Mental Health Specialist III - Multiple Vacancies

Rutgers University; Newark (NJ); Hybrid; USD 28,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, prescription drug, and dental

Paid vacation and holidays

Retirement benefits

Educational benefits for employee

Life insurance

Employee discounts

Job summary

Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care (UBHC) seeks a Mental Health Specialist III for the Children’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Services across New Jersey. The role supports crisis stabilization during the 8-week period, maintains contacts with youth, families, and providers, and ensures timely referrals and follow-ups to maintain continuous care.

The position emphasizes collaboration with CBH and NJ CSOC partners, field dispatches, and accessibility to services within the identified

Qualifications

• Must be available to work on-call.
• Strong communication and crisis intervention skills are required.
• Ability to coordinate with families, schools, and community agencies.

Responsibilities

• Supports family dispatches as backup team member with required registration and PE applications.
• Conducts in-person follow up meetings and collateral calls weekly.
• Responds promptly to service requests and refers to appropriate CMRSS staff.
• Assists with end of service contacts to youth, families, and agencies.
• Ensures courteous telephone contacts with clients and families.

Skills

On-call availability

Driver's license

Education

3 years relevant experience (mental health)

2 years college in mental health field

24 credits in mental health field

Job description

Mental Health Specialist III – Multiple Vacancies

Overview

Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care (UBHC), established in 1971, offers a full continuum of evidence based behavioral health and addiction services for children, adolescents, adults, and seniors throughout New Jersey. UBHC's 1,060 experienced behavioral health professionals and support staff are dedicated to treatment, prevention, and education. UBHC, one of the largest providers of behavioral health care in the country, has a budget of $260 million and has 15 sites throughout New Jersey. Services are readily accessible and include: inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, screening, crisis stabilization, family/caregiver support, community outreach and case management, supportive housing, supported employment, prevention and consultation, employee assistance programs, and a licensed therapeutic school from preschool through high school. Specialty services include the New Jersey suicide prevention helpline and peer help lines for police, veterans, active military, teachers, mothers of special needs children and child protective service workers. In FY2016, UBHC treated 16,199 consumers, had 24,502 admissions, and touched the lives of 19,441 individual callers through peer support. In addition, UBHC is the primary mental health training resource for the New Jersey departments of Human Services, Children and Families, and Corrections, delivering 16,000 trainings each year.

Posting Summary

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking a Mental Health Specialist III for the Children's Mobile Response and Stabilization Services within Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.

The primary purpose of the Mental Health Specialist III is to provide support to the Children's Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (CMRSS) program in the identified service area that meets quality and quantity standards within UBHC and the NJ Children's System of Care (CSOC); Provides support during the 8-week stabilization period through weekly contacts with youth/family, treatment providers /community agencies and other collateral contacts. Performs functions in support of the UBHC mission providing streamlined, prompt, and "consumer friendly" crisis response services. Receives telephone requests for service, supports in community dispatches, assists with referral process for time-limited stabilization services, monitors effectiveness of services and assists with linkages for aftercare. Demonstrates competency in recognizing the unique needs and applying relevant crisis stabilization approaches for children and adolescents and their families.

• Supports family dispatches as a backup team member completing required registration and PE applications with the legal guardian during the dispatch.
• Conducts in-person follow up meetings as needed and completes collateral calls on a weekly basis, responding to contacts with families, professionals, and outside agencies in a professional and cordial manner.
• Promptly responds to all service requests; effectively addressing identified problems and/or referring to appropriate CMRSS staff.
• Assist with end of service contacts to youth/family and treatment providers /community agencies and other collateral contacts.
• Ensures that telephone contacts with clients or family members occur in an appropriately courteous, helpful fashion.
• Acquires familiarity with agencies within the identified service area that provides services to children, adolescents and their families that can provide crisis stabilization services and provide ongoing support/resources for the family.
• Maintains client records and program logs in a timely and accurate manner.

Salary

Minimum Salary: 27.550

Mid Range Salary: 28.050

Maximum Salary: 28.890

The final salary offer may be determined by several factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate's qualifications, experience, and expertise, and availability of department or grant funds to support the position. We also take into consideration market benchmarks, if and when appropriate, and internal equity to ensure fair compensation relative to the university's broader compensation structure. We are committed to offering competitive and flexible compensation packages to attract and retain top talent.

Benefits

Rutgers provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. The specific benefits vary based on the position and may include:

• Medical, prescription drug, and dental coverage
• Paid vacation, holidays, and various leave programs
• Competitive retirement benefits, including defined contribution plans and voluntary tax-deferred savings options
• Employee and dependent educational benefits (when applicable)
• Life insurance coverage
• Employee discount programs

Working Hours

Standard Hours: 40.00

Daily Work Shift: Rotating

Work Arrangement: Consistent with the current application of Rutgers Policy 60.3.22 or the applicable provisions of relevant collective negotiations agreements, this position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Flexible work arrangements are not permanent, are subject to change or discontinuation, and contingent on the employee receiving approval in the FlexWork@RU Application System.

Union Information

Union Description: Teamsters 97

Payroll Designation: PeopleSoft

Terms of Appointment

Terms of Appointment: Staff - 12 month

Position Pension Eligibility: PERS

Physical Demands

Physical Demands: The employee frequently spends time prolonged sitting, talking and listening in groups as well as on the telephone, walks, bends, stretches, and pulls. Per program demand, may have to work long hours, travel within the State and lift up to 10 pounds. Must have the ability to drive and to complete contacts or respond to family crisis in the identified services area within one (1) hour when on call.

Work Environment

Work Environment: Handles phone requests under time and decision-making pressure. When in the office, generally pleasant working conditions in a clean well-lighted quiet to moderately loud setting. Varied when on outreaches to homes and community settings in the identified service area, with some neighborhoods being considered dangerous.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience

• Three (3) years of relevant full-time paid experience in the mental health field or one (1) year of full-time paid experience (part time and/or per diem experience may be substituted for the full-time equivalent) along with at least two (2) years of college majoring in a relevant mental health, social, or human services field, including twenty-four (24) verified credits in a relevant mental health, social, or human services field, such as psychology, social work, counseling or three (3) years of college majoring in a relevant mental health, social, or human services field, including thirty-six (36) verified credits in a relevant mental health, social or human services field, such as psychology, social work, counseling.

Certifications/Licenses

• Valid driver's license.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must be available to work on-call.

Location

City: Newark

State: NJ

Home Location Campus: Newark (RBHS)

Regional Campus: Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS)

Pre-employment Screenings

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings.

Immunization Requirements

Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals, if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate's offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we encourage all qualified applicants to apply. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement at the following web address: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/non-discrimination-statement