What are the responsibilities and job description for the Behavioral Health Specialist I/II position at County of Del Norte, CA?
JOB
Bi-weekly Salary: Behavioral Health Specialist I: $1,800.22 - $2,162.35Behavioral Health Specialist II: $1,884.24- $2,264.46Behavioral Health Specialist III: $1,972.44 - $2,371.70The Del Norte County Behavioral Health Branch is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Behavioral Health Specialist I/II/III. This position is classified as Full-time. Under supervision performs a wide variety of routine to complex mental health tasks in the delivery of services, crisis intervention and medication support services; to provide outreach emergency services in crisis situations. This work consists of routine to complex paraprofessional duties at an entry to journey level.Behavioral Health Specialist I is the first working level in this skilled class and are assigned mental health work which may be complex and demanding with a high level of responsibility for client outcome. The entry level is assigned duties which will increase with training and experience. With additional experience and/or education incumbents may be eligible for advancement in this series.Behavioral Health Specialist II is the second level in this skilled class and is assigned to increasingly more complex mental health duties with limited supervision. Employees advanced to this level have demonstrated the ability to increase their responsibility over an extended period of time with an increase through experience and education.Behavioral Health Specialist III is the third and final working level in this skilled class and is assigned paraprofessional, complex services under minimal supervision. Employees in this class may be responsible for training other entry level paraprofessionals. A complex level of interagency contact and client responsibility is required. Employees advanced to this level in the series have demonstrated the ability to adequately fulfill the responsibilities over an extended period of time with an increase through experience and education.Behavioral Health Specialists may be assigned to the Mobile Crisis Team which requires that an employee successfully complete State-approved crisis training. When assigned to the mobile crisis and mobile evaluation team and under direction, team members shall provide community-based crisis intervention services for children and adult populations with mental health and/or substance abuse diagnoses which includes direct client contact in the community, partnering with law enforcement, crisis intervention, field clinical assessments, outreach services, and other related duties as assigned. Work is performed seven days a week, 24-hrs a day and 365 days per year, and assignment locations may vary in order to best serve the community.The Mobile Crisis Team assignment is distinguished in that the non-Mobile Crisis Team Behavioral Health Specialist I/II/III typically provides clinical and case management services to clients in a clinic setting, whereas, the Behavioral Health Specialist I/II/III assigned to the Mobile Crisis Team works primarily in the field responding to crisis calls to de-escalate situations involving the most vulnerable populations in the community.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Essential job duties may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. The list that follows is not intended as a comprehensive list; it is intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed, and may be required to perform additional, position-specific tasks.Provides psychiatric work involving children and adults that includes rehabilitation counseling on an individual, group or family basis.Evaluates patients in a variety of settings including field situations for development of service plans and serves as plan coordinator when required.Serves as member of the quality improvement/multidisciplinary team providing critical input relating to patient diagnosis and recommended service plans.Participates in case conference and consults with psychiatric staff to review patient cases and medication issues.Evaluates patients for voluntary and involuntary commitment and signs commitment documents for clients requiring hospitalization when necessary.Prepares detailed patient record documentation and maintains case records, including intake and referral plans, progress notes, child and adult clinical assessments.Serves as staff to the adult day rehabilitation program or other services.Serves as staff to the access coordination team providing a wide range of crisis and evaluative services including performing triage.Performs educational services to specific patients or segments of the mental health population.Provides community training for groups and public in areas such as parenting, addressing combative clients, etc.Provides training and support for assigned staff or volunteers.Participates in quality assurance and peer review functions.Essential Duties of employees assigned to the Mobile Crisis Team also include the following: Responds to crisis calls in the community to conduct clinical assessment, risk of harm, and determine appropriate level of care service and referrals. Initiates 5150's per County policies and procedures.Provides emergency assessment and referrals for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders who come to the attention of law enforcement through phone calls from community members or in-field law enforcement requests for emergency assistance.Provides field assessment, evaluation, and intervention for adults, adolescents, and children at risk of psychiatric hospitalization.Visits homeless encampments, shelters, and/or housing areas to distribute information on available resources and to deliver hygiene kits. Provides secondary support to clients in board and care homes to redirect or de-escalate a situation or provides education to board and care staff on how to appropriately manage residents.Collaborates with other departments and agencies related to crisis treatment planning; provides education and consultation services to Del Norte County departments and the community as assigned.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Requires Knowledge of: Principles and practices of community mental health treatment including interviewing, assessment and individual, family and group rehabilitation counseling.Laws and regulations related to patients’ rights, voluntary and involuntary treatment and commitment for treatment including the criteria for commitment under Welfare and Institution Code 5150.General psychiatric emergency intervention, diagnosis and referral to community resources and agencies providing services for the mentally ill or disabled.Medical record keeping and documentation for medical necessity.Ability to: Assess mental status of client and accurately evaluate and refer, including medication referrals.Present accurate and appropriate patient history and behavioral impression to psychiatrists for further review.Prepare detailed case summaries and documentation and maintenance of records to comply with local, State and federal rules and regulations pertaining to medical cases.Protect patients’ rights and provide advocacy for the mentally ill.Coordinate emergency psychiatric support service efforts with appropriate county, community, school and other involved agencies as well as professional mental health staff.Establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees, schools, referral agencies, physicians and the general public.Behavioral Health Specialist II: In addition to the above: Knowledge of peer review in the most current version of the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual (DSM) for performing diagnosis on all five axis with a general familiarity with the diagnosis manual for use in formulating diagnosis.Knowledge of basic principles and practice of presentations and training.Knowledge of conducting mental health education, prevention and training programs.
Bi-weekly Salary: Behavioral Health Specialist I: $1,800.22 - $2,162.35Behavioral Health Specialist II: $1,884.24- $2,264.46Behavioral Health Specialist III: $1,972.44 - $2,371.70The Del Norte County Behavioral Health Branch is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Behavioral Health Specialist I/II/III. This position is classified as Full-time. Under supervision performs a wide variety of routine to complex mental health tasks in the delivery of services, crisis intervention and medication support services; to provide outreach emergency services in crisis situations. This work consists of routine to complex paraprofessional duties at an entry to journey level.Behavioral Health Specialist I is the first working level in this skilled class and are assigned mental health work which may be complex and demanding with a high level of responsibility for client outcome. The entry level is assigned duties which will increase with training and experience. With additional experience and/or education incumbents may be eligible for advancement in this series.Behavioral Health Specialist II is the second level in this skilled class and is assigned to increasingly more complex mental health duties with limited supervision. Employees advanced to this level have demonstrated the ability to increase their responsibility over an extended period of time with an increase through experience and education.Behavioral Health Specialist III is the third and final working level in this skilled class and is assigned paraprofessional, complex services under minimal supervision. Employees in this class may be responsible for training other entry level paraprofessionals. A complex level of interagency contact and client responsibility is required. Employees advanced to this level in the series have demonstrated the ability to adequately fulfill the responsibilities over an extended period of time with an increase through experience and education.Behavioral Health Specialists may be assigned to the Mobile Crisis Team which requires that an employee successfully complete State-approved crisis training. When assigned to the mobile crisis and mobile evaluation team and under direction, team members shall provide community-based crisis intervention services for children and adult populations with mental health and/or substance abuse diagnoses which includes direct client contact in the community, partnering with law enforcement, crisis intervention, field clinical assessments, outreach services, and other related duties as assigned. Work is performed seven days a week, 24-hrs a day and 365 days per year, and assignment locations may vary in order to best serve the community.The Mobile Crisis Team assignment is distinguished in that the non-Mobile Crisis Team Behavioral Health Specialist I/II/III typically provides clinical and case management services to clients in a clinic setting, whereas, the Behavioral Health Specialist I/II/III assigned to the Mobile Crisis Team works primarily in the field responding to crisis calls to de-escalate situations involving the most vulnerable populations in the community.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES
Essential job duties may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. The list that follows is not intended as a comprehensive list; it is intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed, and may be required to perform additional, position-specific tasks.Provides psychiatric work involving children and adults that includes rehabilitation counseling on an individual, group or family basis.Evaluates patients in a variety of settings including field situations for development of service plans and serves as plan coordinator when required.Serves as member of the quality improvement/multidisciplinary team providing critical input relating to patient diagnosis and recommended service plans.Participates in case conference and consults with psychiatric staff to review patient cases and medication issues.Evaluates patients for voluntary and involuntary commitment and signs commitment documents for clients requiring hospitalization when necessary.Prepares detailed patient record documentation and maintains case records, including intake and referral plans, progress notes, child and adult clinical assessments.Serves as staff to the adult day rehabilitation program or other services.Serves as staff to the access coordination team providing a wide range of crisis and evaluative services including performing triage.Performs educational services to specific patients or segments of the mental health population.Provides community training for groups and public in areas such as parenting, addressing combative clients, etc.Provides training and support for assigned staff or volunteers.Participates in quality assurance and peer review functions.Essential Duties of employees assigned to the Mobile Crisis Team also include the following: Responds to crisis calls in the community to conduct clinical assessment, risk of harm, and determine appropriate level of care service and referrals. Initiates 5150's per County policies and procedures.Provides emergency assessment and referrals for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders who come to the attention of law enforcement through phone calls from community members or in-field law enforcement requests for emergency assistance.Provides field assessment, evaluation, and intervention for adults, adolescents, and children at risk of psychiatric hospitalization.Visits homeless encampments, shelters, and/or housing areas to distribute information on available resources and to deliver hygiene kits. Provides secondary support to clients in board and care homes to redirect or de-escalate a situation or provides education to board and care staff on how to appropriately manage residents.Collaborates with other departments and agencies related to crisis treatment planning; provides education and consultation services to Del Norte County departments and the community as assigned.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Requires Knowledge of: Principles and practices of community mental health treatment including interviewing, assessment and individual, family and group rehabilitation counseling.Laws and regulations related to patients’ rights, voluntary and involuntary treatment and commitment for treatment including the criteria for commitment under Welfare and Institution Code 5150.General psychiatric emergency intervention, diagnosis and referral to community resources and agencies providing services for the mentally ill or disabled.Medical record keeping and documentation for medical necessity.Ability to: Assess mental status of client and accurately evaluate and refer, including medication referrals.Present accurate and appropriate patient history and behavioral impression to psychiatrists for further review.Prepare detailed case summaries and documentation and maintenance of records to comply with local, State and federal rules and regulations pertaining to medical cases.Protect patients’ rights and provide advocacy for the mentally ill.Coordinate emergency psychiatric support service efforts with appropriate county, community, school and other involved agencies as well as professional mental health staff.Establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees, schools, referral agencies, physicians and the general public.Behavioral Health Specialist II: In addition to the above: Knowledge of peer review in the most current version of the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual (DSM) for performing diagnosis on all five axis with a general familiarity with the diagnosis manual for use in formulating diagnosis.Knowledge of basic principles and practice of presentations and training.Knowledge of conducting mental health education, prevention and training programs.
