Behavioral Health Specialist I/II/III

County of Del Norte, CA; Crescent City (CA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid annual leave

Holidays

Retirement plan (PERS)

Health insurance

Job summary

The County of Del Norte, CA is recruiting for Behavioral Health Specialist I/II/III. The role involves delivering crisis intervention, assessment, and paraprofessional services in the Mobile Crisis Team and clinic settings.

Staff work seven days a week to serve children and adults with mental health or substance use concerns. Entry-level technicians begin with foundational duties, advancing with experience and training.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or GED with related college coursework.
• Experience: 2 years of full-time clinical or case management work in social services, mental health, or substance abuse.
• Behavioral Health Specialist II: 4 years of applicable experience OR 60 sem/90 quarter units with 30 in behavioral science plus 3 years’ experience.
• Behavioral Health Specialist III: 5 years of applicable experience OR a BA/BS in behavioral science with 3 years’ experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide crisis intervention and outreach services in the field and clinic settings.
• Perform assessment, case management, and evaluation to support service plans.
• Collaborate with psychiatry, law enforcement, and community agencies to coordinate care.
• Participate in training, quality assurance, and staff development.
• Guide and mentor entry-level staff and perform outreach to diverse populations.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Case management

Assessment

Community outreach

Collaboration with agencies

Education

High school diploma or GED

College coursework in Behavioral Science / Social Work / Human Services / Psychology

Bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, psychology or related field

Job description

The 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.

Salary for each level is as follows:

• Behavioral Health Specialist I: $1,995.19 - $2,199.70
• Behavioral Health Specialist II: $2,096.20 - $2,311.06
• Behavioral Health Specialist III: $2,202.33 - $2,428.07

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.

Detailed Work Activities

• 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.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: High school diploma or GED equivalent supplemented with college coursework in a related field such as Behavioral Science, Social Work, Human Services, or Psychology.

Experience: Two (2) years of full time clinical or case management experience working in a social services, mental health, or substance abuse-focused organization.

For Behavioral Health Specialist II:

• Minimum of four (4) years of full time clinical or case management experience working in a social services, mental health, or substance abuse-focused organization.
• or Successful completion of sixty (60) semester units or ninety (90) quarter units from an accredited college or university, which at least thirty (30) units in behavioral science, psychology, or related field in addition to three (3) years of full time clinical or case management experience working in a social services, mental health, or substance abuse-focused organization.

For Behavioral Health Specialist III:

• Minimum of five (5) years of full time clinical or case management experience working in a social services, mental health, or substance abuse-focused organization.
• or A baccalaureate degree in behavioral science, psychology or related field in addition to three (3) years of full time clinical or case management experience working in a social services, mental health, or substance abuse-focused organization.

Desirable Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in behavioral science, psychology or closely related field.

Special Requirements: Must possess and maintain a valid Driver’s license.

All County of Del Norte employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through State law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County of Del Norte requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Work related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

If assigned to the Mobile Crisis Team, must successfully complete any State required training prior to assignment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

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 additional:

• 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.

Selection Process

The County of Del Norte does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, sexual preference, or disability in any of its programs, activities, or hiring practices. All applications will be reviewed and those individuals with backgrounds most closely meeting the needs of the county will be selected for further review.

Condition of Employment

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, Del Norte County is required to verify, within three days of employment of any person, that he/she is: 1) a citizen or national of the United States; 2) an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence or authorized by the Immigration and Naturalization Service to work in the United States.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Del Norte County is an equal opportunity employer hiring employment eligible applicants. Disabled applicants who require special testing arrangements should contact the Human Resources Department prior to the filing deadline. In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, applicants must provide acceptable proof of identity or authorization to work in the United States. A thorough background investigation will be conducted prior to employment. The investigation may include reference checks, fingerprinting, credit check, driver history and inquiry to local, state and federal files to obtain criminal history information. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the selection process.

BENEFITS

The County provides a comprehensive benefit package, generous time off accruals, professional and personal development opportunities, and many positions offer flexible scheduling for work life balance.

Regular Permanent Full‑Time Employees: Eligible for a comprehensive range of benefits

Regular Permanent Part‑Time Employees: Eligible for select benefits on a prorated basis, depending on hours worked

Temporary Employees: Not eligible for company benefits

Paid annual leave:

Vacation: 1‑5 years of continuous service: 15 working days per year; 6‑10 years: 20; 11‑15 years: 25; 16 years or higher: 30. Note: Newly hired employees shall be entitled to use their accrued vacation leave subject to totally accrued hours available.

Sick Leave: 1 day of sick leave with pay for each month of service from the date of employment. Note: Sick leave may be used upon accrual.

Holidays: 13 working days each year.

Floating Holidays: 3 working days each fiscal year. Note: Floating Holidays may be used upon accrual.

Retirement: The County is a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) integrated with Social Security.

Group Insurance: County contributions for employee and dependent medical insurance with no‑cost add on dental coverage; County paid vision coverage; County paid basic life insurance; County paid emergency ground and air program services; County paid Employee Assistance Program; County paid Health and Wellness Program

Personal and Professional Development: Training and certification programs; Career advancement opportunities

Voluntary Deferred Compensation Plan: Employees may elect to have a percentage of their salary deferred for pre‑tax investment.

Del Norte County is an equal opportunity employer.

Contact:

Del Norte Human Resources
981 H St., Suite 250
Crescent City, CA 95531
(707) 464‑7213