PROGRAM COORDINATOR MENTAL HEALTH (State)

Code: 60555 State Competitive Range: P26 (FY 2027) Work week NL: FLSA exemptOvertime table (4A:3, Appx. A)

Salary: $83,582.01 - $122,831.91/year FY 2027 schedule (last updated 2026-07-27)

Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under the limited supervision of a supervisory official in a state department, institution, or agency, is responsible for assisting team leaders, and/or may act as a team leader; develops and coordinates the planning, and implementation of specific care, custody, and rehabilitation services for a group of patients and/or unique programs, within a section, unit, level, or department; promotes the concept of a functional unified level of services, normalization and advocacy; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Responsible for the administration and coordination of program activities for a specific division or level of consultation with team leaders, and/or acts as a team leader under the direction of a supervisory officer in patient care or rehabilitation.
• May coordinate and oversee the schedule of patient programming and treatment team efforts consistent with the treatment plan.
• Develops and coordinates existing programs and implements new programs in the areas of direct patient treatment, vocational training and development of social skills.
• Provides the technical expertise necessary in an ongoing environment which ensures the success of the total program, and monitors referrals for new programs and activities.
• May act as a principal advisor and assist in the development of all programs and activities within the assigned programmatic subdivision.
• Exercises shared responsibility for the formulation and implementation of program goals, policies, organizational structure, and approaches to the delivery of services.
• May coordinate the development of part and/or all interdisciplinary team functioning and provide leadership to ensure that everyone is evaluated, has an individualized treatment plan, and receives all indicated services from all disciplines of the treatment team.
• Assesses staff training needs and makes recommendations related to patient programming.
• Reviews local planning and development actions as they relate to institutional and community based facilities.
• Ensures the implementation of policies and procedures that maintain an environment conducive to the development of an adequate degree of personal adjustment for each patient within the programmatic subdivision.
• Undertakes line authority for the direction and coordination of an entire program through team leaders, interdisciplinary staff, and support functions.
• May establish criteria for evaluating individual programs and/or workshops, and assist in the evaluation process.
• May coordinate the evaluation of patient needs by level of functioning.
• Utilizes normalization techniques, therapeutic background concepts and other related conceptualizations of psychiatric treatment in the provision of the total care environment that provides for individual patient growth and development.
• Prepares and submits requests, and coordinates with the Business Office in the allocation and control of funds, particularly to the respective programs.
• May assess, develop, and implement an effective training program for team leaders and other staff.
• Prepares clear, technically sound, accurate and informative narrative and statistical information and progress reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations that impact upon the individual programmatic subdivision or the overall operation of the level, section, unit, or department.
• Acts as an advocate for patients when a need exists.
• Monitors timely production of the Master Treatment Plan (MTP).
• Schedules all treatment team meetings and ensures that all pertinent documentation is available to facilitate a timely treatment plan.
• Documents handwritten treatment plan into MTP database.
• Identifies, develops, implements, and communicates needs, goals and objectives of unit.
• Ensures life management meetings are conducted in a timely manner and facilitates timely communication between treatment team and direct care staff.
• Communicates with Associate Hospital Administrator 2, Management Assistant and/or other appropriate staff regarding performance issues with team members.
• Effectively resolves conflict and establishes a unit culture consistent with mission of hospital.
• Monitors the ward environment daily and reports problems to the Associate Hospital Administrator 2, Management Assistant and/or other appropriate staff.
• Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Education

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Social Case Work, Vocational Rehabilitation, Guidance and Counseling, Psychology, Nursing, Pastoral Counseling, Special Education, Art, Music, Art Therapy, Music Therapy, Social Science, Education, Sociology, Occupational Therapy or Recreation.

Experience

Three (3) years of experience in mental health in the field of social case work, vocational rehabilitation, guidance and counseling, psychology, nursing, pastoral counseling, education or other related allied fields.

License

Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of the theories, principles, procedures and techniques of psychology, sociology, and mental health and their application to specific programs.
• Knowledge of the problems which arise in the care, custody, training and rehabilitation of psychiatric patients.
• Knowledge of community support and service agencies.
• Knowledge of theoretical and practical problems which may arise in planning and directing a program combining the care, custody and rehabilitation of psychiatric patients.
• Knowledge of the support services necessary to supplement, facilitate, and maintain quality of care and treatment.
• Knowledge of treatment for team function and the integration of multi-disciplinary team process.
• Knowledge of the clinical and administrative provision of hospital and community psychiatric treatment programs.
• Knowledge of contemporary treatment processes relative to the provision of mental health services.
• Knowledge of the clinical professional disciplines and treatment methods as they integrate and interface in the treatment process.
• Knowledge of the spectrum of mental health programs which support modern treatment processes.
• Knowledge of the problems of mental health and the impact of other generic health needs upon patient and client functioning and behavior.
• Knowledge of the general programs, pertaining to the rehabilitative, care, custody, and treatment of the mentally challenged.
• Knowledge of the legislative rulings and federal, state, and local legislation which impact upon professional services in psychiatric and mental health settings.
• Knowledge of accrediting and funding standards, regulation and procedures as they apply to the mental health delivery system.
• Knowledge of the professional, clinical, and mental health treatment delivery system which are part of the total medical armamentarium of modern mental health services.
• Knowledge of verbal and non-verbal therapeutic concepts as well as non-traditional treatment methods.
• Knowledge of information systems, communication techniques, and documentation procedures.
• Ability to integrate all clinical treatment methods to provide quality care throughout a facility which is both reflective of, and responsive to, patient or client needs.
• Ability to organize, implement, and develop a rehabilitation program involving a wide range of disciplines and a variety of professional, technical, custodial, and clerical employees, designed to provide appropriate care, custody, training, and rehabilitation to the mentally challenged.
• Ability to work effectively with the supervisors, associates, subordinate employees, lead workers of other units, and with community persons concerned with mental health services.
• Ability to administer, evaluate, coordinate and integrate the Unified Services process to promote and facilitate a continuum of mental health service delivery.
• Ability to document clearly, and make technically appropriate evaluations and recommendations relative to the total care and treatment provided.
• Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Appointments may be made to positions requiring the language of the deaf, American Sign Language.

<b> - DEAF LANGUAGE SPECIALIST </b> (These examples of work are to be performed by utilizing the language of the deaf, particularly American Sign Language).

A Master's degree in any educational area specified above may be substituted for one (1) year of experience.

<b>SPECIAL SKILLS for DEAF LANGUAGE SPECIALIST:</b>

Appointees must be able to communicate effectively in the language of the deaf, particularly American Sign Language, sufficiently to perform duties of the position.

Appointees must possess a National Associate of the Deaf Certificate (NAD), Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Certificate (RID) OR National Interpreters Credentials (NIC).

The responsibility for ensuring appointees possess one of the above stated certifications rests with the Appointing Authority.