Behavioral Health Specialist - Full-time

JOB DESCRIPTION DEPARTMENT: Community and Home-Based Services Department JOB TITLE: Full Time Behavioral Health Specialist-BHS(HCBS & CFTSS) REPORTS TO: Community and Home-Based Services Supervisor JOB LOCATION: Irvington FLSA: Non Exempt STATUS & HOURS: Full-Time 35 hours Date Submitted/Revised: 3.25.25 Based on training, experience and qualifications, the Behavioral Health Specialist may be called upon to provide one or more of the following services to children and families enrolled in the specific services. In no situation shall a Behavioral Health Specialist provide services where he/she does not meet the minimum educational requirements and qualifications necessary to provide such services as documented. Community Psychiatric Supports and Treatment Services (CPST) CPST services are goal-directed support and solution-focused interventions intended to address challenges associated with a behavioral health need and to achieve identified goals or objectives as set forth in the child's treatment plan. CPST services must be part of the treatment plan, which includes goals and activities necessary to correct or ameliorate conditions discovered during the initial assessment visits. CPST is a face-to-face intervention with the child/youth, family/caregiver or other collateral supports. This is a multi-component service that consists of therapeutic interventions such as counseling, as well as functional supports. Activities provided under CPST are intended to assist the child/youth and family caregivers to achieve stability and functional improvement in daily living, personal recovery and/or resilience, family and interpersonal relationships in school and community integration. The family/caregivers, therefore, is expected to have an integral role in the support and treatment of the child/youth's behavioral health need. CPST is designed to provide community-based services to children and families who may have difficulty engaging in formal office settings, but can benefit from home and/or community based rehabilitative services. CPST allows for delivery of services within a variety of permissible settings including, but not limited to, community locations where the child/youth lives, works, attends school, engages in services, and/or socializes. Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) Psychosocial Rehabilitation services are designed to restore, rehabilitate, and support a child's/youth as an active and productive member of their family and community with the goal of achieving minimal on-going professional intervention. Services assist with implementing interventions on a treatment plan to compensate for, or eliminate, functional deficits and interpersonal and/or behavioral health barriers associated with a child/youth's behavioral health needs. Activities are "hands on" and task oriented, intended to achieve the identified goals or objectives as set forth in the child/youth's individualized treatment plan. These services must include assisting the child/youth to develop and apply skills in natural settings. PSR is intended to foster and promote the development of needed skills identified in assessment or through the ongoing treatment of a licensed practitioner. PSR services are to be recommended by a licensed practitioner and a part of a treatment plan. PSR activities are focused on addressing the rehabilitative needs of the child/youth as part of a treatment plan and can be provided in coordination with treatment interventions by a licensed practitioner (e.g. OLP) or provider of CPST. Services are delivered in a trauma informed, culturally and linguistically competent manner. Prevocational Services Prevocational Services are individually designed to prepare a youth (age 14 or older) to engage in paid work, volunteer work or career exploration. Prevocational Services are not job-specific, but rather are geared toward facilitating success in any work environment for youth whose disabilities do not permit them access to other prevocational services. The service will be reflected in youth's plan of care and must be directed to teaching skills rather than explicit employment objectives. In addition, Prevocational Services assist with facilitating appropriate work habits, acceptable job behaviors, and learning job production requirements. Respite This service focuses on short-term assistance and/or relief for children/youth with disabilities (developmental, physical and/or behavioral), and family/caregivers. Respite workers supervise the child/youth and engage the child in activities that support his/her and or caregiver/family's constructive interests and abilities and allow the youth time to practice skills learned in a real time. Planned respite services provide planned short-term relief for family/caregivers that are needed to enhance the family/caregiver's ability to support the child/youth's functional, mental health/substance use disorder and/or health care issues. The service is direct care for the child/youth by staff trained to support the child/youth's needs while providing relief from caregiver activities for the family/caregiver. This may occur in short-term increments of time (usually during the day) or longer-term increments (weekends). Planned Respite Services have their own identified care goals to be worked on during service provision. Planned Respite activities include providing supervision and recreational activities that match the child/youth's developmental stage and continue to maintain the participant's health and safety. Caregiver/Family Advocacy and Support Services Caregiver/Family Advocacy and Support Services enhance the child/youth's ability regardless of disability (developmental, physical and/or behavioral) to function as part of a caregiver/family unit and enhance the caregiver/family's ability to care for the child/youth in the home and community. Family is broadly defined, and can include families created through: birth, foster care, adoption, or a self-created unit. Participating in community events and integrated interests/occupations are important activities for all children/youth, including those with disabilities (developmental, physical and/or behavioral health in origin). Success in these activities is dependent not only on the child/youth, but on the people who interact with and support the child/youth in these endeavors Caregiver/Family Advocacy and Support Services improves the child/youth's ability to gain from the community experience, and enables the child/youth's environment to respond appropriately to the child/youth's disability and/or health care issues. Community Habilitation Habilitation services assists children/youth with developmental, medical or behavioral disabilities with the self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills necessary for successful functioning GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES Responsible for the oversight and execution of all requirements for the program, as assigned. Properly document all necessary information on each child in order to bill for services accordingly. Participate in treatment team meetings to provide updates. Report all Serious Reportable and Recordable Incidents to Supervisor. Comply with Abbott House's policies, procedures, and time frames for reporting, documenting, and billing. Knowledge of evidence based practice and complex trauma. Any other related duties as required. Performs other duties as required. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. An employee in this position is regularly required to stand; walk, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; talk and listen, and taste or smell. The employee frequently is required to walk. The employee is occasionally required to keep balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Computer - The BHS must be able to use a computer and able to learn software programs Office Equipment- The BHS is required to operate a fax, copier, scan, and other office equipment. Communication - The BHS needs to be able to speak, read and write fluently in the English language Writing - The BHS must be able to write in the English language using correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. Driving - The BHS must have a valid Driver's License and a clean driving record. Driving own/agency vehicles is a requirement. Lifting - The BHS may frequently lift 0-25 lbs., occasionally lift 25-50 lbs., and rarely lift over 50 lbs. Push/Pull - The BHS may frequently push/pull 0-25 lbs. of force, occasionally push/pull 26-45 lbs. force, and rarely push/pull over 45 lbs. Sitting, Standing and Walking - The BHS will be required to sit, stand and walk throughout the work day. Stooping -The BHS may occasionally stoop. This is defined as bending body downward by bending spine at the waist. Kneeling -The BHS may occasionally kneel. This is defined as bending legs at knees to come to rest on knee(s). Crouching - The BHS may occasionally crouch. This is defined as bending body downward and forward by bending spine and legs. Work environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in an office environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate due to talk and movement of the program participants and other co- workers. The noise level can increase on occasion due to yelling or screaming by the participants of the programs. Masters in Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health or related degree with 1 year experience

Created: 2025-04-25