Behavioral Health Specialist

City of Brooklyn Park•Brooklyn Park, MN

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Community Health Unit at the Brooklyn Park Police Department utilizes a licensed mental health professional to provide early identification and intervention. The Behavioral Health Specialist will serve individuals with complex mental health, medical, and substance use needs. Eligible individuals include those in congregate living facilities or independent community settings. The Behavioral Health Specialist will intervene when these individuals have contact with emergency response systems like law enforcement, fire, or EMS. The Behavioral Health Specialist will provide community outreach, resources, consultation, and care coordination to those referred. The Behavioral Health Specialist conducts on scene diagnostic assessments, develops and implements crisis stabilization and treatment plans. They will work closely with the department’s Community Health Unit Detective to provide interagency coordination to support continuity of care of community members. This position is funded through a grant and is currently authorized for a two-year term. Continued employment beyond the grant period is contingent upon future funding and organizational needs.

Requirements

Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology or closely related field from an accredited college or university.
Three (3) years of post-graduate clinical experience, including crisis assessment, diagnostic evaluation and treatment planning.
Valid driver’s license.
Licensed by the Minnesota Board of Social Work, Psychology, Behavioral Health & Therapy, or similarly related licensing board.
An equivalent combination of education and experience closely related to the duties of the position MAY be considered.

Nice To Haves

Experience interacting with persons diverse populations, including individuals with serious and persistent mental illness, substance use disorders, co-occurring conditions, and developmental disabilities.
Previous experience working with people from various cultural, socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds.
Fluency in Spanish, Hmong, Russian, Somali, Lao or Vietnamese language(s).
Experience or ability to work closely with law enforcement agencies/entities.
Professional experience conducting crisis assessments related to mental and chemical health.
Recent professional experience completing diagnostic assessments, psychological evaluations.

Responsibilities

Provide community outreach, resources, and care coordination to individuals with mental health or substance use needs residing in congregate care facilities, those referred to the Community Health Unit, or those identified in police reports, including post-contact risk assessments.
Develop and implement crisis stabilization plans, therapeutic de-escalation strategies, clinical treatment plans, safety plans, and harm-reduction strategies.
Maintain frequent and ongoing contact with staff and management of group homes in the city to assist in mitigating issues with clients, staff, or management.
Conduct on scene diagnostic assessments, mental status exams, suicide, homicide, and violence risk assessments, lethality assessments, and chemical health evaluations.
Lead consultations with Community Health Unit staff and, if deemed necessary, outside service providers for case planning, specialized programs and agency procedures.
Work collaboratively with sworn and non-sworn personnel to direct effective responses to behavioral health crises including creation of mental health bulletins.
Review and analyze program impacts.
Create and implement training for police staff related to mental health, chemical dependency, and related conditions/disorders.
Maintain proper and timely documentation of case records, case findings, reports, correspondence, and databases.
Performs other duties or special projects assigned.