.

Responsibilities

• Directs mental health care operations in an assigned region.
• Plans and delivers daily psychiatry services across facilities.
• Leads a multi-disciplinary team of psychiatrists and APRNs.
• Ensures compliance with licensure, policies, and budget.
• Represents the department in court testimony when required.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical supervision

Psychiatry

Program management

Policy development

Education

Board-certified psychiatrist

Job description

Introduction

Do you have a passion for supporting others? Do you want to make a difference while participating in a dynamic health care environment in the public sector? Check out this opportunity with the State of Connecticut!

The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) is hiring a Regional Mental Health Director with time spent between the agency’s central office in Wethersfield, CT and one of the state’s correctional facilities.

What We Can Offer You

• NEW: Visit our State Employee Benefits Overview page!
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.
• A Hazardous Duty pension plan (State Employees Retirement System Tier IV).

Position Highlights

This is a full-time, 40 hour per week position on first shift. Schedule is Monday‑Friday between 7:00am and 3:30pm. The position is based at our Central Office, located in Wethersfield, CT with split time at one of the state’s correctional facilities. This is a both an administrative and direct care position involving clinical supervision and oversight to the agency’s psychiatry services division within overall mental health services.

The Regional Mental Health Director (RMHD) is responsible for the care, monitoring and coordination of psychiatry services within the department. The RMHD is part of the overall mental health leadership for the health services unit and guides the department’s policies and direction on how care will be rendered as well as ensuring continuity of that care when releasing this vulnerable population to the community. Currently over 30% of our population is receiving some type of mental health care. Balancing the needs of the population from a mental health perspective, to include substance use treatment, is one of the top priorities of the department. This is a managerial position with clinical oversight over 30 psychiatrists and psychiatric advanced nurse practitioners across 13 correctional facilities.

About Us

Since 1968, the Connecticut Department of Correction has proudly served and protected the citizens of the State of Connecticut by daily ensuring the safety, security, and order of our 14 correctional facilities in a manner that is widely viewed as a national model. The Department endeavors to provide the programming, education, and treatment that willing inmates may utilize to improve themselves and the success of their eventual reintegration into society. Our staff of dedicated correctional professionals takes great PRIDE (Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Dignity, Excellence) in the daily performance of their duty to our state.

Our Mission

The State of Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) shall strive to be a global leader in progressive correctional practices and partnered re‑entry initiatives to support responsive evidence‑based practices aligned to law‑abiding and accountable behaviors. Safety and security shall be a priority component of this responsibility as it pertains to staff, victims, citizens, and offenders.

QUESTIONS? WE’RE HERE TO HELP:

Due to high volume, we are unable to confirm receipt or provide status updates directly. For recruitment updates, please check your Personal Status Board and review our Frequently Asked Questions. If you have additional questions about the recruitment process, reach out to Mackenzie Robinson at Mackenzie.Robinson @ct.gov .

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Correction this class is accountable for administering mental health services in an assigned region to offenders and inmates under the care and custody of the agency including offenders assigned to Parole and Community Services supervision.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Directs staff and operations relating to mental health care in an assigned region;
• Coordinates, plans and manages daily delivery of mental health services programs to the offender, inmate and parole population;
• Formulates and leads mental health services team in attainment of agency goals and objectives;
• Assists with development and implements and evaluates policies, goals, and objectives to ensure conformance with national standards, administrative policies, accreditation of staff and statutory provisions;
• Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
• Provides ongoing performance feedback and evaluations and initiates and enforces progressive discipline when necessary;
• Maintains contact with individuals within and outside of agency who might impact on programs and services;
• Assists in development of programs and activities including development of mental health service standards and criteria;
• Implements new procedures and procedural revisions;
• Determines or assists in determination of appropriate mental health staffing levels to ensure appropriate resource allocation and compliance with collective bargaining agreements and labor laws;
• Monitors mental health services activities for conformance with relevant state and federal licensure and other statutes, regulations and/or policies;
• Enforces mental health services polices and agency administrative directives; coordinates with human resources to ensure hiring, retention, training and promotion of qualified staff;
• Ensures mental health service operations within budgetary guidelines for region;
• Regulates number of infirmary beds within designated facilities;
• Coordinates offender admissions and transfers due to mental health necessity;
• Conducts risk management assessment of care including fiscal, mental health and security issues ensuring quality of treatment;
• Provides expert testimony in court;
• Participates on various committees and boards;
• Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• May participate in quality assurance studies and investigations;
• May represent the Commissioner regarding mental health lawsuits;
• May provide mental health consultation and direct care to offenders requiring second opinions;
• May participate in quality assurance studies and investigations;
• May represent the Commissioner regarding mental health lawsuits;
• May provide mental health consultation and direct care to offenders requiring second opinions;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
• and ability to apply management principles and practices;
• relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
• relevant agency policies and procedures;
• principles, practices and techniques of mental health with particular reference to diagnosis and treatment of offenders;
• recent developments in field of mental health;
• Knowledge of administration and clinical operations, functions and systems involving mental health 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, clinical setting or correctional facility as a board certified psychiatrist.

Minimum Qualifications - Special Experience

One (1) year of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity or as a leader of programs and processes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in forensic or correctional psychiatry or justice involved populations.
• Experience with both inpatient and outpatient psychiatry.
• Experience in providing clinical supervision to psychiatrists and/or psychiatric APRNs.

Special Requirements

• Incumbents in this class must possess an unrestricted 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 may be required to possess and retain 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 appropriate current licenses, certifications or permits.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to be bilingual.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.

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.

Salary Calculations: For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

Resume Policy: Per Public Act 21-69 , resumes are not accepted during the initial application process. As the recruitment process progresses, candidates may be required to submit additional documentation to support their qualification(s) for this position. This documentation may include: a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the request and discretion of the hiring agency.