Behavioral Health Specialist

County of Thurston • Olympia, WA

15h

About The Position

Thurston County Public Health & Social Services (PHSS) is recruiting for a Behavioral Health Specialist for our Community Health Division. The Parent Child Health Program at PHSS aims to reduce health inequalities and improve public health by providing underserved and vulnerable populations with high-quality, trauma-informed resources. As a Behavioral Health Specialist, you will be responsible for independently providing professional behavioral health services, working in collaboration with the Parent Child Health team and clients to address mental and emotional concerns. In this role, you will also provide crisis and behavioral health assessments, case management, personalized treatment plans, and critical counseling and intervention during initial psychosocial assessments to address immediate concerns such as homelessness, lack of food, chemical addiction, and family violence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, counseling, or related field and two (2) years of relevant experience.
• Any equivalent combination of experience and education that provides the applicant with the desired knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the work may be considered.
• Depending upon the area of assignment, a specialized certification or accreditation may be required of the position.
• Demonstrated ability to work with low-income clients, alternative lifestyles, and individuals facing crises related to pregnancy and/or parenting.
• Washington State Driver’s License or have an appropriate accommodation.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling psychology, or related field
• Licensure (associate or full) as a psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, mental health professional, licensed mental health counselor and/or mental health specialist, or related credential
• Demonstrated application of psychological, sociological, and psychiatric theories in practice
• Knowledge and experience in direct treatment of mental/behavioral health issues
• Knowledge of public health principles and practices within a regulatory environment
• Proven empathetic approach and skills that will help foster trust and build connections with those who require assistance, ensuring they feel understood and valued
• Understanding of community behavioral health, addiction concepts, case management, and treatment services
• Experience with behavioral health evaluations, assessments, and treatment
• Experience in developing case plans with clients, considering economic, social, cultural, physical, and environmental factors
• Strong crisis management skills in de-escalating tense situations and promoting a safe environment while maintaining a level-headed and composed demeanor
• Skill in aiding people in crisis to engage with services
• Strong judgment and decision-making skills when problem-solving
• Ability to assess and prioritize multiple clients, cases, and demands while organizing and managing workloads efficiently and effectively
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with diverse individuals and communities, and collaborate with agencies to achieve service goals or treatment plan objectives
• Skill in detecting the signs, symptoms, and behaviors of depression, neurodivergence, mental illness, other behavioral health issues, and substance use
• Understanding of child development principles and child-rearing methods, including functional and dysfunctional family dynamics
• Knowledge of abuse and neglect indicators, including sexual, emotional, and physical abuse in children and vulnerable adults
• Ability to demonstrate effective verbal, written, and presentation skills
• Proficiency in operating a computer with standard and specialized software
• Ability to comply with information management and client confidentiality requirements
• Knowledge of public mental health systems, veterans’ mental health systems, the Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA), and other related social service providers
• Respect and Organizational Culture Create an environment where employees and partners can safely express needs or concerns and where employees can make and correct mistakes Effectively interact with sensitivity while working with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic, and professional backgrounds, and persons of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and lifestyles Thrive in a fast-paced, robust organization maintaining a positive work environment
• Communication Serve the public in a timely, complete, accurate, and professional manner while ensuring that written and verbal communication is clearly understood by others Maintain cultural competency to support diverse perspectives in developing, implementing, and evaluating policies, programs, and services that affect the health of the community Strong oral communication for networking and interpersonal relationships Excellent written communication including the ability to craft correspondence, reports, and articles or web postings with minimal grammatical and syntax errors
• Goal Setting and Accomplishment Use strategic thinking and planning for goal setting and evaluation Effectively plan, organize, and manage competing priorities and challenges under pressure Create a sense of mission by articulating and modeling confidentiality, professional values, and ethics with honesty and integrity Operate with a high degree of flexibility, initiative, attention to detail, and commitment Delegate and use persuasion and negotiating skills for shared responsibility and acceptance of change

Responsibilities

• Provide behavioral health services in the areas of behavioral management and health, working independently to manage a caseload, assess crises and/or behavioral health issues, and monitor treatments and interventions following regulations and protocols
• Evaluate, assess, counsel, treat, and monitor multiple clients, delivering professional behavioral health care
• Establish client relationships, assess service needs, make referrals as necessary, and coordinate or obtain care with other agencies
• Apply a broad range of therapeutic supports to individuals, families, and groups, and oversee the development and delivery of treatment services
• Perform crisis intervention, assessment, and evaluation
• Organize, coordinate, and occasionally audit behavioral health medical records, applying established policies, procedures, and protocols
• Complete thorough and timely documentation of treatment services in compliance with all Department policies and procedures
• Participate in regular staff meetings and case conferencing
• Perform other work as required or assigned, including, but not limited to, a 24/7 response during public health emergency situations and disease outbreak investigations

Benefits

• Work-Life Balance: We are committed to ensure that our staff experience the reward of public service, while also sustaining a routine that suits each individuals’ lifestyle.
• Plan For Your Future: As a member of our team, you will enjoy great employee benefits, including a retirement plan, pre-tax savings accounts, as well as comprehensive health care and dental/vision care for you and your family. Please visit Thurston County Employee Benefit Plans for more information.
• Paid Leave: Full-time regular employees earn paid vacation in addition to paid holidays .
• Robust Training Program: Employees are encouraged to attend County paid training to help them further their career, learn new skill sets, and stay on top of emerging trends in our industry. We also encourage our staff to participate in professional organizations and attend conferences.
• Flexible Work Schedules: Some of the options that employees may take advantage of include alternative or compressed schedules and/or remote working.
• Deferred Compensation: The County offers 3 voluntary deferred compensation plans for employees who would like to set aside additional deferred tax dollars into a retirement savings plan.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA ) : Employees can take advantage of Section 125 flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health care and daycare expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness: This is a federal program which allows full-time public service employees who have made qualifying payments for certain loans, to get their student loans repaid.

What This Job Offers

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