VA Behavioral Health Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION: Behavioral Health Specialist – Veterans Program

DEPARTMENT: VA Services

REPORTS TO: Veterans Program Supervisor

FLSA STATUS: Salary – Non – Exempt

CLASSIFICATION: Full Time (40 HRS)

Shift: Monday – Friday (time will be discussed)

Work location: On-site

COMPENSATION: $46,000 Employee benefit package eligible for full time

PROBATION PERIOD: 90 – Days

PURPOSE:

The Behavioral Specialist is responsible for providing client centered counseling services and evidence based strategies that support program participants with their desire to end their current condition of homelessness; obtain employment; and to become stably housed. This position will support and provide services to Guests that reside in one of Gateway Center’s Residential Programs. The person in this position will provide mental health assessments and ensure linkage to other behavioral health care services. The position will work collaboratively with each participant’s residential program case manager to ensure that individual service plan accounts for any mental and or/social development issues.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Behavioral Specialist will be responsible for providing behavioral health support and the facilitation of psycho-educational groups. The Behavioral specialist will assist in preventing relapse in conditions that tend to recur over time. The Behavioral Specialist maintains an awareness of state and national health care trends and proactively responds with initiatives to enhance provision of care and ensure efficient resource utilization. The Behavioral Specialist works closely with the agency’s Case Managers, Guest Service Agents and Peer Specialists.

The overall goals of the position are to improve the client’s ability to access and comply with behavioral health treatment, become employable or gain access to benefits; and to identify housing options that support the client in being stably housed at discharge.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Conduct interviews, and screenings of prospective clients·
• Conduct assessment of clients’ behavioral health needs·
• Provide short-term counseling and evidence- based treatments·
• Working closely with clients to develop treatment plans and make referrals as needed
• Maintain complete chart notes; maintain confidentiality and adhere to all HIPAA policies
• Facilitate and lead groups and individual sessions
• Ensure all case records are current by documenting ongoing contacts through case notes
• within 72 hours, trainings attended, referrals, and resources offered
• Maintain complete and current documentation on all clients in required databases
• Submit monthly reports to supervisor
• Ensure all Behavioral Health resources are updates and accessible to program staff
• Participate in staff development and all required Agency meetings
• 3 weeks staffing of program vets
• GPD weekly treatment meeting (every 6 weeks for vets)
• Biweekly VACB treatment meeting
• Weekly VA floor meeting
• Support with scheduling VA appts (SATP, mental health)
• Working closely with GWC VA program staff, VA
• Liaisons and VA medical / FTM
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree preferred in social service field preferred ( i.e. social work, counseling, child and family services, human services)
• Strong organizational skills and commitment to substance abuse and disease concept
• focused treatment models
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficient in Outlook and Microsoft Word and other Software Packages
• Flexibility (may require some evenings and weekend work)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by n employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is required

to stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to airborne pathogens. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION:

Gateway Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis

of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, citizenship, sex, marital or veteran status, disability or handicap, sexual orientation or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Gateway Center also takes affirmative action to employ, and advance in employment, qualified women, minorities and covered veterans. Gateway Center also makes reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act and applicable state laws.

Since 2005, Gateway Center (GWC) has been committed to providing effective, strategic and innovative solutions as part of our collaborative model.
GWC is a proven leader and has positioned ourselves to be adaptable to respond to the needs of the homeless community. GWC programs are designed to address the underlying barriers that prevent individuals and families from transitioning out of homelessness, such as unemployment, behavioral health, housing affordability, and/or medical conditions. We provide a trauma informed and a client-centered environment where individuals can receive the tools they need to end their homelessness and achieve self-sufficiency. To ensure the alignment of services, Gateway Center has focused our efforts into our Five Keys to Success (1) Housing Placement and Stability, (2) Health and Wellness, (3) Family and Community Engagement, (4) Job Skills Training and Placement, and (5) Literacy.