Mental Health Specialist III - Multiple Vacancies

Rutgers University; Piscataway Township (NJ); Hybrid; USD 28,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Paid time off

Retirement benefits

Educational benefits

Life insurance

Employee discounts

Job summary

Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care (RBHC) seeks a Mental Health Specialist III for the Children’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Services within UBHC. This role supports crisis stabilization, coordinates with families and community agencies, and helps link aftercare services in New Jersey.

The position emphasizes rapid response, interagency collaboration, and accurate record keeping, with a hybrid work arrangement possible and a salary framework clearly defined by department guidelines.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of full-time mental health experience or 1 year with related college credits (substitutable).
• Two years of college in a relevant mental health, social, or human services field with 24 credits required.
• Ability to work with children, adolescents, and families in crisis contexts.

Responsibilities

• Back-up family dispatches by registering and PE applications with guardians during dispatch.
• Weekly collateral calls with families, professionals, and outside agencies.
• Promptly address service requests and refer to appropriate CMRSS staff.
• Assist in end-of-service contacts with youth/family and providers.
• Answer hotline calls from the contracted service administrator (CSA).
• Learn local agencies providing crisis stabilization and ongoing support/resources.
• Maintain client records and program logs in a timely, accurate manner.

Skills

Mental health experience

Crisis intervention

Job description

Job Category

Job Category Staff & Executive - Healthcare - Medical and Patient Services

Department

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.

Among the key duties of this position are the following:

• As assigned, 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.
• Assists in answering the hotline telephone calls from the contracted service administrator (CSA).
• 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.

FLSA

FLSA Nonexempt

Grade

Grade 177

Salary Details

Salary Details maximum salary is $55,598

Minimum Salary

Minimum Salary 27.550

Mid Range Salary

Mid Range Salary 28.050

Maximum Salary

Maximum Salary 28.890

Offer Information

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.

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

Position Status

Position Status Full Time

Working Hours

Standard Hours

Standard Hours 40.00

Daily Work Shift

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 Description

Union Description Teamsters 97

Payroll Designation

Payroll Designation PeopleSoft

Seniority Unit

Terms of Appointment

Terms of Appointment Staff - 12 month

Position Pension Eligibility

Position Pension Eligibility PERS

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.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

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 : 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.

Special Conditions

• Must be available to work on-call.

Posting Number

Posting Number 26ST1086

Posting Open Date

Special Instructions to Applicants

Regional Campus

Regional Campus Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS)

Home Location Campus

Home Location Campus Piscataway (RBHS)

City

City Piscataway

State

State NJ

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

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Do you have 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 ina 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?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have a valid driver’s license?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Are you available for on-call?
  • Yes
  • No

Required Documents

• Resume/CV
• Certifications/Licenses

Optional Documents

• Cover Letter/Letter of Application

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation with regard to your access to and/or your participation in the application and selection processes (for example, the online application process or interviews), please call 848-932-3973 or e-mail us .

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