Position Overview

The Division of Mental Health is seeking to hire an Illinois licensed medical professional to provide psychiatry medical expertise for civil patient admissions at our State Operated Psychiatric Hospitals (SOPH). This position, in conjunction with the SOPH Administrator’s, will clinically supervise Medical Directors, Department physicians and staff assigned to inpatient civil unit programs and cases. As the State Mental Health Authority, the Division is responsible for assuring that children, adolescents and adults, throughout Illinois, have the availability of and access to public-funded mental health services for those who are diagnosed with a mental illness or emotional disturbance and an impaired level of functioning based on a mental health assessment. Service delivery in DMH is provided within five geographically organized service Regions, through 162 community mental health centers/agencies (called 'Providers'), 27 community hospitals with psychiatric units and seven state-operated hospitals, the latter containing both civil and forensic beds.

Job Responsibilities

• Serves as Psychiatric Medical Director for civil patient services.
• Serves as full-line supervisor.
• Provides direct consultation and supervision to civil unit psychiatric staff in state operated inpatient programs regarding best practices and care for patients.
• Provides psychiatric expertise to Medical Directors.
• Assists state operated facility staff in coordinating continuing education training relevant to clinical best practices.
• Provides input on civil patient matters to Departmental strategic planning, block grant planning and other departmental goal setting and plans.
• Attends court hearings.
• Assists the Chief of Clinical Services.
• Serves on behalf of the Chief of Clinical Services.

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires Illinois licensure to practice medicine and completion of an approved residency in Psychiatry.
• Requires three (3) years of substantive medical experience in clinical/medical program direction, planning and evaluation at an administrative level in a mental health setting.

Preferred Qualifications (In priority order)

• Three (3) years professional experience in developing psychiatric facility policy and procedural guidelines.
• Two (2) years professional experience supervising professional staff including psychiatrists, primary care staff, physician assistants, and/or nurse practitioners.
• Possess a valid Board Certification in Psychiatry.
• Two (2) years professional experience in the review and understanding of mental health codes, and various accreditation and certification bodies to develop facility policy and procedure.
• Three (3) years psychiatric experience in attending court hearings, testifying for civil admission hearings, petitioning for involuntary medication, and consulting with the legal community regarding medical legal issues.
• As a physician, has one (1) year of experience in collaborating with community agencies, state universities, medical centers and other state agencies regarding healthcare delivery initiatives or research.
• Three (3) years professional experience interacting with and communicating clearly and tactfully with a wide range of individuals, that may include state agency officials, court officials, correctional and detention facility officials, community service providers, advocacy group leadership, legislators, and/or members of the media.
• Two (2) years professional experience in coordinating continuing education training for physicians, physician assistants, and/or nurse practitioners.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires ability to travel.

• Requires the ability to meet all agency vaccine/health-related policies and guidance.

• Requires ability to pass the IDHS background check.

• Requires ability to pass a drug screen for drugs prohibited from recreational use under Illinois Law.