7/25/74 B

Directs and coordinates the non-medical administrative and clinical functions of a major geographic or specialized patient unit within a mental hospital.

The work involves direction, coordination and administration of the day-to-day functioning of the unit, for the purpose of enriching the quality of patient care and treatment and expediting patients' admission to and dispersion from the unit. This includes responsibility for program planning, budgeting and manpower development within the unit, directing the unit medical records function, the maintenance and upkeep of physical facilities, coordination with mental health disciplines and allied hospital services, liaison with mental health organizations in the community and directing the ordering, distribution and control of supplies and equipment for the unit. Technical or professional direction of the unit staff where required is provided by senior hospital staff members in the disciplines represented. Supervision is received from a mental hospital director who reviews the standards of professional care and patient welfare, adherence to institutional policies and directives and overall effectiveness of the unit.

Examples of duties characteristic of positions in this class:

1. Develops the plans for coordinates, and supervises a complex treatment facility for the care and rehabilitative treatment of the mentally ill from a designated segment of the Commonwealth, involving coordinated facilities for both care and after-care treatment.

2. Based on the results of ongoing evaluation techniques, plans improved procedures for the program, including the needed supplies, equipment, materials and appropriate facilities, and provides for the required in-service training and development of the total staff as is appropriate for attaining the goals of the improved procedures.

 

MENTAL HOSPITAL PATIENT UNIT DIRECTOR Page 2

 

3. Accepts for care and treatment all patients admitted to the unit and provides general supervision for all unit personnel in the care and treatment of the patients, including medical services, nursing services, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, and clerical employees.

4. Plans and implements programs designed to maximize the therapeutic affects of residency treatment through general management of living arrangements and basic ward routines and activities; this may include, but is not limited to patient government, patient advocacy, attitude therapy, orientation and re-motivation activities, token economy, and educational pursuits.

Coordinates the delivery of treatment activities by mental health professionals or the unit’s staff; supervises the delivery of such services through periodic review of patient progress; if technical questions arise, the matter is referred to the appropriate department head, hospital director, or consultant providing professional direction for the service involved.

6. Manages administrative operations for the unit; implements, as appropriate, procedures for dispersing patients served by the unit; develops and maintains working relationships with volunteer groups; plans for and conducts programs of education in the community.

7. Travels, as appropriate, to geographic community and serves as

liaison between the hospital and the community in seeking

out facilities within the community that can provide

the necessary service for patients who are ultimately

dismissed from the care unit back to the community;

reviews activities of the aftercare clinics within

the geographical area to assure that the medications,

housing arrangements, nursing homes, recreational facilities

and emergency service facilities are available and adequate.

Serves as chairman of the geographic unit peer group review

team, and periodically, reviews with the director the degree

of program progress; makes recommendations and obtains

approval for modifications in the program.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a masters degree in a social or behavioral science related to mental health, such as nursing, clinical psychology, social work, rehabilitation counseling, or occupational therapy, and at least two

years of experience which provided knowledge of both the clinical and administrative requirements of operating a facility for treating a wide range of mental or behavioral disorders. Additional experience in the clinical and administrative management of a facility for the mentally ill may be substituted for the master's degree and up to two

years of the required college education on the basis of one year of experience for one year of education.

Extensive knowledge of principles and methods pertaining to the care and treatment of patients with mental and behavioral disorders; considerable knowledge of the principles and methods of management and supervision; ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and evaluate programmatic activities; ability to work cooperatively and effectively with community leaders, representatives of independent public and private agencies, professional and administrative level hospital staff, and operating level employees.