Behavioral Health Specialist I - PATH Homeless Outreach Worker

Under close clinical and administrative supervision, the PATH BHS I Homeless Outreach Worker delivers behavioral health support services and case management services to homeless adults who are severely mentally ill. The Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) team is tasked with providing outreach and engagement services to Fairfax County residents who are homeless, mentally ill, and not adequately connected to needed services. This position is also assigned to be a super user of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) for the purpose of entering and maintaining accurate program data, per funding requirements.

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.: stakeholders at shelters, hospitals, jails, health department, police department, local businesses, libraries, county supervisor offices, 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 use refusal or harm reduction, medication management, crisis prevention, and personal safety.

• Entering program data into HMIS.
• Running monthly data quality reports.
• Identifying data quality errors.
• Collaborating with program staff and management to resolve data quality errors.
• Re-running data quality reports to ensure errors are resolved.
• Providing ongoing technical assistance to program staff.
• Submitting data quality reports to management as requested.

• The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and CSB recognizes that staff competence speaking a variety of languages is necessary to meet client needs. We encourage candidate's bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply. A foreign language skills stipend of up to $1,300/year (full-time) may be given for qualified bi-lingual employees.
• The CSB provides clinical supervision for employees who are registered as licensed eligible mental health in one of the following areas: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist.

(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.

(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.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, sociology, nursing, public health or a related field;
OR a bachelor's degree and a valid Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) or Certified Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) certification.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Valid motor vehicle driver's license with fewer than six demerit points (or the equivalent in another State) maintained throughout employment with CSB;
• First Aid and CPR certification, within 90 days of appointment and maintained throughout CSB employment;
• Qualified Mental Health Professional Adult (QMHP-A) - within 1 month of hire;
• MANDT Certifications within 90 days of appointment.

• 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.
• Additional Work Schedule Requirements: 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.

• Prior experience delivering mental health services in community setting.
• Prior experience providing homeless outreach and engagement services.
• Prior experience providing case management services.
• Experience utilizing language access tools in a behavioral health setting.