Behavioral Health Specialist

SUMMARY: Provide medically necessary clinical services to individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders as indicated on individual’s treatment plan.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:

Service Delivery:

• Conduct substance use treatment intakes and assessments. Determine medical necessity for substance use treatment including screening for detoxification needs, providing diagnostic evaluation of substance use disorders, and evaluating placement within ASAM criteria.
• Develop collaborative strength based treatment plans incorporating relevant treatment interventions indicated by substance use assessment.
• Provide trauma-informed culturally responsive individual clinical services including case management. Act assertively to include and engage family members as partners in treatment.
• Apply evidence based group practices in educational, skills, and relapse prevention groups using agency approved curriculum.
• Produce accurate strength-based documentation demonstrating clinical knowledge that is in alignment with agency protocols and payor regulations. Utilize collaborative documentation to elicit patient engagement and recovery based language.

Team

• Participate and engage positively in clinical supervision. Work to resolve conflicts effectively and participate actively in clinical development plans.

• Establish and sustain positive team relationships. Collaborating with team, family, and community partners to support flexible patient directed care.
• Participate in staff meetings and provide clinical consultation within scope of practice.
• Travel to community-based meetings and for patient support at other locations.
• Achieve outcomes using methods that align with CODA’s mission and values:

• Communicate accurately and positively about recovery and the use of evidence-based treatments.
• Use data and science to identify barriers, overcome obstacles, and inform decisions.
• Be financially responsible; avoid waste, document accurately, seek new opportunities to serve.
• Demonstrate compassion and respect for others.

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS:

• Participate in special projects and trainings as assigned.
• Assist with short-term coverage for additional clinical and administrative duties where needed.
• Collect urinalysis samples from patients.
• Train and/or mentor other team members as assigned.
• Provide outreach and education to community partners as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position may provide work guidance for support staff.

REQUIRED

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience in a similar or closely-related role.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Criminal Justice or closely related area of study OR Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Criminal Justice, or closely related area of study
• A minimum of 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of coursework in some or all of the following courses: elemental/intro psychology, social psychology/sociology, human behavior, development or biology, statistics/research methods, substance misuse, criminogenic/forensic, psychopharmacology or neuroscience, cognitive development and/or communication; behavior modification, or cultural practices.

COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:

• Has advanced knowledge of and is able to effectively apply advanced principles of motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma informed care, and similar strategies for facilitating recovery and empowerment.
• Must demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively, understand mental status concepts, symptomology, treatment and service terminology and apply each of these concepts, implement skills development strategies, and identify, implement and coordinate the services and supports identified in a treatment plan.
• Ability to engage patients in service oriented treatment plans and determine clinically relevant substance use treatment interventions.
• Ability to utilize both oral and written communications skills to effectively communicate with patients, co-workers, community resources, supervisors, and various other individuals encountered in the course of performing work while maintaining patient confidentiality…