Behavioral Health Specialist - IMT

Community Access Inc • New York, NY

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Community Access is seeking a Behavioral Health Specialist for its Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) team. The IMT program is an innovative, trauma-informed, harm reduction-oriented mobile practice model designed to provide treatment, rehabilitation, and support services to individuals whose needs have not been met by traditional services. IMT participants often interact with homeless services, criminal justice, and behavioral health service systems. The IMT teams are designed for flexibility and continuity of care for individuals who have historically been underserved. The teams work collaboratively with participants in their living settings, using assertive engagement strategies to connect them with services. Team members share responsibility for the people they serve, assisting them in attaining housing and other personal and safety goals related to health, social, work, or education.

The IMT teams are multi-disciplinary, including psychiatry, nursing, social work, peer specialists, and other staff offering rehabilitation, treatment, and recovery support services. They provide expertise in housing, substance use and harm reduction, criminal justice, peer support, and behavioral health recovery. Based on their expertise, team members collaborate to deliver comprehensive, integrated, and flexible services responsive to participant choices, needs, and goals. With a small staff-to-participant ratio, services are delivered in natural settings, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Behavioral Health Specialist is an integral part of this multi-disciplinary team, responsible for engaging participants through individualized assessment and therapeutic intervention planning. They utilize evidence-based practices, including harm reduction strategies, motivational interviewing, and stage-wise interventions, to support participants' wellness and recovery journeys. The Behavioral Health Specialist also serves as a clinical resource to other team members regarding mental and behavioral health and co-occurring substance use issues.

Requirements

• Have an understanding, appreciation, and commitment to the philosophy and mission of Community Access.
• Commitment to person-centered treatment strategies, upholding participants’ rights, and self-determination in service provision.
• Minimum of Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, or other Health and Human Services related field; LMSW preferred.
• Minimum of two (2) years’ experience working with individuals with a mental health condition with co-occurring substance use disorder.
• Available to work a flexible schedule, mornings, evenings and weekends in response to participant needs.
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Be creative and flexible.
• Able to show initiative and be responsible for follow-through.
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Be skilled in conflict mediation/negotiation and have an assertive approach to problem solving.
• Must be able to work in the community, including use of public transportation.
• Computer proficiency in Windows operating systems and programs, such as MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as comfort with learning new electronic systems.
• Must be fingerprinted and cleared by the New York State Justice Center.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual Spanish-speaking preferred.

Responsibilities

• Complete required assessments and evaluations as needed on a rotating schedule; assigned assessments are completed on time.
• Complete progress notes for all contacts, collaterals, and engagement attempts within 2 business days.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level