Behavioral Health Specialist

 Position Summary                                                                                                                                         

The Behavioral Health Specialist provides primary community support/case management to mentally ill, homeless, and substance abuse Sea Mar clients. This person participates actively as a team member in the delivery of client services, and the coordination of community support services. This job description does not suggest or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. Minor variations in duties will vary depending to what department the Behavioral Health Specialist is assigned. The person in this position will be required to follow other instructions and to perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

 Duties and Responsibilities                                                                                                              

As a mission-driven organization, the core values of, and the services offered at Sea Mar are based on the belief that everyone deserves to be respectfully treated in a way that preserves dignity and enhances self-worth. Sea Mar is an advocate for its clients and aims to achieve industry-leading, client-centered, culturally-aware services.

Sea Mar employees serve as an extension of this mission and demonstrate their commitment to an excellent client experience by:

• Understanding and empathizing with client needs
• Surpassing client expectations
• Demonstrating a high level of integrity
• Exhibiting compassion and commitment
• Advocating for social justice
• Taking pride in individual work as well as that of the team
• Continually learning to stay current with industry standards, best practices and technology

As a Sea Mar employee, the individual in this position commits to adherence to these values to their utmost ability and endeavors to strengthen and embody this mission daily.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.

• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span.
• Able to identify and categorize each patient’s age-specific grouping of needs, such as those for infant, adolescent, or geriatric patients.
• Conducts intake screenings to determine client’s need for case management. Interviews client, (either in home or at clinic) performing systematic social services assessment to determine current status and needs in a variety of areas. Makes a Client Service Plan with each client for each activity that will be done with the client.
• Makes referrals, based on identified need, to appropriate agencies/services or provides information and assists client for self-referral.
• Maintains regular contact with client, including home visits, and provides advocacy as needed to encourage cooperation in implementing the Service Plan or to resolve problems which are interfering with active participation in plan (such as transportation or language barrier).
• Maintains files that document case management activities as required by the State and the clinic.
• Assists client in accomplishing necessary tasks in accessing services such as filling out appropriate forms, obtaining necessary documentation or authorization and finding transportation.
• Participates in regular interdisciplinary team case reviews.
• Will promote a positive team approach. Team member will collaborate with all staff members to provide comprehensive services that are individualized to best serve each client and will welcome and orient all new staff and visitors in a positive manner.
• Maintains professional standards and follows the treatment policies and procedures of the agency, as well as applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Completes daily record keeping as directed by the Program Manager. Reports any unusual incidents to the Program Manager. As the Behavioral Health Specialist is a State mandated reporter, he/she will report to the State any suspected case of child/elder abuse or neglect as mandated by WAC.
• Observes and assesses clients’ basic needs, strengths and weaknesses, and refers client to appropriate department as needed.
• Participates in supervision as directed and provided.

 Qualifications                                                                                                                                   

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The person in this position must be of good character and able to maintain the understanding, physical health, emotional stability and personality suited to meet the physical, mental, emotional, and social needs of the population served.
• This person must have the capacity to establish a liaison relationship with community resources and provide outreach service to clients.
• Must have good organizational and communication skills.
• Demonstrate professionalism and appropriate boundaries in all interactions.
• The candidate must demonstrate respect and appreciation for diversity and have an understanding of the community system.
• The Behavioral Health Specialist must have demonstrated experience with, and the ability to form and maintain effective relationships with clients, team members, and community providers.
• Ability to work in a team.

• Disposition to receive and give constructive criticism.
• The person in this position shall have no history or evidence of alcohol or other drug misuse for a period of three (3) years immediately prior to the date of employment at Sea Mar, and no misuse of alcohol or other drugs while employed at this center. This individual cannot be a person who has been convicted of a felony within the last seven years, or has ever been convicted of child abuse and/or any crime involving physical harm to another person nor be a perpetrator of substantiated child abuse.
• Able to use one’s own car daily in carrying out the job.
• Must complete an annual clinical competency test as a Behavioral Health Specialist.
• The Behavioral Health Specialist must sign a permanent oath of confidentiality covering all patient related information.
• This person must pass a background check.

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LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Bilingual: Fluent in Spanish and English, proficient in reading and writing in both languages.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

 Education and Experience, Certificates, Licenses, Registrations, and Medical Screening        

EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE

• Must have an Associate’s degree in Behavioral Health, Health Sciences, or related field, and two years of closely related work experience is required. Appropriate work experience may be substituted for the degree.
• Must be eligible for Agency Affiliated Counselor Registration from the State Department of Health. Must have an active Agency Affiliated license within 90 days of hire.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must have and maintain a current TB test.
• Valid State Driver’s license.
• Annual influenza vaccine required. Only exception is for employees with a medical or religious exemption approved by Administration. Employees with an approved medical or religious exemption must wear a mask at all time during the flu season.