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Path Outreach Specialist (behavioral Health Specialist I)

Employer
Fairfax County Government
Location
Alexandria, Virginia
Salary
$49,380.03 - $82,299.15 Annually
Closing date
Apr 10, 2021

View more

Industry
Healthcare
Function
Administrative
Hours
Full Time
Career Level
Experienced (Non-Manager)

Job Details

Job Announcement

Under close clinical and administrative supervision, delivers behavioral health treatment and case management services to homeless adults who are severely mentally ill. The PATH team provides outreach and engagement services to Fairfax County residents who are homeless, mentally ill, and not adequately connected to needed services. Position will be based out of the Mondloch House Shelter in the Southern part of Fairfax County offering support and case management services to individuals transitioning in/out of the shelter. Mondloch House is an 8 bed shelter for chronically, mentally ill individuals who traditionally resist admissions to emergency shelters and remain unsheltered in the community.

Additional responsibilities for this position include:

  • Outreach to homeless individuals by vehicle and by foot in a variety of settings, including campsites in wooded areas, abandoned buildings, public sidewalks, metro stations, libraries, businesses, bus stops, and other non-traditional settings in collaboration with PATH teammates and homeless outreach partners to attempt to enroll in services.
  • Obtain appropriate documents for identification and/or the purpose of securing needed services/resources such as entitlements, medical care, and housing.
  • Once individuals are linked to services/resources, help schedule, coordinate services, and transport individuals to follow up appointments.
  • Work jointly with PATH teammates delivering outreach, engagement, and case management services to individuals attending homeless drop-in sites or residing in emergency and hypothermia shelters.
  • Provide supportive services during PATH's homeless drop-in group at Gartlan Center twice weekly by assisting individuals obtain basic clothing, meals, access to laundry facilities and showers, and case management supports.
  • Partner and collaborate with internal and community partners in the homeless services continuum of care to support homeless, mentally ill individuals (e.g.: shelters, hospitals, jails, health department, police department, local businesses, libraries, local elected officials, landlords, SSA, food banks, and housing authority).
  • Provide direct habilitative and rehabilitative support services to assist individuals improve or develop skills to address personal hygiene, community functioning, substance abuse refusal or harm reduction, medication management, crisis prevention, and personal safety.
Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, be able to drive a car, be able to document services rendered in an electronic health record, have the willingness and ability to engage difficult to engage individuals, be able to work as part of a team or autonomously, be accepting of flexible scheduling to meet needs of homeless individuals to include night time outreach during hypothermia season, and be comfortable working with homeless individuals suffering from a serious mental illness, co-occurring substance use disorders, and medical issues.

Work hours for this position will be any time between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with some evening hours during hypothermia season. Work schedule will be determined and finalized at time of hire.

Note: To learn more about careers that make a difference, watch our video " CSB: Making a Difference in Our Community ".

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.)
  • Functions as an active member of a treatment team;
  • Functions as a co-leader in groups;
  • Assists with data gathering for needs assessment;
  • Contributes to the development of individual service plans, with consideration given to the nature and severity of the behavioral health and psychosocial needs, individual strengths and preferences, and support systems;
  • Makes interventions as outlined in the service plan;
  • Brings forward timely information on individuals' progress and evolving needs to the treatment team;
  • Provides individual supportive counseling and skill-building involving specific concerns;
  • Conducts admission and orientation into the program/services;
  • Provides individual and group psycho-educational sessions for clients, family members, and significant others;
  • Maintains and updates information on community resources for individuals, families, and other concerned persons;
  • Provides skill building to clients in developing and practicing daily living, recovery, and self-advocacy skills;
  • Observes client behavior and provides de-escalation techniques;
  • Maintains client records in accordance with state and department regulations;
  • Maintains all appropriate program logs and information;
  • Provides program coverage and supervises program activities;
  • Transports and accompanies individuals to various appointments.


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 the psychological and social development of individuals;
  • Knowledge of substance use disorders and the physiological, psychological and social impacts;
  • knowledge of public and private community based resources;
  • Knowledge of social history development and interviewing and treatment techniques appropriate for individuals with substance use and/or mental illness/ serious emotional disturbance (SED);
  • Ability to recognize behavioral symptoms of mental illness/ serious emotional disturbance (SED) and substance use, and developmental disabilities;
  • Ability to establish rapport and maintain effective relationships with clients;
  • Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and the general public;
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
  • Ability to maintain records and prepare reports;
  • Ability to assist with initial screening of the severity of individuals' substance use/mental health symptoms, treatment, and support needs.


Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, sociology, nursing or a related field.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Contingent upon the area of assignment, some positions within this class may require specific certification(s) prior to employment and/or the ability to acquire necessary certification(s) within a specified time period following employment. The certifications are identified in the position description and employment advertisement .
  • First Aid and CPR certification, within 90 days of appointment and maintained throughout CSB employment;
  • MANDT Certifications within three (3) months of appointment and annually thereafter;
  • Valid motor vehicle driver's license with fewer than six demerit points (or the equivalent in another state) and maintained throughout employment with CSB.

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.

This position is emergency/essential services personnel. (Required to report for duty during inclement weather and/or other emergencies). Program provides services during hypothermia season. Position requires some evening work during hypothermia season and yearly Point In Time Count (one night only). Some weekend hours required to provide training to non-profits pre-hypothermia season.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bilingual-Spanish/English
  • Experience working with homeless, seriously mentally ill adults.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability to drive a car, conduct community outreach activities subject to outside environmental conditions that often involve moderate physical activity, and engaging with clients in non-traditional settings such as tent encampments, heavily wooded areas, abandoned buildings, etc. 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 status as a veteran 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. EEO/AA/TTY.

Company

Fairfax County, Virginia is a diverse and thriving urban county. As the most populous jurisdiction in both Virginia and the Washington metropolitan area, the County's population exceeds that of seven states. The median household income of Fairfax County is one of the highest in the nation and over half of its adult residents have four-year college degrees or more educational attainment. Fairfax County also is home to an extensive commercial office market and is a major employment center.

Fairfax County Government is a great place to work, with a variety of jobs in different fields, great benefits, and an enjoyable working environment. We serve nearly one million residents in one of the largest counties in the country. Our talented employees have established Fairfax County as a leader in nearly every facet of public service and have won national recognition as innovators in local government.The size of Fairfax County government and the diversity of services it provides to citizens allows opportunities for personal growth and development, without ever having to change employers. In addition to pay, Fairfax County Government provides an employee benefits package worth approximately 25% of your salary in additional compensation. This package of benefits consists of programs designed to protect you and your family during your employment with the county and into your retirement years.


BENEFITS INCLUDE:
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Group Term Life Insurance
Contributory Retirement Plan
Deferred Compensation
Flexible Spending Account Programs
Long Term Disability Insurance
Long Term Care Plan
Tuition Assistance Program
Employees' Child Care Center
Virginia College Savings Plans

Fairfax County's Application Process: Fairfax County uses an online application process called NEOGOV at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/jobsfor nearly all positions.

Applicants who need assistance with the online application process are welcome to come to the Application Center at Fairfax County's HR Central where staff will be happy to work with you to establish an account and get your resume into the system. HR Central is located in the Government Center at 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 270, Fairfax, VA, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Or call 703-222-5872 for more information.

For more information on applying, please click here - https://www.governmentjobs.com/home/applicationguide.

Company info
Website
Location
12000 Government Center Parkway
Suite 270
Fairfax
VA
22035-0034
US

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