The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) is seeking a solutions-focused Area Forensic Director to play a pivotal role driving positive change in the intersection of mental health and the justice system. As the steward of forensic services in your assigned geographic area, you will play an essential role in fostering collaboration between mental health and criminal justice entities. Your responsibilities include cultivating relationships with the District and Superior Courts, local law enforcement, correctional facilities, and legal professionals to coordinate mental health services for individuals within the justice system.

As the primary liaison for the DMH Area, you will influence justice-related aspects during case consultations and Area Risk Meetings. Your impact will extend to managing the adult court clinic service in your area, managing contracts for forensic mental health services, conducting program evaluations, and actively participating in statewide procurement initiatives. Beyond administrative duties, you will provide supervision of staff and direct training to a variety of personnel on strategies to divert individuals from the criminal justice system and facilitate successful transitions from correctional facilities to the community. Your commitment to accessibility and coordination will be reflected in the development of guidelines and practices, ensuring forensic clients receive the support they need. If you are passionate about reshaping the landscape of mental health services within the justice system and DMH, this role offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of individuals in need.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Serve as the DMH Area's primary liaison to criminal justice, law enforcement and correctional programs. Establish and maintain relationships with judges, district attorneys, and defense attorneys in connection with DMH Court Clinic operations, and with local law enforcement, probation, parole, correctional facilities, to coordinate mental health services for clients involved in the justice system.
• Provide input on justice-related aspects for case consultation meetings and in Area Risk Meetings as assigned.
• Perform assigned local procurement duties and manage contracts for Area forensic mental health services and participate in state-wide procurement initiatives as directed.
• Conduct assigned program evaluation and research tasks and review/monitor local and statewide forensic data.
• Develop written guidelines when needed and encourage practices that assure access to services for forensic clients and coordination of Area services with forensic services.
• Directly provide training on aspects of forensic services, including training on strategies to divert forensic clients from the criminal justice system and the strategies for successfully transitioning forensic clients from correctional facilities to the community.
• Provide direction and supervision to Forensic staff, including Psychologists and Social Workers.
• Assist local police in developing procedures to manage critical situations involving persons with mental illness.
• Provide input into program design, implementation and oversight related to justice and mental health programs funded or operated by DMH and/or its partners.
• Represent the Assistant Commissioner of Forensic Services in interagency meetings, committees, as assigned.
• Provide forensic on-call services for the Department of Mental Health, Forensic Division on evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of mental health laws.
• Detailed understanding of the relationship of the forensic client to the Massachusetts mental health, criminal justice, and correctional systems.
• Skilled in negotiating criminal justice, correctional and mental health systems on behalf of forensic clients.
• Ability to engage with persons who have serious mental illness, and/or history of violent or assaultive behavior.
• Skill in providing case review consultation and training on forensic services and risk management activities for forensic clients. Extensive knowledge of the services available to forensic clients.
• Clinical understanding of the etiology and effects of serious mental illness and service needs of persons with serious mental illness.
• Willingness to provide services in criminal justice/law enforcement environments.
• Ability to manage mental health professionals.
• Interpersonal skills necessary to work simultaneously with colleagues in the mental health, criminal justice and correctional systems to integrate services for forensic clients.
• Ability to manage vendor contracts.
• Proficiency with MS Office including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Given the population served, bilingual or multilingual fluency.

DMH Mission Statement:

The Department of Mental Health assures and provides access to services and supports to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages, enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities. The Department establishes standards to ensure effective and culturally competent care to promote recovery. The Department sets policy, promotes self-determination, protects human rights, and supports mental health training and research.

Learn more about our important work: https://www.mass.gov/dmh

Pre-Offer Process:

A tax & background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Human Resources Division prior to the candidate being hired.

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the ADA Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #4

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) six (6) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration or clinical management of which (B) at least two (2) years must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

Substitutions:

I. A certificate in a relevant or related field may be substituted for one (1) year of the required (A) experience.

II. A Bachelor's degree in a related field may be substituted for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.

III. A Graduate degree in a related field may be substituted for three (3) years of the required (A) experience.

IV. A Doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for four (4) years of the required (A) experience.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

COVID Vaccine: As a condition of employment, depending on job assignment and location, employees may be required to have received COVID-19 vaccination and/or other vaccinations, or to have been approved for a vaccination exemption prior to their start date. Details relating to demonstrating compliance with this requirement will be provided to applicants selected for employment.

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.