Job Specification
Position Title:
Manager, Psychological Services
Job Code:
M1112F - Social Services45
Purpose :
To plan, implement and manage the provision of professional psychological and consultancy programs and clinical services in youth secure custody facilities.
To contribute to the establishment of facility psychological policies, practices and procedures.
To supervise and manage a team of staff in the provision of psychological services, and ensure effective case management procedures are administered.
Key Responsibilities :
Designs, develops and implements a complete program of psychological services. Reviews and evaluates programs and standards to ensure goals are achieved and relevance is maintained.
2. Provides oversight of clinical services including the clinical intake process. Ensures a streamlined approach is utilized and coordinates services between clinical and other departments for effective service delivery.
3. Provides management and professional supervision for an interdisciplinary treatment team. Assesses professional development needs and job performance to ensure professional standards are adhered to.
4. Provides psychological counselling and therapy, both individual and group
5. Provides consultation and coordination of psychological services in such areas as crisis intervention, assessment, and behaviour management.
6. Coordinates treatment and treatment evaluation projects and conducts research to evaluate facility programs.
7. Produces various reports for facility case management teams in the areas of behaviour management, transfers to other facilities, temporary releases, reviews, and other areas required by law.
Managerial Responsibilities
1 . Develops and oversees ministry strategic plans in the program area and provides advice and expertise to executive levels on issues impacting the OPS and ministry service deliverables.
2 Controls financial resources and reporting, develops the multi-year budget and resource plans. Leads business, financial, and results-based planning processes for Ministry programs/operations and services.
3. Builds organizational capacity through effective human resources development by authorizing recruitment activities, labour relations management, talent management, organizational design and succession planning.
4. Establishes and maintains strong working relationships with key partners and stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate information flow and identification of issues; presents and advocates the ministry's position at various forums.
5. Responsible for the overall compliance with legislative statutes, collective agreements, government and ministry policies, directives, guidelines and commitments related to programs and services.
Qualifications :
Requires registration as a Psychologist in Ontario.
Factors :
Knowledge :
Ministry strategic corporate directions, multi-year business and results based planning processes, and ministry service delivery models, to lead and manage a significant ministry program area, to determine program objectives and resource requirements and to ensure alignment of programs and projects with corporate strategic goals.
Government and ministry financial, administrative and procurement policies and directives to plan and manage fiscal and material resources. This includes reviewing and approving budgets, managing facilities, assets, and contract service providers, leading long range fiscal planning, providing regular financial reporting, and ensuring compliance with financial protocols, audit principles, directives and guidelines.
Human resources theories, principles, policies and collective agreements to develop organizational capacity which includes succession planning, talent management, organization and job design and labour relations management.
Project management principles and methodologies to oversee and guide the overall delivery of mandates and strategies.
Correctional facility security practices and their possible impact on programs and inmate behavior.
Psychological research methods and procedures for diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of residents.
Relevant legislation (e.g., consent to treatment, care and retention of records, Health
Disciplines Act, Mental Health Act, privacy legislation, Youth Criminal Justice Act Child, Youth and Family Services Act, Criminal Code of Canada) to ensure compliance in the provision of programs, services and interventions.
Program Responsibility :
Responsible for designing, implementing, coordinating and evaluating psychological programs for an institution/facility and assessing, evaluating and improving upon program design taking into consideration behavior of residents, availability of resources, changing needs, etc.
Responsible for managing a multi-disciplinary team in the provision of psychological services, and ensure effective case management procedures are administered.
Responsible for contributing to the establishment of facility psychological policies, practices and procedures within its program and in the communities it serves.
Analytical Thinking :
Assesses and evaluates individual cases, studying histories and clinical reports to determine the needs of youth in a secure setting.
Evaluates young person's behavior and provides consultative services, determining treatment, behavioural and risk management.
Evaluates the need for psychological interventions, crisis management, and the risk for suicide while monitoring residents' behaviors.
Evaluates programsj services, procedures and policies, and develops new ways to improve treatment.
Planning / Coordinating :
Leads and manages multi-year strategic business /program/service plans including the deployment of resources (human and financial) to deliver programs and services.
Coordinates and leads the planning and implementation of organizational development and complex change initiatives for the program, service, project or initiative.
Plans and coordinates multiple deliverables with external and internal stakeholders, partners and consultants.
Plans and coordinates psychological services with case management and treatment and facility programs.
Coordinates the work of an interdisciplinary professional team and psychological services and treatment of youth in a secure facility.
Coordinates treatment and treatment evaluation projects to ensure professional standards are maintained and conducts research to evaluate facility programs.
Leadership/Guidance :
Develops, builds and leads organizational capacity through positive and values based leadership, inclusive and engaged teams, and partnerships. Frames program vision and strategy for services, programs or operations.
Determines human resources and organizational needs for optimal performance and delivery of results and alignment with ministry objectives; leads talent management and succession planning; mentors employees; sets goals and performance standards.
Exercises managerial and strategic leadership accountability and authority in the areas of organizational design, recruitment and retention, talent management, labour relations and compensation related matters.
Independence of Action :
Reports to a senior level, Director or higher and works within broad parameters and the strategic ministry/branch mandate, legislation, and strategic goals and directions.
Exercises considerable independence and judgment in the development of program/service plans including delivery/implementation to meet government and ministry strategic business objectives and priorities and in the provision of advice and recommendations to the Executive Committee, which is considered authoritative, and informs policy and program decisions.
Decisions made and responsibilities undertaken are limited by written guidelines contained in provincial government legislation and statutes, standards of the College of Psychologists of Ontario, the Ministry's Statement of Ethical Principles, the Manual of Standards and Procedures and Institutional Standing Orders.
Exercises considerable independence and judgment in the establishment of psychological programs consistent with written guidelines, young person's needs, facility policies etc.; determines and delegates the amount of staff participation in the development and implementation of treatment programs; assesses and handles difficult staff and client issues.
Exercises considerable independence and judgment in handling requests from other agencies for confidential client psychological information, and assessing quality of staff reports released, in accordance with established professional standards and ethics.
Interpersonal/Communication :
Exchanges information with Institutional Department Heads and Senior Institutional Managers within the facility to improve interdepartmental efficiency.
Expresses specialized technical terminology and complex findings and ideas in clear terms when communicating with Ministry staff.
Discusses youth treatment matters with Provincial Psychology Advisory Committees when reviewing effectiveness of policies, programs, and treatment services; discusses policies and treatment of clients, referrals and programs with mental health professionals of other ministries, hospital administrators and staff.
Establishes collaborative linkages with university psychology departments and other Criminal Justice System partners to maintain currency with best practices, promote clinical internships, and facilitate research.
Physical Effort :
The majority of time is spent in a facility/institution with frequent opportunity to move about between office, facility, and consultation area. Occasionally, moves/lifts light objects such as case files and briefing materials,
Sensory Effort :
Requires intense concentration, observation and focused listening when conducting consultations and clinical services, monitoring changes in behavior and ensuring the safety of staff and residents.
Working Conditions :
Work is conducted within youth secure facility with exposure to erratic behavior, verbal abuse, and the potential for physical danger.
Requires working under stress during interventions and emergency situations.