Program Assistant

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, known as "The HARRIS CENTER," is seeking an experienced Program Assistant to join our team. The Program Assistant utilizes a combination of administrative and secretarial skills to support the department. This position will interface internal and external providers and vendors. Primary duties include on-site coordination of facility maintenance, emergency response/disaster preparedness, supply/food purchasing and delivery, paraprofessional schedules/coverage, and liaising with external vendors as necessary.

The Program Assistant will respond to routine requests and use judgment and initiative (with supervisory consultation) to determine necessary response/action in non-routine situations. Your role in Action:

• Communicates and works with callers, patients, staff and visitors appropriately, demonstrating a professional, polite and culturally sensitive manner.
• Possess strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Works collaboratively with Agency stakeholders to fulfill requests and/or share the required information.
• Provides new paraprofessional staff with orientation and on-site training.
• Obtains the additional access required for on-site job responsibilities (i.e. med carts, lab access, and maintaining key counts) for designated staff.
• Maintain program databases and spreadsheets tracking admissions, discharges, census, and incidents.
• Coordinates duties and maintains accurate accounting on the following: facility repairs and work orders; ordering office and program supplies; and inventory control.
• Compiles and enters data for all paraprofessional leave time in KRONOS (i.e. enter work schedule) and ensures 24/7 paraprofessional coverage of the department.
• Complies with The Harris Center policies and procedures and contractual requirements including punctuality, attendance and access to the facility.
• Maintains staff and consumer safety.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Contributes to suicide care and prevention by embracing our values and applying a trauma-informed approach rooted in safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.

• High School Diploma or General Education diploma
• Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university preferred.

• 3 years related work experience
• Demonstrate the ability to deliver professional customer service in a collaborative environment with many stakeholders.
• De-escalation & behavior management experience preferred.

• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Access, Power Point and Outlook.
• Knowledge of HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules.
• Possess strong verbal and written communication skills, and interact effectively at all levels within the organization.
• Possess critical thinking, problems solving and listening skills.
• Must have well-developed interpersonal, organizational and collaborative skills with a desire to provide a high level of customer service.
• Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality of all work-related matters.

The Harris Center is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The Harris Center provides care to over 90,000 people and has an annual budget of over $300 million.

As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The Harris Center provides a full continuum of services at 80 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 40 different languages as well as sign language in order to better serve what is one of the largest communities in the nation.

By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,500 employees, The Harris Center is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.

• This posting is associated with position #1270.

The Harris Center not…