What are the responsibilities and job description for the BH/DS Behavior Specialist II position at City of Virginia Beach?
Job Duties:
The City of Virginia Beach Department of Human Services is seeking to hire a candidate who has experience providing outreach and support services to chronically homeless individuals with substance use and mental illness disorders for the Behavior Specialist II positions at the PATH program. In addition, the preferred candidate will meet the qualifications of a QMHP-A or a Peer Recovery Specialist and who demonstrates empathy, caring, and concern to bolster person’s self-esteem and confidence to establish rapport.
Responsibilities:
- Provide one-on-one services to chronically homeless clients with substance use disorder diagnoses.
- Assist clients with managing chemical dependency issues and promoting efforts for education and recovery and connecting them to some of their basic needs to including food, clothing, showers, laundry, transportation, identification, benefits etc.
- Use evidence-based practices, including motivational interviewing to engage substance using adult in knowledge of relapse; relapse prevention strategies; and developing a specific relapse prevention plan.
- Review and discuss stages of change to educate and help client understand the process/journey of recovery.
- Ensure documentation of client notes are entered into HMIS within 24 hours of client engagement/collateral contact.
- Provide life skills training to clients and collaborate with other agencies and stakeholders to coordinate and maintain services.
- Assist individuals, Stakeholders, and other agency providers of SUD services in outreaching and identifying individuals weekly with SUD's who can benefit from Behavior Health programs, such as, Adult Outpatient Services programs.
- Work with PATH by assisting and supporting the individuals during the intake and orientation process of Behavioral Health services.
- Provide Recovery Support groups at the Pathways Center, Housing Resource Center, and other Stakeholder locations each week and provide counseling.
- Assist individuals in obtaining services that suit the individual’s recovery needs by providing names of community resources and groups that may be useful. These resources could be but not limited to AA, NA, Al-Anon, and other recovery groups or organizations.
- Assist the individual housing options that might be available and helping with the application through move in process.
- Assist individual in scheduling and keeping medical/dental/medication appointments.
The City offers a generous benefits package, which includes health, dental and life insurance, retirement and savings plans, maternity/paternity and parental leave, holidays and Paid-Time-Off.
Official City Job Description:
https://virginia-beach-departments-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/city/job-descriptions-pay-plans/BHDS-Behavior-Specialist-II-01945.pdf
Working Conditions:
https://workingcondition-summary-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/G.040047.pdf
Minimum Requirements:
MINIMUMS: Requires any combination of education (above the high school level) and/or experience, equivalent to five (5) years in fields such as psychology or special education, which utilize the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Must have, or obtain, a current and valid driver’s license. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: All employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies.
Additional Requirements:
DMV Transcript: Required
CDL: Not Required
DOT History: Not Required
CPS Check: Required
Physical: Not Required
Respirator: Not Required
Polygraph Review: Not Required
Psychological Screening: Not Required
Attachments Required: Resume
Preferences:
Licensed QMHP-A.
Peer Support Specialist Certification.
Experience providing outreach or community-based services to individuals living with serious mental health, substance use or co-occurring illnesses, and chronic homelessness.
Experience utilizing substance use relapse prevention strategies and harm reduction techniques.
Experience with the stages of change and motivational interviewing techniques.
Experience with community resources for substance use, mental health, and housing.
Special Instructions:
This recruitment is open until filled. Applications will be reviewed regularly and position will close to applicants upon collecting a suitable pool of qualified applicants.
Please note this position is Grant-funded. Accordingly, the following information relates to this position. You will be required to sign a Condition of Employment letter upon hire.
1. The position is subject to the continuation of CIP, grant or Non-Profit Foundation funding.
2. Expiration of the grant or discontinuation of CIP or Non-Profit Foundation-funding for the position shall result in its elimination; at which time, you will be separated from employment. The City will provide as much advance notice as possible to you.
3. The City’s Reduction in Force Policy (6.11) does not apply to your employment.
4. All remaining policies, appropriate to your employment status, are extended to you with your compliance being mandatory.
- Please complete the application in its entirety and include your resume if required by the posting.
- Your responses to any "Supplemental Questions", if attached to this requisition, must be supported by the information you provide on your application and/or resume; or otherwise demonstrated during the hiring process.
- You will not be able to access the details of this job ad once the closing date has passed. If you would like to retain this information, please take a screen shot or print using your browser's printing capability.
VRS Contribution: All full-time employees are required to contribute 5% of annual salary toward their retirement account; in accordance with VRS retirement provisions. This will be handled through a pre-tax payroll deduction.
Drug Free Workplace: The City of Virginia Beach maintains a drug free workplace.
Salary : $47,804 - $74,096
