Job Abstract

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.

• 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.

• 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, and the ability to apply them as appropriate.
• 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 (e.g. computer, fax, copy machine, scanner, etc.).
• Ability to use a smart phone for email, phone, and texting.

Educational Requirement:

Licensed as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) by the NYS Education Department preferred or Licensed as a Masters Social Worker (LMSW) by the NYS Education Department required.

Experience:

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