<p>JOB SUMMARY:</p> <p>Under the general supervision of the Team Leader/Program Director, the Behavioral Health Specialist I functions as part of a multi-disciplinary treatment team. As part of the team with shared caseloads, the Behavioral Health Specialist I assists individuals who have serious and persistent mental illness in their personal recovery by engaging with them in their setting and developing a healthy working relationship.</p> <p>ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:</p> <ul> <li>Provide counseling, treatment, rehabilitation, case management and support services in the community (homes, shelters, street), as part of a mobile multi-disciplinary team, to mentally ill individuals who have a history of decompensation and relapse as a result of poor follow through with outpatient treatment. </li><li>Provide clinical supervision to the Behavioral Health Specialist II and Behavioral Health Specialist III. </li><li>Assume primary clinical management responsibility for 10-12 adults with serious and persistent mental illness, who may also have a co-occurring substance abuse or other disorder, within the context of a 27 - person-caseload IMT Team. </li><li>Assist individuals in attaining or maintaining housing, employment, functional social relationships, and relief from psychiatric symptoms and side effects through medication management support. </li><li>Assertive engagement and provision of mental health services in the community where the service population lives. Approximately 80% of the workweek takes place in the community, such as streets, shelters, and residential settings. </li><li>Continuous responsibility (24-hour) for people enrolled in the ACT Team caseload through the use of a rotating emergency phone line. </li><li>Provide all services in a culturally relevant and competent manner. </li><li>Maintain accurate and up-to-date case records, including but not limited to progress notes, service plan and service plan reviews, assessments and contact logs within all-applicable regulations and guidelines. </li><li>Provide support and psychoeducation to family members, friends and other collateral individuals. </li><li>Provide referrals and engagement support for services not directly provided by IMT Team, e.g., medical services, participation in psychosocial clubhouses and self-help groups, vocational training and placement, etc. </li><li>Provide accurate and timely reports, within federal, state, and city regulatory and agency confidentiality guidelines, to other providers and agencies, e.g. housing, vocational, criminal justice, child welfare, etc. </li><li>Participates in individual and group supervision, treatment team meetings, case conferences, in-service training and other staff development activities as assigned. </li><li>Observes all applicable rules, procedures or laws regarding the reporting of incidents, including the reporting of alleged child abuse and neglect. </li><li>Perform other related duties as required and assigned by the Program Director. </li></ul> <p>ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:</p> <ul> <li>Ability to actively engage individuals who may be resistant to treatment, actively demonstrating symptoms of psychosis, and/or actively using substances. </li><li>Knowledge of evidence-based treatment modalities and symptom-reduction strategies, and the ability to apply them as appropriate. </li><li>Ability to work as an active member of a treatment team. </li><li>Ability to communicate with internal and external stakeholders in a professional and culturally responsive manner. </li><li>Ability to make sound clinical decisions in times of crisis. </li><li>Ability to recognize strengths in individuals and use these strengths to assist in problem solving. </li><li>Ability to interact with consumers in a respectful and professional manner. </li><li>Ability to integrate elements of trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, integrated care, and person-centered (TRIP) philosophies in all aspects of the work. </li><li>Willingness to seek out professional consultation from the other members of the treatment team in order to achieve positive outcomes. </li><li>Ability to type, use electronic health record systems, and Microsoft products including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. </li><li>Knowledge of agency policies and program policies, procedures and functions. </li><li>Ability to use modern office equipment (e.g. computer, fax, copy machine, scanner, etc.). </li><li>Ability to use a smart phone for email, phone, and texting. </li></ul> <p>QUALIFICATION AND EXPERINCE:</p> <p>Educational Requirement:</p> <p>Licensed as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) by the NYS Education Department preferred or Licensed as a Masters Social Worker (LMSW) by the NYS Education Department required.</p> <p>Experience:</p> <p>A minimum of two years clinical experience working with individuals with serious mental illness, substance use, homelessness and criminal justice involvement. Supervisory experience preferred.</p>