Behavioral Health Specialist III IQ540303

Under the general supervision of the Team Leader / Program Director and the Behavioral Health Specialist I, the Behavioral Health Specialist III functions as part of a multi-disciplinary treatment team.

As part of the team with shared caseloads, the Behavioral Health Specialist III 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.

Once a working relationship is developed, the Behavioral Health Specialist III works in collaboration with the individual and the rest of the IMT Team, to obtain / maintain basic needs including housing, food and clothing, live safely in their community, address substance use issues, connect and monitor health care, obtain appropriate entitlements, facilitate psychiatric care, assist with vocational goals, and other recovery oriented objectives.

This position participates in the provision of crisis intervention services to participants 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the community.

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

• Ability to actively engage individuals who may be resistant to treatment, actively demonstrating symptoms of psychosis, and / or actively using substances
• Knowledge of evidence-based treatment modalities and symptom-reduction strategies.
• Ability to work as an active member of a treatment team. - Ability to communicate with internal and external stakeholders in a professional and culturally responsive manner.
• Ability to make sound clinical decisions in times of crisis.
• Ability to recognize strengths in individuals and use these strengths to assist in problem solving. - Ability to interact with consumers in a respectful and professional manner.
• Ability to integrate elements of trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, integrated care, and person-centered (TRIP) philosophies in all aspects of the work.
• Willingness to seek out professional consultation from the other members of the treatment team in order to achieve positive outcomes.
• Ability to type, use electronic health record systems, and Microsoft products including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of agency policies and program policies, procedures and functions.
• Ability to use modern office equipment ( computer, fax, copy machine, scanner, etc.). - Ability to use a smart phone for email, phone, and texting.

Qualifications :

Education : Bachelors in social work, psychology, mental health counseling, criminal justice, or other health and human services related field, BSW preferred.

Experience : A minimum of one year working with individuals with serious mental illness, substance use, homelessness, and criminal justice involvement.