California Children's Services Chief Therapist (Health Services Manager, Senior)

CAREER DESCRIPTION

California Children's Services Chief Therapist
(Health Services Manager, Senior)

Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
This recruitment isopen to the publicfor a minimum of five (5) business days and will remain open on a continuous basis until 11:59 PM (PST)on the day the County's needs are met.

The deadline for the first round of considerations will be on Monday, October 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. (PST). Applications received after this date will be processed in the next round.
Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

This recruitment will establish an open eligible list to fill current and future Health Services Manager, Senior positions within this specialty. The eligible list established from this recruitment may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.

HEALTH CARE AGENCY
The County of Orange, Health Care Agency (HCA) is a dynamic organization dedicated to creating and supporting an environment that promotes the achievement of optimal individual, family and community health. Under the direction of the Agency Director, a new and dynamic executive team with an organizational structure comprised of five (5) service areas - Administrative Services, Behavioral Health Services, Correctional Health Services, Specialized Medical Services and Public Health Services - is committed to meeting the health needs of the diverse Orange County community.

THE PROGRAM
The California Children Services (CCS) is a statewide program that provides services for children and youths with special healthcare needs. These services include coordination of care with CalOptima, providing authorization for medical care, medical case management, financial assistance, and medically necessary physical and occupational therapy services to children and youths that meet various CCS and Medi-Cal eligibility criteria. The program is managed by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and is administered by local county health care departments.

Within CCS, the Medical Therapy Program (MTP) provides medically necessary physical and occupational therapy treatment services to approximately 2,000 physically disabled children in twelve (12) Medical Therapy Units located at various public-school sites throughout the County.

THE OPPORTUNITY
The County of Orange, Health Care Agency is seeking an experienced and highly qualified individual to serve as the CCS Division Manager, Chief Therapist.This position is responsible for leading the CCS Medical Therapy Program and providing strategic management and oversight of physical and occupational therapists, as well as the administrative staff who support program operations. The role of this position is critical to ensuring that therapy and case management functions are carried out efficiently and in compliance with state mandates, enabling critically ill children to receive medically necessary therapy services in a timely matter.

The Chief Therapist position serves as a liaison to public and private agencies in coordination of therapy services for children with physical disabilities, acts as a liaison to the Department of Health Care Services, plans, organizes, directs the CCS MTP and serves as a liaison to public and private agencies in coordination of therapy services for children with physical disabilities, and assures quality patient care and program compliance with State and Federal requirements.

Additional responsibilities of the Chief Therapistwill also include, but are not limited to:

• Manage approximately 100 CCS staff located at 11 sites, including oversight of a large medical/professional staff consisting of the Therapy Consultants, Supervising Therapists, Physical Therapist at the I, II, and III levels, Occupational Therapists at the I, II, III levels as well as all administrative support staff that work in the Medical Therapy Program
• Hire and provide oversight to the Medical Therapy Conference staff; Pediatricians and Prosthetists/Orthotists
• Provide oversight of MTP compliance with Medi-Cal Outpatient Rehabilitation standards
• Oversee and manage a $10 million dollar budget and allocation of program resources to ensure that mandated services are provided in a cost effective, client focused manner
• Administer and manage program operations, development, and accountability for program policy decisions
• Participate in the Department of Health Care Services Integrated Systems of Care Division committees, including the CCS Executive Committee
• Participate on behalf of the County in budget allocation discussions with DHCS to facilitate methods to assure equitable distribution of funds across counties
• Oversee dispute resolution issues including Medical Therapy Program appeals and fair hearings
• Serve as a liaison to external stakeholders including local hospitals and medical providers, CalOptima, Regional Center, Local Education Agencies, and State agencies
• Serve as a member of the Specialized Medical Services Leadership Team
• Assurance of program compliance with State and County laws and regulations
• Oversight of program Utilization Review standards to monitor program compliance with Medi-Cal and Department of Health Care Services regulations and quality of care
• Participate in the Southern California MTP Administrator Committee, Department of Health Care Services meetings, State Medical Therapy Program Durable Medical Equipment meetings, and Supervising Therapist conference calls
• Oversight of dispute resolution issues including Resolution of Conflict procedures and fair hearings for medical therapy cases
• Serve as a liaison to external stakeholders including CalOptima, Regional Center, Local Education Agencies, and State agencies
• Assure that the CCS MTP is aligned with the HCA Business Plan and Goals

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & CORE COMPETENCIES
The ideal candidate will possess seven (7) or more years of experience in the clinical practice of pediatric occupational or physical therapy, and five (5) or more years of experience in a supervisory and/or a leadership capacity.

In addition, substantial experience of public health and healthcare administration, including budget, finance, and program development is required.

The ideal candidate will also have extensive knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following competencies:

Professional and Technical Experience

• Understanding of and experience with the physical and emotional challenges of children and youth with special healthcare needs
• Knowledge of current best practices in pediatric occupational and physical medicine and rehabilitation
• Knowledge of the Whole Child Model as authorized in Senate Bill 586
• Managing and providing leadership and direction related to the CCS MTP
• Planning and preparing protocols and guidelines to meet local, state and/or federal mandates
• Developing and implementing solutions to improve outcomes and delivery of care, efficiencies, policies and procedures and seek best practices
• Knowledge of State mandates, laws and County regulations related to Public Health and occupational/physical therapy
• Ensuring fiscal integrity, accuracy of program expenditures and budget development
• Knowledge of HIPAA regulations
• Knowledge of healthcare computer systems and programs and proficient use of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Power Point and Outlook

Leadership | Supervision

• Evaluating the impact of change in processes, procedures, leadership, and program culture
• Resolving staff conflict in a constructive manner to minimize negative program impact
• Using tact and motivational techniques to maximize staff performance, assess training needs, and improve efficiency
• Encouraging and facilitating staff cooperation and fostering commitment and team spirit to achieve program goals
• Providing fair, unbiased, and effective leadership for a broad variety of personnel issues
• Administering discipline in a fair and consistent manner in consultation and collaboration with Human Resource Services (HRS)
• Clearly communicating expectations to staff, implementing policies and procedures consistently, delegating appropriately, and using accountability measures fairly

Oral and Written Communication

• Communicating verbally and in writing to convey complex information accurately and appropriately to different audiences
• Presenting information to stakeholders and public forum clearly and effectively
• Utilizing effective communication skills for team building, facilitating solutions, and resolving conflict
• Demonstrating diplomacy in dealing with a variety of stakeholder groups

Organizational and Analytical Skills

• Remaining adaptable and flexible while maintaining a focus on quality of care and services to the children served and the medical community providing the services
• Anticipating and identifying potential program problems and proactively generating alternative solutions
• Producing quality work within tight and stressful deadlines

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must possess a valid license as a Licensed Physical Therapist issued by the Physical Therapy Board of California OR a valid license as an Occupational Therapist issued by the California Board of Occupational Therapy by date of appointment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Click here to learn more about the minimum qualifications for the Health Services Manager, Senior classification as well as the physical & mental requirements and environmental conditions.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Human Resource Services (HRS) will screen all application materials to identify qualified applicants. After screening, qualified applicants will be referred to the next step and notified of all further procedures applicable to their status in the competition.

Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here(Download PDF reader) to review the policy.

Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer)
Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Structured Oral Interview | SOI (Weighted 100%)

Applicants will be interviewed and rated by an oral interview panel of job knowledge experts. Each applicant's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the applicant's qualifications for the job.

Based on the Department's needs, the selection procedures listed above may be modified. All candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedure.

Eligible List
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

E-MAIL NOTIFICATION
E-mail is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct e-mail address is included in our application and use only one e-mail account.
Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via e-mail through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your e-mail folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept e-mails ending with "governmentjobs.com" and "ocgov.com." If your e-mail address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

For detailed information on how to apply, click here.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For more information regarding this recruitment, please contact Mariah Cuellar at (714) 834-3179 or mcuellar@ochca.com.

EEO INFORMATION

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Administrative Management *
In addition to the County's standard suite of benefits -- such as a variety of health plan options, sick and vacation time and paid holidays -- we also offer an excellent array of benefits such as:

• Retirement: Benefits are provided through the Orange County Employees' Retirement System (OCERS). Please go to the following link to find out more about Defined Benefit Pensions and OCERS Plan Types/Benefits.
  http://www.ocers.org/active-member-information.
• Paid Leave: Twelve holidays per year plus sick and vacation time
• Health & Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts
• Dental Insurance: County pays 100% of employee and dependent premiums
• Paid Life Insurance: $100,000 life insurance policy
• Paid Accidental & Death and Dismemberment Insurance: $100,000 AD&D insurance policy
• Paid Short & Long Term Disability insurance programs
• 457 Defined Contribution Program

*Effective 07/01/20, management employees who are sworn Public Safety Managers receive health insurance benefits through the AOCDS Medical Benefit Plans.

Click here for information about benefits offered to County of Orange employees.

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• County of Orange

• 714.834.5315

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