General Purpose

A Behavioral Health Worker provides services to individuals and families requiring assistance in dealing with behavioral health or substance abuse problems, including alcohol and/or drug abuse.

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Performs basic physical care procedures such as taking vital signs, assisting with physical exams, baths and feeding patients.
• Closely observes and assesses client's behavioral health status and provides evidence-based intervention strategies.
• Refers to Substance Abuse Clinicians or Care Coordinator's for follow up as needed.
• Provides concrete support to clients and ensures safety plans are implemented.
• Works as part of a team of clinicians, specialists, care coordinator's and psychiatric providers.
• Documents all patient contacts and other clinical information in the health record system.
• Provides community outreach and education.
• Participates in job-related training sessions and seminars.
• Attends required staff meetings.
• Maintains prompt and regular attendance.
• Transports or arranges for transportation as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Ability:

• Knowledge of Mental Health/ Substance Use Disorders.
• Possesses good communication skills.
• Understands client rights, confidentiality, ethics and roles.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and recognize potential risks.
• Ability to model appropriate use of personal story and self-disclosure.
• Ability to accept diversity and understand cultural competency.
• Understands the principals and concepts of trauma, resiliency, recovery and wellness orientated lifestyle.
• Ability to demonstrate and teach wellness life skills.
• Ability to encourage the development of natural supports.
• Possesses willingness to seek supervision and/or ask for direction.
• Possesses conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to learn, teach, and implement evidence-based practice material and curriculum, as appropriate for specified clinical needs.
• Ability to demonstrate organization, time management and prioritizing skills.
• Ability to manage relationships in a constructive and positive manner.

Education or Formal Training:

• High School Diploma and ability to successfully demonstrate reading, writing, and speaking skills.

Working Conditions and Other Conditions of Employment

Working Environment:

This job operates in a fast-paced, professional office environment and routinely requires the use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers. The position may require travel to conferences, meetings and branch locations on a regular or intermittent basis. Work may involve moderate exposure to unusual elements, such as extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises. In the health center environment, there is potential for contact with blood-borne pathogens and communicable diseases, as well as potential for contact with dissatisfied or abusive individuals. There could be interaction with persons who are mentally ill, disabled, elderly and emotionally upset.

Physical Activities:

These are representative of those which must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

This is a largely sedentary role but can involve standing or sitting for extended periods of time, bending at the waist, and using hands and fingers to handle and file papers or operate assigned equipment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus. Employee may also have to lift 10 to 25 lbs. unassisted.

Conditions of Employment:

• Annual TB, federally required drug screening, and Influenza vaccination or compliance with policy and procedure.
• Required possession of a valid state driver's license.
• Successful candidate must submit to and pass, post-offer drug screen.

Work schedule is 3 x 12 hour days 7:00 pm to 7:00 am; Work days may include weekends.