BHID Behavioral Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

We offer the following  excellent benefits including:

• Paid Time Off (13 holidays, 4 personal days, 12 sick days and 10 vacation days year one and 4 weeks vacation year 5),
• Loan forgiveness Assistance,
• Medical/Prescription Insurance (PPO’s with an average of 85% paid by PMHCC),
• Vision ($200 allowance),
• Paid Parental Leave,
• Retirement Savings Plan (5% paid to employee with a vesting period of 1 year),
• Tuition Reimbursement (up to $4,000 per calendar year),
• Dental (free to employee),
• Life and Disability (free to employee),
• Flexible Spending Accounts, including Commuter and Health Spending accounts,
• Referral program,
• Employee Assistance Program,
• Healthy Wellness Programs
• and more!

Position Summary:

CTT is mandated to provide services to those individuals within the mental health system who present the greatest degree of severity of symptomatology as evidenced by their multiple physical, psychiatric and legal conditions, extensive use of services and lack of follow-through with treatment. This population requires the highest level of medical necessity as defined by the State Adult Environmental Matrix.

The BHID Team is a specialized team that provides multidisciplinary clinical review and assessment of individuals who have behavioral health and intellectual disabilities and may have concurrent medical, substance abuse and criminal justice involvement. The BHID Behavioral Support Specialist (BSS) observes, assesses and provides support services to assigned individuals and assures an understanding of their unique needs and intervention strategies for the fullest integration into their communities. The BHID BSS is responsible for ensuring that the mission, goals and philosophy of the CTT are operationalized within the team.

The incumbent encourages a strengths-oriented treatment/service plan that addresses the individual’s principal needs; the incumbent works with staff to ensure continuity of care and enhancement of the individual’s understanding, acquisition and maintenance of independent living skills in the areas of: daily living situation, interpersonal skills and social support building.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develops a behavioral assessment and plan by working in collaboration with the individual, family, BHID psychologist and treatment team to collect information necessary to identify: a) primary problems to be addressed; b) who will address them; c) how they will be addressed; d) how progress is to be measured and e) time frames in which treatment is to occur.
• Actively participates in the treatment planning process including attending team and linkage meetings; provides technical assistance regarding implementation of techniques and strategies.
• Develops Crisis Plans and Safety Plans as needed working in collaboration with the individual and treatment team to gather information necessary to support the individual in mitigating risk.
• Assists in development of WRAP in conjunction with CPS staff with focus on lifestyle planning, visual modes and other techniques to help manage triggers.
• Keeps detailed records; tracks and monitors individual’s behaviors and prepares reports; assists staff and family in understanding circumstances that may trigger problem behaviors; develops specific therapeutic interventions to manage or eliminate behaviors; monitors use with ID direct care professionals in individual homes; collaborates with team, trains, models and refines plan and retrains in response to crises and when staff turnover occurs.
• Provides training, consultation in any setting that emotional or behavioral problems are experienced; including, key community members with whom participant may interface (police, church, retailers, etc.) as needed to encourage fullest integration into the community.
• Cross training to be provided for each team regarding behavioral approaches and interventions.
• Provides on-site assistance, guidance, and support to resolve crisis situations that jeopardize residential placement, including evenings and weekends as necessary.
• Provides collaboration and ongoing contact with all individuals associated with the BH and ID care delivery systems and allied services.
• Meets productivity standards.
• Performs other duties as required.

Skills Required: 

Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to work well with people, have good, creative problem-solving skills; excellent clinical skills including assessment, knowledge of behavioral health, intellectual disabilities and criminal justice systems and networking skills; computers skills; be able to work independently, flexible and adaptive in handling changing priorities in a fast-paced work environment.

Education and Experience: 

Candidates must meet the qualifications of a Licensed Behavioral Specialist (LBS) under applicable Pennsylvania regulations and possess a master's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in a clinical mental health discipline, such as psychology, counseling, clinical social work, psychiatric nursing, marriage and family therapy, or another related behavioral health field approved through review of education and clinical coursework. The degree must include graduate-level coursework focused on the assessment and treatment of mental health disorders. Candidates must have a minimum of two (2) years of verified paid experience providing mental health treatment. Experience working with individuals with behavioral health and intellectual disability (BHID) needs is preferred. Must have a valid driver’s license, auto insurance and must have use of a vehicle for work and on call; ability to work in a team environment and share office space; ability to work evenings and weekends, as needed.

Equal Opportunity Employment:

PMHCC, Inc. is committed to equal opportunity. It is our policy to support equal employment for all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual preferences, age, national origin, disability, behavioral health status, military status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Americans with Disabilities Act:

Employees as well as applicants who are currently, or become disabled, must be able to perform the functions of the job with either reasonable accommodation or unaided. PMHCC, Inc. will examine reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the law.