Behavioral Health Specialist II

Job Description

Under the general supervision of the Team Leader/Program Director, the Behavioral Health Specialist I functions as part of a multi-disciplinary treatment team. As part of the team with shared caseloads, the Behavioral Health Specialist I assists individuals who have serious and persistent mental illness in their personal recovery by engaging with them in their setting and developing a healthy working relationship.

ESSENTIAL TASKS:

Provide counseling, treatment, rehabilitation, case management and support services in the community (homes, shelters, street), as part of a mobile multi-disciplinary team, to mentally ill individuals who have a history of decompensation and relapse as a result of poor follow through with outpatient treatment.
Provide clinical supervision to the Behavioral Health Specialist II and Behavioral Health Specialist III.
Assume primary clinical management responsibility for 10-12 adults with serious and persistent mental illness, who may also have a co-occurring substance abuse or other disorder, within the context of a 27 – person-caseload IMT Team.
Assist individuals in attaining or maintaining housing, employment, functional social relationships, and relief from psychiatric symptoms and side effects through medication management support.
Assertive engagement and provision of mental health services in the community where the service population lives. Approximately 80% of the workweek takes place in the community, such as streets, shelters, and residential settings.
Continuous responsibility (24-hour) for people enrolled in the ACT Team caseload through the use of a rotating emergency phone line.
Provide all services in a culturally relevant and competent manner.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date case records, including but not limited to progress notes, service plan and service plan reviews, assessments and contact logs within all-applicable regulations and guidelines.
Provide support and psychoeducation to family members, friends and other collateral individuals.
Provide referrals and engagement support for services not directly provided by IMT Team, e.g., medical services, participation in psychosocial clubhouses and self-help groups, vocational training and placement, etc.
Provide accurate and timely reports, within federal, state, and city regulatory and agency confidentiality guidelines, to other providers and agencies, e.g. housing, vocational, criminal justice, child welfare, etc.
Participates in individual and group supervision, treatment team meetings, case conferences, in-service training and other staff development activities as assigned.
Observes all applicable rules, procedures or laws regarding the reporting of incidents, including the reporting of alleged child abuse and neglect.
Perform other related duties as required and assigned by the Program Director.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Educational Requirement:

BA/BSW with CASAC

Experience:

A minimum of two years clinical experience working with individuals with serious mental illness, substance use, homelessness and criminal justice involvement.