Position Summary:

The Behavioral Health Specialist (BHS) is responsible for creating and maintaining a therapeutic environment. Under the direction of the Clinical Program Manager, the BHS will plan, coordinate and facilitate therapeutic groups that include skill building activities and complete necessary program documentation. The BHS is also responsible for demonstrating leadership, modeling skills and providing crisis support on campus. The BHS will assist the agency in coaching, training and reinforcing Agency Training Concepts to Residential Counselors. The BHS is a member of the clinical team and will work collaboratively with the clinician, case manager, youth advocate and program manager to support implementation of youth treatment plans.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership

• Be a role model and a Coach to Residential Counselors.
• Provide support to the dorm team to ensure individual client treatment plans are followed consistently.
• Role model a solution focused approach to team related problems
• Provide crisis support following therapeutic intervention from the residential team.

Documentation

• Write daily progress notes for each mental health service provided in electronic chart or county HER system.
• Continuously review treatment plans for new and/or relevant information concerning clients and communicate this information to both clinical and residential teams.
• Maintain 35% billing expectation for each month, notes must be completed within 3 business days of providing the service.

Milieu Management

• Responsible for identifying and for creating a favorable group climate in which the child’s safety, emotional nurturing and healthy development are of primary concern.
• Assist the agency in coaching and modeling reinforcements to Residential Counselors regarding Agency Training Concepts.
• Provide a caring, warm environment for the children through setting clear boundaries, supporting, encouraging, and giving verbal praise and acknowledgment to children for positive actions and decisions to help build self-esteem. Provide age-appropriate interpersonal skills, positive thinking, problem solving, proper language, coping skills, respect for others and self, and brainstorming alternative appropriate behaviors with youth.
• Maintain knowledge of the value-based level system and how it applies to each child.
• Intervene in crisis situations as learned in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) to ensure the safety of clients and staff.
• Ensure that children are properly dressed for various occasions and see that their clothing is appropriately cleaned and maintained.
• Responsible for being an informed and supportive team member.
• Responsible for critical observations and objective recording of children’s behavior for team use.
• Pro-act and check in with the children frequently to prevent crisis situations. After an incident has occurred, follow-up and process with the child to prevent further crisis situations and complete any necessary documentation.
• Always maintain discipline and group control, reporting any unresolved conflicts to a supervisor in a timely manner.
• Complete written documentation per program requirements, and in compliance with agency policy and training.
• Provides orientation, training, and support to newly employed Residential staff, volunteers, interns, foster parents, and any other auxiliary staff.

Skills Training:

• Follow established treatment plans through the implementation of therapeutic groups, skill building techniques, creation of skill building opportunities and behavioral modification plans as part of a team effort.
• Using established best practices to provide basic living skills training and life skills coaching and education to clients and families based on established treatment plan and goals; model appropriate skills and behaviors; supply educational material, offer suggestions, and use appropriate tools and therapeutic resources; lead, organize and participate in specific skills training activities and groups as determined by the client, family and clinical team. 

Other Duties

• Must be familiar with, and have the ability to carry out, all emergency/disaster plans.
• Attend team meetings to facilitate the development and application of needs and services treatment plans for each child, providing documentation as necessary.
• Ensure accurate recording of worked hours and notify a supervisor of any discrepancies in a timely manner and in accordance with agency guidelines.
• Attends all team meetings.
• Attends all CFT’s for youth.
• Attends Clinical Team meeting.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education/Experience:

Required

• BA/BS Degree, or Child Development Teaching Permit
• or 12 semester units of Early Childhood Education (ECE) units, Adolescent Development units, Foster and Kinship Care Education and at least 100 hours of experience working with youth
• or valid certificate as an Alcohol Counselor, Drug Counselor or Alcohol and Drug Counselor and at least 100 hours experience working with youth
• or valid Vocational Training certificate, credential or documentation demonstrating experience as a trade journeyperson who instructs children in vocational skills and at least 100 hours experience working with youth
• or previously employed as a staff or volunteer at a group home or short-term therapeutic center for at least one year.

Licenses, Certifications, Registrations:

• Must have Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) certification and Mastered TCI – LSI 1 Status.
• Internal Candidates must have an LSI 1 status prior to interview. External Candidates must achieve LSI 1 status prior to the 3rd month of employment.
• Must possess a valid California Driver’s License.
• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must pass First Aid certification course before start of employment. Certification can be completed through the Children’s Receiving Home.
• Must pass CPR within the first six weeks of employment.
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Knowledge, Skills, and Other Abilities:

• Demonstrates knowledge of Setting Conditions, Attachment Theory and Trauma Informed Care (TCI).
• Strong performance in Core Competencies as identified in a 90-day performance review and in subsequent performance reviews.
• Must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language.
• Must be competent in Microsoft Office Suite and Web Browsers.
• Must be able to function independently and be able to seek guidance when necessary.
• Excellent writing, communication, organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to write professional incident reports.
• Skill to instruct, direct, counsel, and encourage individuals and groups of children.
• Ability to maintain discipline and group control in a therapeutic manner.
• Skill to communicate effectively in written and oral form.
• Skill to listen attentively to clients, co-workers, and supervisors.
• Skill to plan and organize multiple tasks at one time.
• Knowledge of child/adolescent development, and/or child psychology to identify and encourage age- appropriate behavior, as well as understand the client’s behaviors and reactions is preferred.
• Knowledge of basic mathematics, including addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication.
• Ability to relate with children in a nurturing and respectful manner.
• Ability to maintain a professional, confidential work environment.
• Ability to establish and maintain appropriate boundaries with children and families.
• Must be flexible, creative, and able to work effectively in crisis situations.
• Ability to work cooperatively with a culturally diverse client population and work force.
• Ability to work with community and outside agencies in a collaborative and cooperative manner.
• Ability to work effectively in a team, group, or individual setting.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk; use hands and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must

occasionally run. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.