Behavioral Health Specialist, Social Work/Counselor III - Pueblo Youth Services Center

Job Title

Behavioral Health Specialist

Job Description

This position functions as a mental health counselor. This position provides mental health and case management services to committed and detained youth in the Division of Youth Services. Services to be provided include: clinical assessment, monitoring medication effectiveness in conjunction with the facility psychiatrist, individual, group, family and milieu therapies, suicide risk assessment and monitoring, report writing, and mental health service coordination with a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) of experts.

This position exists to provide mental health/crisis management services for a DYS detained / committed youth. DYS youth often have behavioral and/or psychiatric problems resulting from trauma-related issues such as neglect, abuse, or severe family problems. This position provides individual, group and if applicable family services to this population. This position uses the approved DYS approved Evidence Based Curricula in working with this population

Job Duties

Provide Treatment

• Maintains a caseload and conducts individual, group, and family therapy sessions using evidence-based treatment theories in mental health treatment for adolescents.
• Maintains a clear understanding of adolescent development, appropriate interventions for this population, and developmental needs.
• Uses theories relevant to the needs of the youth and their individual history, considering their age, ethnic, cultural, religious, and sexual issues to affect behavior change.
• Document and assess the effectiveness of specific interventions toward program progression and youth stabilization.
• Therapy needs may include substance abuse, mental health issues, trauma histories, cognitive limitations, and specific services for sexually abusive or violent youth. Clinical services are relevant to the needs of the youth and the individual needs and protective factors, when identified, considering their age, ethnic, cultural, religious, and sexual issues to affect behavior change and the reduction of substance abuse activity and symptoms in the individual and family.
• Provides therapeutic services using a strength-based approach and holistic manner.
• Collaborate with the medical team and psychiatrist regarding psychotropic medication assessment or continuation to aid in youth stability.
• Collaborate with educational/vocational systems to ensure appropriate academic services are provided.
• Seek out additional resources as necessary to ensure the best approach to treating the youth based on their developmental and neurocognitive ability.
• Provide therapy in a manner that is consistent with the youth's ability, taking into account any necessary modification needed as a result of trauma, substance abuse, brain injury, and mental health disorders.
• Support agency services of cognitive behavioral-based interventions, social learning theory, and motivational interviewing.
• Position actively engages family/caregivers in the process of stabilizing and transitioning youth to placement.
• Assess progress, and barriers to progress, and document all case management and therapeutic services in the Fusion Electronic Health Record system.
• Follows Sanctuary/ROCK Program.
• Facilitate Community Review Teams as needed for Individual Growth and Change Plans and other interventions as they are developed.

Assessment and Treatment Planning

• This position addresses mental health and other needs identified, taking into consideration the estimated length of stay.
• Review assessment data, when completed, and recommendations with youth, gather additional historical information from youth, develop therapeutic rapport, ensure the youth is engaged in a supportive and educative manner, that confidentiality is maximized and problematic symptoms are thoroughly evaluated and handled in a sensitive and safe manner.
• Engage parents/family members, significant others, guardians and referring agents to interview and obtain relevant collateral and supportive data to enhance the understanding and dynamics of the youth's situation.
• This position recognizes signs and symptoms of serious mental illness (per DSM-5) standards), exacerbation of symptoms, decompensation or improvement of mental health status is imperative for monitoring each youth's progress.
• An ability to complete a brief mental health status exam is expected.
• This position places an emphasis on, making recommendations, and developing alternate interventions for youth not responding positively to programming. Knowledge of suicide risk indicators is required, with ability to offer on-going suicide risk assessments of youth.
• Providing input in conjunction with other transition specialists to transition planning and services to aid in successful reintegration of youth into the community. Coordination with YSSIII, Client Managers and milieu staff in the implementation of milieu interventions in order to achieve program success. Collaborate with client manager and MDT initial MDT staffing when needed. Refer to psychiatrists as needed.
• Determine appropriate, strengths-based treatment goals and objectives for youth.
• Determine appropriate individuals to provide treatment and other services to youth per treatment plan.

Training and Consultation

• This position has a thorough knowledge of the federal confidentiality regulations 42 C.F.R. Part 2 and HIPAA, and all Colorado Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division Rules for treatment practice.
• Takes responsibility for being current on literature and emerging research in the best practices of treating juvenile mental health, substance abuse issues and co-occurring disorders with a complex population.
• Trains others in the facility in best practice treatment delivery approaches.
• Participates in orientation, educational workshops, mental health, co-occurring disorders, and substance abuse discipline meetings, and trainings to assure and maintain competency in the provision of evidence-based substance abuse treatment services.
• This position guides staff by modeling interventions, recommending practices and resident assignments that may be implemented.
• Participates in initial case reviews of all new youth, assists in group placement, and assists in case consultation.
• Provides trainings and consultation on a local/agency level. Is responsible for maintaining all professional certifications and licensure.
• Actively participates in own professional growth and continued trainings, research and CEU's.
• Participates in clinical supervision with the clinical director.
• Participates in supervision to remain in good standing for license renewals. Participates in treatment team meetings and briefings.
• Provide input on decisions around milieu programming.
• Provide input on implementation of treatment goals and objectives within the milieu.
• Provide input in the development of additional treatment program options.

Documentation and Communication

• Document in approved EHR a treatment note for all individual and group sessions in DAP format.
• Group documentations must be individualized, reflecting how each particular youth participated in each group session.
• Identifying appropriate information to be recorded and the appropriate place to record it.
• Identifying appropriate parties to receive information on youth treatment and most appropriate mode of communication.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications listed below to continue in the selection process for this position. Work experience must be specifically documented on your application. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached" statements on your application.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Current, valid Colorado or State participating in the Social Work Licensure Compact licensure as a:
• Licensed Social Worker (LSW) OR
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) OR
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) OR
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
• Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)

AND

• One (1) year of experience with current, valid licensure from a state participating in the Social Work Licensure Compact based on the work assigned to the position.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Relatable experience as a current or previous State of Colorado employee.

Conditions of Employment:

• Be a minimum of 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence
• Full background check and reference check required
• This position requires State of Colorado residency at the time of application (unless otherwise identified in the posting), and residency within the state throughout the duration of employment in this position.
• Motor Vehicle Check,
• Must possess a valid, non-restricted Colorado Driver's License
• Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO) and mandatory annual training in all subject areas.