Clinical Services Specialist

About the role

The primary responsibility of this position is to evaluate, fund, and monitor behavioral health services under the direction of the Associate Director. This role serves as a resource to contract agencies and community partners.

Responsibilities

• Provides guidance to contract agencies as needed to link individuals to appropriate treatment resources based on type and level of need.
• Oversees agencies providing forensic monitoring of individuals on conditional release.
• Provides guidance to courts and providers regarding forensic status of clients.
• Maintains current working knowledge of local community-based services, including out-of-county services and alternatives to hospitalization or placement of youth and adults.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for adult and youth clinical services.
• Maintains current working knowledge of local, regional, and state-wide crisis initiatives, services, and best practices.
• Works with courts, state and private hospitals, and community agencies related to involuntary commitments and probate orders.
• Oversees agencies providing gatekeeping for pre-approval of Board funds for indigent patients.
• Monitors and approves specialized services funding used for adults with inadequate resources and in need of placement at a higher level of care.
• Makes reports to the Board regarding utilization of these funds.
• Makes reports to the Board regarding utilization of state hospital bed days and Board-funded private psychiatric hospitalizations.
• Aids in resolving disputes involving psychiatric hospital admissions or discharges.
• Develops and maintains timely agreements with State and private hospitals and other organizations as necessary to assure continuity of care for adults.
• Serves as the Board's clinical liaison with Crisis Services for consultation.
• Reviews initial and renewal applications to assure quality and appropriateness of services by Health Officers.
• Serves as a backup Board liaison to the Inter-Agency Youth Council.
• Assists the Executive Team in system-wide Critical Incident response, especially incidents involving children and youth.
• Serves as a Client Rights Advocate. Receives and investigates complaints and grievances from clients and families. Responds appropriately and promptly to client complaints and grievances in accordance with Board policy and State requirements.
• Maintains current knowledge of client rights and grievance resolution practices and requirements.
• Participates in trainings when available to maintain current working knowledge.
• Serves as the Board's liaison for receiving complaints and concerns regarding Board policies related to compliance with privacy regulations.
• Receives complaints concerning Board compliance, or regarding privacy regulations, and provides information about matters covered by the notice of privacy practices required by 45 CFR164.520.
• Serves as a back up for youth services to the Youth and Family Clinical Director.
• Performs all other duties as assigned by Executive Director or designee.

Requirements

• License or certification requirements: LPCC or LISW or other acceptable job-related licensure.
• Possession of a valid State Motor Vehicle Operator’s License.
• Knowledge of: client rights; client and family grievance resolution practices and requirements; community mental health and addition recovery services; mental health and substance abuse program planning; community resources providing mental health and addiction recovery services; behavioral health system regulatory requirements; Ohio mental health and substance abuse laws and regulations; HIPAA law and regulations; forensic population and commitment processes.
• Ability to: organize work projects and manage multiple projects and programs; establish work priorities; develop and maintain effective working relationships with contract agencies, clients and family members and other job contacts; exhibit sensitivity and understanding to mental health and substance use issues; maintain confidentiality of confidential and sensitive subject matter; exhibit flexibility in work schedule and job assignments; maintain current working knowledge of changing mental health field; interpret and apply HIPAA standards to practical situations; demonstrate regular and predictable attendance and punctuality.
• Skills in: verbal and written communications; operation of computer; application of Microsoft Office software programs; word processing; preparing Board reports; operation of general office equipment.

Qualifications

The following illustrates an example of the level of education, training and/or experience that a job applicant may have to be qualified for this job. This is a general benchmark and is not considered an absolute required qualification. Rather, any combination and level of education, training or experience may qualify an applicant, provided the applicant successively demonstrates the ability to proficiently perform job duties and knowledge, skills and abilities.

• Master’s degree in clinical mental health or substance use counseling or closely related field and five years’ professional counseling experience with an alcohol, mental health, or substance use services agency.
• Experience planning and implementing mental health and substance abuse programming.

Skills

• Verbal and written communications.
• Operation of computer.
• Application of Microsoft Office software programs.
• Word processing.
• Preparing Board reports.
• Operation of general office equipment.

Benefits

Confidentiality of HIPAA and other confidential and sensitive information.

Pay

Salary is commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Normal office working conditions when working in the Board office.