Mental Health Specialist II

County of Alameda•Oakland, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Under supervision, provides a variety of paraprofessional counseling services to behavioral health consumers; recommends appropriate referrals; maintains community liaisons to ensure adequate services are made available to consumers and provides facilitation for a variety of consumer-focused specialty groups; participates as part of the treatment team; and performs related duties as required. This is the entry-level class in the Mental Health Specialist paraprofessional series. The Mental Health Specialist II class is distinguished from the Mental Health Specialist I class in that the latter is a trainee level class.

Requirements

Equivalent of one year of experience in the class of Mental Health Specialist I.
Possession of a valid license to practice as a Vocational Nurse in the State of California, AND The equivalent of six months of experience performing duties comparable to those of Mental Health Specialist I, under supervision.
Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.
Employees in this classification are required to possess a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number prior to their first day of employment.
Employees in this classification who are required to render direct specialty mental health services in the course of their assignment must successfully be enrolled in Provider Application and Validation for Enrollment (PAVE) web portal prior to commencing employment.
Peer counseling and motivational support techniques for helping behavioral health consumers.
The mental, physical, emotional, and social needs of consumers with mental health, physical health and/or substance abuse issues.
Principles and techniques of mental health treatment and recovery principles and practices.
The psychosocial aspects and characteristics of mental illness and severe emotional disturbance.
Principles of risk assessment, crisis intervention and treatment.
Harm reduction principles and practices.
Behavioral health programs, community organizations and resources, and peer support networks in the local community.
Basic understanding of mental health case management and appropriate coding, charting and documentation requirements for health care providers.
Elementary psychiatric and medical terminology.
Familiarity with medications commonly prescribed for consumers.
Computer applications related to the work.
Relate and communicate effectively with behavioral health consumers.
Work effectively with staff and consumers in treatment services and as a member of an inter-disciplinary team of behavioral health care providers.
Provide a variety of mental health services to a varied caseload of consumers in outpatient settings.
Interview and secure personal health and social information to help determine consumer needs.
Analyze problems, identify solutions and respond appropriately to crisis situations involving consumers.
Maintain and monitor records of assigned consumers.
Communicate effectively orally and in writing, and write concise reports.

Nice To Haves

Qualified bilingual persons who speak English and are also fluent in: Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Korean, Mien, Tagalog, Amharic, Farsi, Dari, Tigrigna, Russian, Romanian or Sign Languages are especially encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Provides a variety of paraprofessional counseling services to behavioral health consumers.
Recommends appropriate referrals.
Maintains community liaisons to ensure adequate services are made available to consumers.
Provides facilitation for a variety of consumer-focused specialty groups.
Participates as part of the treatment team.
Performs related duties as required.
Interview and secure personal health and social information to help determine consumer needs.
Work effectively with staff and consumers in treatment services and as a member of an inter-disciplinary team of behavioral health care providers.
Relate and communicate effectively with behavioral health consumers.
Know principles of risk assessment, crisis intervention and treatment.
Know the mental, physical, emotional, and social needs of consumers with mental health, physical health and/or substance abuse issues.
Apply peer counseling and motivational support techniques for helping behavioral health consumers.
Analyze problems, identify solutions and respond appropriately to crisis situations involving consumers.
Communicate effectively verbally and in writing and write concise reports.
Provide a variety of mental health services to a varied caseload of consumers in outpatient settings.
Maintain and monitor records of assigned consumers.

Benefits

Medical – HMO & PPO Plans
Dental – HMO & PPO Plans
Vision or Vision Reimbursement
Share the Savings
Basic Life Insurance
Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
County Allowance Credit
Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
Short-Term Disability Insurance
Long-Term Disability Insurance
Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Long-Term Care, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
Employee Assistance Program
Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)
12 paid holidays
Floating Holidays
Vacation and sick leave accrual
Vacation purchase program
Catastrophic Sick Leave
Pet Insurance
Commuter Benefits Program
Guaranteed Ride Home
Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
Child Care Resources
1 st United Credit Union