Behavioral Health Specialist I/II/III

About the role

The Del Norte County Behavioral Health Branch is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Behavioral Health Specialist I/II/III. This position is classified as Full-time.

Responsibilities

• Provides psychiatric work involving children and adults that includes rehabilitation counseling on an individual, group or family basis.
• Evaluates patients in a variety of settings including field situations for development of service plans and serves as plan coordinator when required.
• Serves as member of the quality improvement/multidisciplinary team providing critical input relating to patient diagnosis and recommended service plans.
• Participates in case conference and consults with psychiatric staff to review patient cases and medication issues.
• Prepares detailed patient record documentation and maintains case records, including intake and referral plans, progress notes, child and adult clinical assessments.
• Serves as staff to the adult day rehabilitation program or other services.
• Serves as staff to the access coordination team providing a wide range of crisis and evaluative services including performing triage.
• Provides community training for groups and public in areas such as parenting, addressing combative clients, etc.
• Provides training and support for assigned staff or volunteers.
• Participates in quality assurance and peer review functions.
• Responds to crisis calls in the community to conduct clinical assessment, risk of harm, and determine appropriate level of care service and referrals.
• Initiates 5150's per County policies and procedures.
• Provides emergency assessment and referrals for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders who come to the attention of law enforcement through phone calls from community members or in-field law enforcement requests for emergency assistance.
• Provides field assessment, evaluation, and intervention for adults, adolescents, and children at risk of psychiatric hospitalization.
• Visits homeless encampments, shelters, and/or housing areas to distribute information on available resources and to deliver hygiene kits.
• Provides secondary support to clients in board and care homes to redirect or de-escalate a situation or provides education to board and care staff on how to appropriately manage residents.
• Collaborates with other departments and agencies related to crisis treatment planning; provides education and consultation services to Del Norte County departments and the community as assigned.

Requirements

• Behavioral Health Specialist I: Education: High school diploma or GED equivalent supplemented with college coursework in a related field such as Behavioral Science, Social Work, Human Services, or Psychology. Experience: Two (2) years of full time clinical or case management experience working in a social services, mental health, or substance abuse-focused organization.
• Behavioral Health Specialist II: A minimum of four (4) years of full time clinical or case management experience working in a social services, mental health, or substance abuse-focused organization. OR Successful completion of sixty (60) semester units or ninety (90) quarter units from an accredited college or university, which at least thirty (30) units in behavioral science, psychology, or related field in addition to three (3) years of full time clinical or case management experience working in a social services, mental health, or substance abuse-focused organization.
• Behavioral Health Specialist III: A minimum of five (5) years of full time clinical or case management experience working in a social services, mental health, or substance abuse-focused organization. OR A baccalaureate degree in behavioral science, psychology or related field in addition to three (3) years of full time clinical or case management experience working in a social services, mental health, or substance abuse-focused organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, psychology or closely related field in addition to three (3) years of full time clinical or case management experience working in a social services, mental health, or substance abuse-focused organization.

Skills

• Knowledge of principles and practices of community mental health treatment including interviewing, assessment and individual, family and group rehabilitation counseling.
• Laws and regulations related to patients’ rights, voluntary and involuntary treatment and commitment for treatment including the criteria for commitment under Welfare and Institution Code 5150.
• General psychiatric emergency intervention, diagnosis and referral to community resources and agencies providing services for the mentally ill or disabled.
• Medical record keeping and documentation for medical necessity.
• Ability to assess mental status of client and accurately evaluate and refer, including medication referrals.
• Present accurate and appropriate patient history and behavioral impression to psychiatrists for further review.
• Prepare detailed case summaries and documentation and maintenance of records to comply with local, State and federal rules and regulations pertaining to medical cases.
• Protect patients’ rights and provide advocacy for the mentally ill.
• Coordinate emergency psychiatric support service efforts with appropriate county, community, school and other involved agencies as well as professional mental health staff.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees, schools, referral agencies, physicians and the general public.
• In addition to the above: Knowledge of peer review in the most current version of the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual (DSM) for performing diagnosis on all five axis with a general familiarity with the diagnosis manual for use in formulating diagnosis.
• Knowledge of basic principles and practice of presentations and training.
• Knowledge of conducting mental health education, prevention and training programs.

Benefits

Not specified.

Pay

• Behavioral Health Specialist I: $1,995.19 - $2,199.70
• Behavioral Health Specialist II: $2096.20 - $2,311.06
• Behavioral Health Specialist III: $2202.33 - $2,428.07

Schedule

Work is performed seven days a week, 24-hrs a day and 365 days per year, and assignment locations may vary in order to best serve the community.

Mobile Crisis Team Assignment

• Employees assigned to the Mobile Crisis Team also include the following:
• Responds to crisis calls in the community to conduct clinical assessment, risk of harm, and determine appropriate level of care service and referrals.
• Initiates 5150's per County policies and procedures.
• Provides emergency assessment and referrals for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders who come to the attention of law enforcement through phone calls from community members or in-field law enforcement requests for emergency assistance.
• Provides field assessment, evaluation, and intervention for adults, adolescents, and children at risk of psychiatric hospitalization.
• Visits homeless encampments, shelters, and/or housing areas to distribute information on available resources and to deliver hygiene kits.
• Provides secondary support to clients in board and care homes to redirect or de-escalate a situation or provides education to board and care staff on how to appropriately manage residents.
• Collaborates with other departments and agencies related to crisis treatment planning; provides education and consultation services to Del Norte County departments and the community as assigned.