Behavioral Health Specialist

Overview

The main function of the Behavioral Health Specialist (BHS) is to provide behavioral and mental health support to Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)-trained police officers, operating as a specialized co-response unit (1 BHS paired with 2 officers). BHS’s will respond to mental health calls for service and provide wrap-around services. BHS’s will operate over the Midnight shift, 7 days a week.

This is appointed at-will position that serves at the pleasure of the chief.

• Provides crisis intervention, suicide prevention, information & referral, and brief supportive counseling to clients who call 911 and are in emotional distress and/or seeking information on available mental health services.
• Engages, assesses, and supports individuals in crisis by providing direct and indirect services utilizing evidence-based practices with mental illness and/or substance use needs.
• Develops case history of clients, provides wrap-around services, and implements individual treatment plans.
• Identifies individuals who may be at increased risk to themselves and/or the community through the completion of risk assessments as clinically appropriate (e.g. suicide, homicide, potential for violence, substance use, etc.) with dispositions and recommendations that are included in case management.
• Provides referral to mental health and substance use services, community resources, and other tools/resources for individuals with acute care need to link them to ongoing services.
• Maintains partnerships and active engagement in the community as well as staying abreast of all available resources in the community.
• Conducts community-based outreach with law enforcement and city departments, including the Housing Revitalization Department.
• Engages with and supports law enforcement to become better equipped to engage and assist individuals with mental illness and/or substance use needs.
• Coordinates efforts and resources between various homeless outreach and substance use disorder outreach teams.
• Promotes individual and group action towards individual growth and socially desirable goals.
• Maintains appropriate program databases and client, case, and public records.
• Reports project risks and outcomes to appropriate management channels and escalates issues according to project work plan.

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, Nursing, or Human Services, the Social Services or a related field.
• Two years related experience and/or training preferred, Licensure preferred but not required.
• Licensed Bachelor of Social Work may be accepted with appropriate experience.
• Bi-lingual preferred but not required.
• CAADC or CADC preferred but not required
• One (1) year of experience in social work in a recognized agency which includes responsibility for decisions regarding handling of individual client social problems.

• Knowledge of principles and methods of social work.
• Knowledge of legal requirements governing public social work.
• Knowledge of work of public and private social agencies.
• Skill in tactful and effective oral and interpersonal communication with clients, client associates, community organizations, human services agencies, and citizens.
• Skill in operating personal computers and common office software.
• Skill in crisis intervention.
• Ability to diagnose social cases.
• Ability to plan and execute treatment and secure client cooperation.
• Ability to perform crisis intervention.
• Ability to establish and maintain relationships with community organizations and human services agencies.
• Ability to work effectively under deadline pressure.
• Efficiency with data entry in various software programs.
• Familiarity with writing a petition and transport orders.