Behavioral Health Specialist

Sea Mar Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) founded in 1978, is a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington State. Sea Mar proudly serves all persons without regard to race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, or sexual orientation, and regardless of ability to pay for services. Sea Mar's network of services includes more than 90 medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics and a wide variety of nutritional, social, and educational services.

Sea Mar is a mandatory COVID-19 and flu vaccine organization.

Position Summary

The Behavioral Health Specialist provides primary community support/case management to mentally ill, homeless, and substance abuse Sea Mar clients. This person participates actively as a team member in the delivery of client services, and the coordination of community support services. This job description does not suggest or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. Minor variations in duties will vary depending to what department the Behavioral Health Specialist is assigned. The person in this position will be required to follow other instructions and to perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.

• Demonstrates knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served.
• Demonstrates knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span.
• Able to identify and categorize each patient’s age-specific grouping of needs, such as those for infant, adolescent, or geriatric patients.
• Conducts intake screenings to determine client’s need for case management. Interviews client, (either in home or at clinic) performing systematic social services assessment to determine current status and needs in a variety of areas. Makes a Client Service Plan with each client for each activity that will be done with the client.
• Makes referrals, based on identified need, to appropriate agencies/services or provides information and assists client for self-referral.
• Maintains regular contact with client, including home visits, and provides advocacy as needed to encourage cooperation in implementing the Service Plan or to resolve problems which are interfering with active participation in plan (such as transportation or language barrier).
• Maintains files that document case management activities as required by the State and the clinic.
• Assists client in accomplishing necessary tasks in accessing services such as filling out appropriate forms, obtaining necessary documentation or authorization and finding transportation.
• Participates in regular interdisciplinary team case reviews.
• Will promote a positive team approach. Team member will collaborate with all staff members to provide comprehensive services that are individualized to best serve each client and will welcome and orient all new staff and visitors in a positive manner.
• Maintains professional standards and follows the treatment policies and procedures of the agency, as well as applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Completes daily record keeping as directed by the Program Manager. Reports any unusual incidents to the Program Manager. As the Behavioral Health Specialist is a State mandated reporter, he/she will report to the State any suspected case of child/elder abuse or neglect as mandated by WAC.
• Observes and assesses clients’ basic needs, strengths and weaknesses, and refers client to appropriate department as needed.
• Participates in supervision as directed and provided.

Qualifications

• The person in this position must be of good character and able to maintain the understanding, physical health, emotional stability and personality suited to meet the physical, mental, emotional, and social needs of the population served.
• This person must have the capacity to establish a liaison relationship with community resources and provide outreach service to clients.
• Must have good organizational and communication skills.
• Demonstrate professionalism and appropriate boundaries in all interactions.
• The candidate must demonstrate respect and appreciation for diversity and have an understanding of the community system.
• The Behavioral Health Specialist must have demonstrated experience with, and the ability to form and maintain effective relationships with clients, team members, and community providers.
• Ability to work in a team.
• Disposition to receive and give constructive criticism.
• The person in this position shall have no history or evidence of alcohol or other drug misuse for a period of three (3) years immediately prior to the date of employment at Sea Mar, and no misuse of alcohol or other drugs while employed at this center.
• This individual cannot be a person who has been convicted of a felony within the last seven years, or has ever been convicted of child abuse and/or any crime involving physical harm to another person nor be a perpetrator of substantiated child abuse.
• Able to use one’s own car daily in carrying out the job.
• Must complete an annual clinical competency test as a Behavioral Health Specialist.
• The Behavioral Health Specialist must sign a permanent oath of confidentiality covering all patient related information.
• This person must pass a background check.

Education and Experience, Certificates, Licenses, Registrations, and Medical Screening

• Must have an Associate’s degree in Behavioral Health, Health Sciences, or related field, and two years of closely related work experience is required. Appropriate work experience may be substituted for the degree.
• Must be eligible for Agency Affiliated Counselor Registration from the State Department of Health.
• Must have an active Agency Affiliated license within 90 days of hire.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Bilingual: Fluent in Spanish and English, proficient in reading and writing in both languages is preferred.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must have and maintain a current TB test.
• Valid State Driver’s license.
• Annual influenza vaccine required. Only exception is for employees with a medical or religious exemption approved by Administration. Employees with an approved medical or religious exemption must wear a mask at all time during the flu season.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to high.

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Hourly - Hourly Plan, 21.86 USD Hourly

What We Offer:

Sea Mar offers talented and motivated people the opportunity to work in a dynamic and growing community health organization. Working at Sea Mar Community Health Centers is more than just a job, it’s a fulfilling career with opportunity for advancement. The fringe benefits surpass most companies. For example, Full-time employees working 30 hours or more, receive an excellent benefit package of:

• Medical Dental Vision Prescription coverage
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
• Paid‑time‑off starting at 24 days per year + 10 paid Holidays.
• 401(k)/Retirement options and an exciting opportunity to work in a culturally diverse environment.

Sea Mar is an equal opportunity employer.

Please visit our website to learn more about us at

Sea Mar Community Health Centers, founded in 1978, is a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington State. Sea Mar proudly serves all persons regardless of their ability to pay for services. Sea Mar's network of services includes more than 90 clinics.