Behavioral Health Specialist Ii - Discharge Planner

Job Announcement

This job opportunity is being re-announced. Applicants who previously applied for this job do not need to re-apply.

$2,500 Sign-On Bonus*

Serving as a Discharge Planner for CSB's Intensive Community Treatment Services area, this position is an exciting opportunity to work in a collaborative environment providing discharge planning services to seriously mentally ill and co-occurring adults. Responsible for assessing, referring, and linking hospitalized or incarcerated individuals to community-based services and resources. Must be able to observe, process, and document clinical information and make clinical interventions appropriate to client needs. Position will be based at the Merrifield Center.

Here are some of the benefits CSB employees enjoy:

• *This position includes a signing bonus for new merit county hires of $2,500 (full-time).
• The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others). CSB recognizes that staff competence speaking a variety of languages is necessary to meet client needs and encourages candidate's bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity. A foreign language skills stipend of up to $1300/year (full-time) may be given for qualified bi-lingual employees.
• The CSB provides clinical supervision for employees who are registered as licensed eligible mental health in one of the following areas: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Note: National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) self-query report will be required for all applicants registering for QMHP-A and QMHP-C.

To learn more about careers that make a difference, watch our video “CSB Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Providing Care.”

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Makes behavioral health diagnoses using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, International Classification of Diseases or other diagnostic tools as required;
• Maintains a diverse caseload of clients with a variety of substance use, developmental disabilities and/or mental illnesses;
• Develops client and/or family centered therapeutic treatment plans, with consideration given to the nature and severity of the behavioral health problem, family, cultural and employment related circumstances, legal involvement, individual and family histories, physical condition, and other pertinent factors;
• Implements therapeutic treatment plan under clinical supervision;
• Conducts independent behavioral health intakes and assessments;
• Provides individual, group, and/or family treatment under supervision;
• Collaborates with service professionals inside and outside of the Community Services Board;
• Adapts and modifies treatment interventions as indicated;
• Provides case management, outreach and engagement services as needed;
• Conducts wellness and health promotion services;
• Maintains all electronic health records according to federal, state and department regulations, ensuring that records of clients on their caseload are complete, accurate and comprehensive;
• Advocates on behalf of clients regarding rights and needed services;
• Develops and maintains cooperative relationships with representatives of community groups and public and private agencies;
• Assesses and monitors the impact of medication on client's functioning and consults with medical professionals as needed;
• Provides crisis stabilization and crisis management with support and supervision as needed;
• Provides ongoing risk assessments for dangerousness to self and others with support and supervision as needed;
• Provides entry, navigation and/or referral services for individuals, families and other concerned persons;
• Prepares and administers behavioral health educational curricula;
• Testifies in court to regarding client's services, progress and recommendations as required.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Knowledge of the principles, theories, and methods of behavioral health services and social development of the individual;
• Knowledge of evidence based behavioral health treatment methods;
• Knowledge of psychological, physiological and psychiatric terminology, theories and practices;
• Knowledge of assessment processes, methods of gathering social history and interviewing techniques;
• Knowledge of existing public and private agencies and community resources;
• Ability to formulate diagnoses and appropriate treatment plan;
• Ability to perform behavioral health and risk assessments and apply evidence based/informed treatment approaches/modalities;
• Ability to manage a caseload;
• Ability to establish rapport and maintain effective relationships with clients;
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, public and private organizations, community groups, and the general public;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to maintain records and prepare reports.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, nursing, counseling or a related field, plus one year of clinical experience or bachelor’s degree and a valid Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) certification plus one year of clinical experience.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Valid motor vehicle driver's license with fewer than six demerit points (or the equivalent in another State) within 1 month of appointment and maintained throughout employment with CSB.
• Qualified Mental Health Professional - Adult (QMHP-A), within 1 month of appointment
• Qualified Mental Health Case Manager (QMHCM), within 1 month of appointment

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check, a Child Protective Services Registry check, a driving record check, and sanction screening to the satisfaction of the employer. A TB screening upon hire and annually thereafter.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or counseling.
• Experience providing discharge planning services and outreach services to high risk seriously mentally ill, co-occurring, and forensic adult population.
• Experience collaborating with multiple human services systems and state program agencies, such as Jails, Hospitals, ACT, intensive case management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of community base resources and treatment services.
• Extensive knowledge of the principles, theories, and methods of the psychological and social development of the individual.
• Experience with and thorough knowledge of intake procedures, social history development, and interviewing techniques.
• Experience with and ability to formulate diagnoses for clients with acute, chronic, severe mental illness.
• Experience with and ability to diagnostically interpret data obtained from psychological test results, social histories, and interventions.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to operate an automobile and to travel to multiple work/placement sites. Ability to communicate with clients and coworkers, observe, and report on client appearance and behavior. Ability to sit, walk, stand and bend, write as needed. Ability to operate keyboard driven computer equipment and read data on monitor. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel Interview and may include a practical exercise.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.

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