Full Time - .6 FTE (22.5 hours/week)
The Mental Health Specialist 1 provides culturally competent, appropriate, and trauma-informed crisis and behavioral health treatment for assigned clients in the fidelity-based Early Psychosis program known statewide in Oregon as Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA). This position provides counseling and education for adolescents young adult ages 12-25 years in addition to families and groups. The Mental Health Specialist 1 provides behavioral health services to other community agencies, coordinates behavioral health services with other community and State resources, and performs related work as required. Incumbents must demonstrate cultural sensitivity and understanding of how culture influences and impacts behavioral health services while incorporating this understanding into trauma-informed care.
- Provide psychotherapy, counseling, and case management services to individuals, couples, families and groups in the EASA program. Conduct interviews and assessments to accumulate pertinent data; assess presenting issues; develop service plans. Counseling and psychotherapy may include working with assigned clients in developing communication skills, providing assertiveness training, providing behavior modification programs, and monitoring the effects of prescribed medication.
- Depending on position, may provide substance abuse disorder assessment and provide integrated dual-diagnosis services to assigned clients.
- Utilize agency clinical software system to prepare current client records of treatment and reports as necessary and required. Maintain timely and cogent progress notes and service plans. Ensure that client records and other documentation are up-to-date and justify the services provided.
- Serve as investigator and/or examiner in involuntary commitment procedures.
- Assist and/or provide back-up support with screening, referral, and crisis services as needed and directed by supervisor. May provide after-hours emergency services on a 24-hour, rotating basis, such as telephone consultation, crisis intervention, and pre-hospital screening examinations.
- Actively participate in joint case planning and coordination with internal multi-disciplinary team and agency psychiatrists. Collaborate in case planning and service coordination as needed with other community agencies such as law enforcement, community detention facility, schools, group homes, community medical hospital and DHS programs.
- Participate in all team and agency meetings as scheduled.
- Regular and reliable attendance, professional communication, and confidentiality are essential functions of this position.
- Master's degree in social work, psychology, psychiatric nursing or other related field AND
- Two (2) years’ professional experience providing behavioral health counseling.
- Some position will require alcohol and drug counselor certification (CADC 1 or CADC 2).
- Bilingual fluency Spanish/English is preferred, and may be required for some positions.
- Professional licensure in the State of Oregon as an LCSW or LPC, or must have the ability to obtain this licensure within two (02) years of hire is preferred (and may be required for some MHS1 positions).
- Incumbent must obtain certification from the Department of Human Services as a Mental Health Investigator and Mental Health Examiner. Incumbent must keep certification current and in good standing.
- Must possess a valid Oregon or Washington Driver's License, maintain an acceptable driving record and be insurable for client service purposes and for travel between business office for meetings and/or trainings. This position must pass all criminal history check requirements as required by ORS 181.536 to 181.537, and in accordance with OAR 407-007-0220 to 407-007-0370.
Position #2023480
