Behavioral Health Specialist 2 - QMHP
About The Position
The Oregon Youth Authority is hiring Qualified Mental Health Professionals (QMHPs) to provide comprehensive mental and behavioral health services to youth at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in Woodburn, Oregon. The role works with a multidisciplinary team that includes contracted psychiatrists, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, and psychologists to create a supportive treatment environment within an assigned living unit. The QMHP helps foster a positive, dynamic group-living environment in which youth are encouraged to take responsibility, develop healthy habits, lead productive lives, and engage in socially acceptable behavior. Working alongside the Living Unit Manager and Case Coordinator, the specialist provides leadership and implements evidence-based interventions. The recruitment may fill multiple limited-duration, temporary, and permanent vacancies. The work is performed in a group-living milieu and involves daily face-to-face contact with adjudicated youth, including youth who may be hostile, aggressive, or assaultive. The role is expected to enforce rules and restrain youth during crises. Employees may face emergencies, hostile family members or visitors, communicable-disease exposure, and possible hostage situations. Weekend, holiday, evening, stand-by, or on-call work may be required, as may travel to other OYA locations or training. All OYA locations are tobacco-free.
Requirements
- Meet one of the following minimum qualification pathways: a bachelor's degree in nursing or occupational therapy, Oregon licensure, and three years of progressively responsible related experience; or a master's degree in psychology, social work, recreational, art, or music therapy, or behavioral health science, and two years of progressively responsible related experience.
- Be eligible for certification as a Qualified Mental Health Professional at the time of application.
- Hold a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record; driving is an essential function of the position.
- Have education and experience demonstrating competencies in identifying precipitating events; gathering histories of mental and physical disabilities, alcohol and drug use, prior mental health services, and criminal justice contacts; assessing family, social, and work relationships; conducting mental status examinations; documenting multiaxial DSM diagnoses; writing and supervising treatment plans; conducting comprehensive mental health assessments; and providing individual, family, and/or group therapy within scope of practice.
- Submit a separate resume in PDF format with the application.
- Consent to required pre-employment checks, which may include criminal, driving, vulnerable-population abuse and neglect, fingerprint-based, drug-screening, education, certification, and licensing checks.
Nice To Haves
- Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish; preference is given to bilingual candidates.
- Licensure in the candidate's discipline; preference is given to licensed candidates.
- Certificates or work experience related to substance use treatment.
- Certificates or work experience related to sexual-harming behaviors.
- Strong clinical skills with adolescents and young adults, including the ability to provide clinical work independently.
- Experience providing treatment related to gang affiliation, anger management, fire setting, and violent offending.
Responsibilities
- Provide comprehensive mental and behavioral health services to youth at MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility.
- Collaborate with contracted psychiatrists, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, psychologists, the Living Unit Manager, and the Case Coordinator.
- Help create a supportive treatment environment within the assigned living unit and promote youth responsibility, healthy habits, productive lives, and socially acceptable behavior.
- Provide leadership and implement evidence-based interventions in a group-living setting.
- Conduct comprehensive mental health assessments, including gathering relevant histories, assessing relationships, conducting mental status examinations, and documenting multiaxial DSM diagnoses.
- Write and supervise treatment plans and provide individual, family, and/or group therapy within scope of practice.
- Enforce facility rules and restrain youth during crisis situations.
- Serve as a mandatory reporter of child abuse.
Benefits
- Low-cost medical, vision, and dental plans for employees and their families.
- Life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage.
- Deferred compensation savings plans and flexible spending accounts for health and childcare.
- 11 holidays and 3 personal business days.
- Monthly sick leave and vacation leave that increases with years of service.
- Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) or Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP).
- Wellness resources supporting work-life balance, health, and overall well-being.
- Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
- Access to Get There, Oregon's carpool matching tool and trip planner.
- Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
- Annual salary increases on the anniversary date until the maximum salary range is reached.
- A 5% bilingual differential for employees who demonstrate fluency in speaking both English and Spanish, if bilingual proficiency is required for the position.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
