Behavioral Health Specialist - CFTSS - Dutchess
About The Position
The Behavioral Health Specialist provides one or more services to children and families enrolled in the relevant programs, according to the specialist’s training, experience, qualifications, and the minimum educational requirements for each service. Services may include prevocational services, respite, supported employment, caregiver/family advocacy and support, and community habilitation. Prevocational services prepare youth age 14 or older for paid or volunteer work or career exploration by teaching transferable work habits, job behaviors, and production requirements. Respite provides short-term planned or crisis care and supervision for children and youth with developmental, physical, behavioral, mental health, substance-use, medical, or trauma-related needs, while supporting their safety and interests and providing relief to caregivers. Supported employment offers ongoing assistance to participants who need intensive support to obtain and maintain competitive, customized, or self-employment in an integrated work setting. Caregiver/family advocacy and support services help participants, families, caregivers, and identified collateral contacts understand and address disability-related needs and support the child’s functioning at home and in the community. Community habilitation supports self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills for children and youth with developmental, medical, or behavioral disabilities. The specialist oversees and carries out assigned program requirements, documents services and other necessary information for billing, participates in treatment team meetings, reports serious reportable and recordable incidents to a supervisor, and follows organizational policies and timelines for reporting, documentation, and billing. The role also requires knowledge of evidence-based practice and complex trauma and may include other related duties. The work frequently takes place in an office environment. Noise is usually moderate and may occasionally increase due to participants yelling or screaming. The role involves regular standing, walking, hand and arm use, and communication; occasional balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling; and lifting and pushing or pulling loads at the stated frequency and weight ranges.
Requirements
- Qualifications depend on the service provided; the specialist must meet its minimum educational and experience requirements.
- Prevocational services: associate degree (AA/AS) and one year of experience, or bachelor’s degree and one year of experience.
- Respite services: high school diploma and experience.
- Supported employment services: associate degree (AA/AS) and one year of experience, or bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) and one year of experience.
- Caregiver/family advocacy and support services: bachelor’s degree and two years of experience, or master’s degree and one year of experience.
- Community habilitation: high school diploma and experience.
- Knowledge of evidence-based practice and complex trauma.
- Ability to meet the physical requirements of the role, including standing, walking, handling objects, reaching, communicating, and occasional stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling.
Responsibilities
- Provide assigned services to children and families in accordance with the specialist’s qualifications and each service’s requirements.
- Deliver prevocational services that teach transferable work habits, acceptable job behaviors, and job production skills to youth age 14 or older.
- Provide planned or crisis respite, including supervision and activities that support participants’ interests, developmental needs, health, and safety.
- Provide ongoing supported-employment assistance to help participants obtain and maintain employment in an integrated work setting.
- Provide caregiver/family advocacy and support to help participants, families, caregivers, and collateral contacts understand and address disability-related needs.
- Provide community habilitation that develops self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills.
- Oversee and execute assigned program requirements.
- Document information about each child as needed for service billing.
- Participate in treatment team meetings and provide updates.
- Report serious reportable and recordable incidents to a supervisor.
- Follow organizational policies, procedures, and time frames for reporting, documenting, and billing.
- Apply knowledge of evidence-based practice and complex trauma.
- Perform other related duties as required.
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What This Job Offers
Education Level
High school or GED
