BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALIST

The salary for this position is: $5,405 – $7,189 monthly.

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is recruiting for a Behavioral Health Specialist for the Parent Child Health Program within our Community Wellness Division.

The Parent Child Health Program at PHSS aims to reduce health inequalities and improve public health by providing underserved and vulnerable populations with high-quality, trauma-informed resources. As a Behavioral Health Specialist, you will be responsible for independently providing professional behavioral health services, working in collaboration with the Parent Child Health team and client to address the mental and emotional concerns of clients. In this role, you will also provide crisis and behavioral health assessments, case management, personalized treatment plans, and critical counseling and intervention during initial psychosocial assessments to address immediate concerns such as homelessness, lack of food, chemical addiction, and family violence.

Essential functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide behavioral health services in the areas of behavioral management and health, working independently to manage a caseload, assess crises and/or behavioral health issues, and monitor treatments and interventions following regulations and protocols
• Evaluate, assess, counsel, treat, and monitor multiple clients, delivering professional behavioral health care
• Establish client relationships, assess service needs, make referrals as necessary, and coordinate or obtain care with other agencies
• Apply a broad range of therapeutic supports to individuals, families, and groups, and oversee the development and delivery of treatment services
• Perform crisis intervention, assessment, and evaluation
• Organize, coordinate, and occasionally audit behavioral health medical records, applying established policies, procedures, and protocols
• Complete thorough and timely documentation of treatment services in compliance with all Department policies and procedures
• Participate in regular staff meetings and case conferencing
• Perform other work as required or assigned, including, but not limited to, a 24/7 response during public health emergency situations and disease outbreak investigations

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work Environment: Behavioral Health Specialist duties are primarily performed indoors in client homes, offices, or other community settings and may be occasionally exposed to hot/cold temperatures. Incumbents must have sufficient mobility to access the various work and field locations during the day and after dark. Tasks may require the incumbent to spend moderate periods of time sitting, driving, keyboarding, and walking; some settings may require the ability to climb stairs. Occasional lifting and carrying up to 20 pounds may be required.
• Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm, with the potential option of alternative or compressed schedules
• Travel Requirements: Travel throughout the local area and attending community meetings is required
Customer Interactions: Daily interactions with Thurston County staff and the public

WHO WE ARE:

Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) is Thurston County’s local health jurisdiction and human services department and is responsible for protecting the health and promoting the well-being of all people who live, work, and play in Thurston County. We value diversity and strive to foster a sense of belonging, honoring the unique experiences, cultures, skills, backgrounds, identities, and perspectives of our employees and community. As an agency actively working to address health equity, we aspire for everyone to have the opportunity to attain their highest level of health, regardless of their individual circumstances.

Thurston County values the diversity of the people it hires and serves. Inclusion to us means fostering a workplace in which individual differences are recognized, appreciated, and responded to in ways that fully develop and utilize each person’s talents and strengths. We are dedicated to recruiting and developing a talented workforce from various cultures, lifestyles, backgrounds, and perspectives who are committed to our vision and core values.

HAT WE OFFER OUR EMPLOYEES:

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
• Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn paid vacation in addition to paid holidays .
• Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage our staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Flexible Work Schedules: Some of the options that employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• Deferred Compensation: The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA ) : Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
  

Why you’ll love it here: Thurston County is located between Seattle and Portland in Western Washington’s South Puget Sound Region. Perched between the mountains and the ocean, the area boasts the perfect blend of year-round outdoor activities including boating, hiking, skiing, and more. The region is also home to the state capital city of Olympia, known for its many restaurants, microbreweries, coffee shops, farmers markets, kids’ activities, history, and art events. Discover more about life in Thurston County at Experienceolympia.com .

Message to potential applicants: We understand that some potential applicants are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the functions or skills listed in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and we understand that may be someone who will learn some of these skills on the job. If you are interested in this position, and meet the minimum qualifications, we encourage you to go ahead and apply! Feel free to think about how you will bring your own set of skills to the role and tell us about the potential that you hold.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, or related field and two (2) years of relevant experience. Any equivalent combination of experience and education that provides the applicant with the desired knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work may be considered.
• Depending upon the area of assignment, a specialized certification or accreditation may be required of the position.
• Demonstrated ability to work with low-income clients, alternative lifestyles, and individuals facing crises related to pregnancy and/or parenting.
Washington State Driver’s License or have an appropriate accommodation.

DESIRED SKILLS:

The ideal candidate has the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling psychology, or related field
• Licensure (associate or full) as a psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, mental health professional, licensed mental health counselor and/or mental health specialist, or related credential
• Demonstrated application of psychological, sociological, and psychiatric theories in practice
• Knowledge and experience in direct treatment of mental/behavioral health issues
• Knowledge of public health principles and practices within a regulatory environment
• Proven empathetic approach and skills that will help foster trust and build connections with those who require assistance, ensuring they feel understood and valued
• Understanding of community behavioral health, addiction concepts, case management, and treatment services
• Experience with behavioral health evaluations, assessments, and treatment
• Experience in developing case plans with clients, considering economic, social, cultural, physical, and environmental factors
• Strong crisis management skills in de-escalating tense situations and promoting a safe environment while maintaining a level-headed and composed demeanor
• Skill in aiding people in crisis to engage with services
• Strong judgment and decision-making skills when problem-solving
• Ability to assess and prioritize multiple clients, cases, and demands while organizing and managing workloads efficiently and effectively
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with diverse individuals and communities, and collaborate with agencies to achieve service goals or treatment plan objectives
• Skill in detecting the signs, symptoms, and behaviors of depression, neurodivergence, mental illness, other behavioral health issues, and substance use
• Understanding of child development principles and child-rearing methods, including functional and dysfunctional family dynamics
• Knowledge of abuse and neglect indicators, including sexual, emotional, and physical abuse in children and vulnerable adults
• Ability to demonstrate effective verbal, written, and presentation skills
• Proficiency in operating a computer with standard and specialized software
• Ability to comply with information management and client confidentiality requirements
• Knowledge of public mental health systems, veterans’ mental health systems, the Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA), and other related social service providers

Respect and Organizational Culture

• Create an environment where employees and partners can safely express needs or concerns and where employees can make and correct mistakes
• Effectively interact with sensitivity while working with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and lifestyles
• Thrive in a fast-paced, robust organization maintaining a positive work environment

Communication

• Serve the public in a timely, complete, accurate, and professional manner while ensuring that written and verbal communication is clearly understood by others
• Maintain cultural competency to support diverse perspectives in developing, implementing, and evaluating policies, programs, and services that affect the health of the community
• Strong oral communication for networking and interpersonal relationships
• Excellent written communication including the ability to craft correspondence, reports, and articles or web postings with minimal grammatical and syntax errors

Goal Setting and Accomplishment

• Use strategic thinking and planning for goal setting and evaluation
• Effectively plan, organize, and manage competing priorities and challenges under pressure
• Create a sense of mission by articulating and modeling confidentiality, professional values, and ethics with honesty and integrity
• Operate with a high degree of flexibility, initiative, attention to detail, and commitment
Delegate and use persuasion and negotiating skills for shared responsibility and acceptance of change

OTHER RELATED RECRUITMENT INFORMATION:

Questions about this recruitment? Please contact the hiring team at: PHSS_Hiring@co.thurston.wa.us or (360) 867-2569

This position is:

• Represented by a union
• Eligible for benefits
• Eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• Contingent on the ability to pass a criminal background check
• Grant funded

Items required for consideration:

• Application
• Resume
• Letter of interest
• Applicant Disclosure Form (Pursuant to RCW Section 43.43.830) (Supplemental Questions 1-6)
• Please note: The candidate selected for this position is required to show proof of the following immunizations by their agreed upon start date:
  • Measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
  • Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap/TD)
  Baseline tuberculosis screening (required of all new employees who are healthcare personnel, work in healthcare areas or who have contact with patients/clients as part of their normal duties; must be completed no earlier than three months prior to starting work)
  

Please note: Information in this announcement is subject to change without notice at any time during the length of the job advertisement.

THURSTON COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Thurston County is committed to provide equal opportunity to all persons seeking or having access to its employment, services and activities, which is free from restriction based on race, sex, marital status, color, creed or religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, pregnancy, status as an honorably discharged veteran or military status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, unless based upon bona fide occupational qualifications. Applicants with disabilities who need accommodation with the application or selection process should contact Thurston County’s Human Resources, at (360) 786-5498. Those who are deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing or speech impaired may use the statewide relay system to reach Thurston County offices and departments to conduct their business telephonically. Relay users can simply dial 7-1-1 (or 1-800-833-6388) to connect with Washington Relay.