REVISED TENTATIVE

Occ. Code 2847400

New York State Department of Civil Service

Classification Standard

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES

Positions in this title series are responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs designed to provide services to inmates with special needs, such as visual, hearing, intellectual and/or developmental impairments, and those inmates with mental health issues.  Incumbents of these positions develop programs to provide services to special needs inmates, implement special needs programs, evaluate the effectiveness of the Departments special needs programs, and serve as special needs liaisons within the Department, with the Office of Mental Health, and with the Division of Parole.

These positions are only classified in the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) in main office.

RELATED CLASSES

          Correctional Facility Program Administrators are management positions which oversee all Program Services areas within a small correctional facility.

Correctional Regional Health Services Administrators develop, implement, and monitor a physician and hospital network for inmate patients within a given region. Incumbents are responsible for the implementation of health services program initiatives and quality assurance, contract administration, and accreditation with respect to health care delivery systems.

Assistant Directors Correctional Health Services are responsible for the planning, development, implementation, and monitoring of the health services delivery mechanisms within DOCCS.

Deputy Superintendent for Administrative Services, Deputy Superintendent for Security Services, Deputy Superintendent for Program Services, and Deputy Superintendent for Reception and Classification, and Deputy Superintendent of Correctional Health Care Facility, also work under the direction of a Superintendent of Correctional Facility and are responsible for the administration, security, programming, classification, and health functions at a correctional facility.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR CORRECTIONAL MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS: under direction from the Director for Correctional Mental Health Programs; acts as liaison for interagency programming and to the Superintendents to ensure proper special needs programming.

DIRECTOR CORRECTIONAL MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS:  reporting to the Assistant Commissioner Correctional Mental Health Services; responsible for the overall direction of the programs of special needs programs at facilities of the Department and to represent the Department in regards to special needs programming.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

Assistant Director Correctional Mental Health Programs

• Participate in monthly meetings with agency representatives to ensure consistency of inter-agency policy.

• Resolve inter-agency issues at each of the correctional facilities through quarterly visits.

• Ensure that correctional special needs programs adhere to correctional policy, with emphasis on admission and discharge.

• Review and evaluates admissions and discharges based on special needs and adherence to correctional policy.

• Assist in resolving program level issues pertaining to special needs programs.

• Review existing policy to determine its relevance and effectiveness in meeting inmate needs; work with Program Planning and Evaluation Division to create measurement and evaluation instruments.

• Prepare and submit detailed proposals to the Assistant Commissioner recommending and illustrating necessary policy modifications.

• Interact with Superintendents on all issues regarding inmates with special needs.

• Monitor and respond to inmate mental health issues.

• Recommend transfers for inmates to special needs programs or the Central New York Psychiatric Center.

• Provide technical supervision to staff deployed in Intermediate Care Programs and other special programs to ensure adherence to correctional policy.

• Assist in establishing program priorities to be adhered to by facility staff; monitor performance of staff to ensure effective and timely completion of workload.

• Provide curriculum, technical assistance, and training to unit and facility staff relative to special programs.

• Assist in the preparation of the budget for Mental Health and Special Programs, based on guidelines established by the Director for annual budget preparation.

• Draft budget proposals for any new special needs programs.

• Assist in preparing annual preliminary budget requests for Mental Health and Special Programs.

• Meet with the Director Correctional Mental Health Programs daily to discuss activities and any major problems of the Bureau.

Director Correctional Mental Health Programs

• Maintain responsibility for identification of mental health related and special needs of inmates within population and develop programs to meet these needs.

• Coordinate the Extended Classification Program to ensure potential benefits to inmates derived from early identification of special needs.

• Maintain responsibility for continued research involving mental health related needs throughout an inmates confinement.

• Identify existing trends and develop projections on types of care required by inmates, including the sensorial disabled; analyze existing mental health related and special services available to inmates.

• Implement mental health based programming within DOCCS.

• Develop specific manuals identifying goals and methods for achieving those goals; identify program requirements.

• Represent the Department before New York State Division of the Budget in justifying program funding levels with authority to enter negotiations.

• Collaborate with support divisions within Central Office for program implementation.

• Act as agency representative in developing cooperative and contractual arrangements for interagency programs.

• Develop, direct, and participate in major training activities for program specific and other staff.

• Develop methods for adjusting and monitoring program activities, including computer based data gathering systems.

• Direct and implements program modifications to increase overall program effectiveness.

• Liaison with major mental health service providers to elicit their assistance in joint projects and upgrading mental health services within the agency; develop and negotiate for programs based on shared services, technical assistances, and mutually beneficial training with organizations and groups.

• Develop referral mechanisms for special care needs of inmates upon release from custody.

• Develop a system for red-flagging inmates who will require special care or treatment when discharged.

• Ensure that appropriate agencies are notified of release of inmates with special needs.

• Arrange with community based organizations for continued therapeutic counseling or treatment upon release.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Assistant Director Correctional Mental Health Programs

Open Competitive:   a masters degree in social work, psychology, or criminal justice and three years experience involving the design, analysis, implementation, evaluation, or management of specialized programs for confined felons with special needs including psychological, mental, emotional, or intellectual disability, or sensory impairment.

Director Correctional Mental Health Programs

Promotion:  one year of permanent competitive service as an Assistant Director Correctional Mental Health Programs.

Open Competitive:  a Ph.D. in social or clinical psychology and three years of high level administrative experience in clinical or social psychology; or a masters degree in the psychological or behavioral sciences and three years of high level administrative experience in clinical or social psychology.

Revised:  3/18

NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe.  Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class.  The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written.  Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.