Mental Health Delegate/Program Specialist I

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Early Intervention (MH/DD/EI) is committed to promoting a vision of wellness, recovery, and resiliency by contracting for services to support the recovery journeys of its residents who experience mental health challenges.

The Mental Health Delegate is responsible for answering phone calls received on the Delegate phone line.  The Delegate is the first and primary point of contact for individuals, family members, potential petitioners, and stakeholders participating in the involuntary commitment process.  The Delegate answers questions related to the MHPA and the commitment process in Montgomery County, reviews petitions, issues or denies civil warrants, and coordinates with cross-system partners on warrant service activities as appropriate.  The Delegate consults with the SUPERVISOR AND /or Manager as needed.  The Delegate is responsible for communicating all petitions information, documents, and updates to the Registrar/Delegate Assistant for tracking and QA purposes.  The Delegate creates and maintains a list of key cross-system partners contacts specific to their shift and sends weekly updates/brief informational outreach communicating important notifications from the Delegates.  The Delegate will have assignments / placements at area providers including hospitals, police, outpatient providers, and others as appropriate. The Delegate reports to the Shift Supervisor and performs other duties as assigned by the Director, Deputy Administrator, or Administrator.

• Primary point of contact for all involuntary commitment inquiries via the Delegate phone line, dedicated email, and other communication channels as approved by the Manager;

• Provide appropriate consultation and guidance on MHPA, MH/DD, PA Code 5100, and related bulletin processes;

• Review petitions and issue or deny warrants;

• Work collaboratively with community crisis providers to prioritize diversion, offer support to petitioners and individuals, and coordinate the warrant service and other interventions through requesting dispatch of Mobile Crisis or other emergency psychiatric services (ex. 305);

• Serve as lead coordinator on warrant service;

• Track all data and information related to involuntary process in Dynamics (or other designated tracking tool);

• Ad hoc reports as needed;

• Other duties as delegated;

• Engage in supervision and case review and prescribed time by Director;

• Travel to partner agencies, hospitals, police departments, etc. to provide on the ground support, education, and review as indicated in collaboration with Director;

• To note:  the Commitment Office is a 24/7 operation.   To ensure essential functions are met, schedules may shift as needed to provide uninterrupted coverage, including: evening, nights, weekend, and/or holidays.

Preferred Skills

• Effective interpersonal, verbal & written communication skills;

• Negotiation/conflict resolution skills; 

• Organization & time management skills; 

• Problem solving skills/techniques;

• Short & long range planning techniques;

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships; 

• Excellent analytical and planning skills; 

• Effective supervisory skills;

• Excellent presentation skills;

• Computer proficiency required for basic computer programs including but not limited to Microsoft Office, Word, Excel and Outlook.

Additional Notes

• Full-time position with 3 openings, day, night, overnight.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential and specialized duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Bachelor's Degree; Master's preferred;

• 2 years of professional experience in the field of mental health;

• Knowledge of the Mental Health Procedures Act, MH/DD Act, PA Code 5100, and relevant bulletins and case proceedings;

• Knowledge of modern basic principles and practices of management and supervision;

• Knowledge of current social, economic and health problems and resources as it relates to mental health;

• Knowledge of the structure, organization and methods of public and private mental health agencies and institutions;

• Knowledge of basic principles and methods in working with adults and children with mental health challenges;

• Knowledge of basic principles and methods in working with adults and children with criminal justice involvement;

• Knowledge of basic principles and methods to collect, review, analyze data;

• Ability to analyze and evaluate mental health program plans and operations;

• Ability to develop and coordinate mental health program plans;                                

• Ability to provide leadership and establish and maintain working relationships with public and private agencies, community groups, federal state and county officials and agency staff;

• Ability to plan and direct work of professional staff;

• Ability to make clear and pertinent statements;

• Knowledge of basic computers skills including Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; and talk and hear.  The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands or arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and depth perception.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.