Job Description

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Under supervision, provides a variety of paraprofessional mental health, substance use, peer counseling, and education services to incarcerated Alameda County Behavioral Health (ACBH) clients; assists in the development and implementation of treatment and discharge plans and monitors client progress and response to these plans; recommends and provides appropriate referrals; maintains community liaisons to ensure adequate services are made available to consumers, provides case management and care coordination services including direct linkages to community-based services; facilitates a variety of consumer-focused peer counseling, support, and education groups; participates as part of the treatment team; and performs related duties as required.

The Forensic Mental Health Specialist is a paraprofessional classification located in the Health Care Services Agency, Adult Forensic Behavioral Health Program which provides mental health services to incarcerated clients in the County jail and reports to the Forensic Behavioral Health Clinical Supervisor. Incumbents provide mental health support, substance use counseling, and training/education to incarcerated individuals one-on-one or in groups and participate in care coordination for assigned clients. Incumbents also provide direct case management, socialization activities and services, group support, education, and re-entry planning. Incumbents conduct all their work at Santa Rita Jail (SRJ) and spend the majority of their shift in SRJ housing units. Forensic Mental Health Specialist is distinguished from the next higher class of Forensic Behavioral Health Clinician I in that the latter is part of a professional flexibly staffed series requiring State registration or licensure.

IDEAL CANDIDATES:

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications and knowledge and skills listed below, the ideal candidate for this position will be:

• Someone who clearly conveys information and ideas verbally and in writing to individuals or groups in a manner that meets audience needs and helps them understand and retain the message; and who relates well to people with diverse cultures, interpersonal styles, or abilities.
• A collaborative individual who actively engages as a multidisciplinary team member by being accessible, supportive, and able to maintain constructive relationships that better serve and support clients.
• Familiar with the principles of wellness, recovery, and resiliency; is knowledgeable about behavioral health programs, community organizations, resources, and peer support networks in the local community and able to make appropriate referrals for housing, health care services, financial assistance, and other client needs.
• Someone who can be trusted with confidential records and private information, and who interacts with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization.
• Attentive to the diverse needs of each client and secure relevant client care data to identify key issues in the management of care, while simultaneously managing high volume client cases and assisting clinicians in developing assessment, treatment and discharge plans, and resolving various administrative, operational, and client care requests and requirements.
• Someone with a sufficient level of knowledge, skill, and experience in mental health, substance use, dual diagnosis, and vocational counseling services including direct experience assisting clinical staff in the development and administration of treatment and discharge plans for clients; responds appropriately to crisis situations; and who strives to keep up with developments and trends in the field.
• An effective problem solver who uses sound judgment and quickly identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; uses data, logic, and sound judgment to evaluate alternatives and recommends viable solutions; and solves problems consistent with available resources, facts, constraints, and probable consequences to achieve desired organizational or service goals. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The minimum professional requirements for admission to the competitive assessment process include:

EITHER I

Experience:

• The equivalent of two (2) years of full-time experience in the classification of Mental Health Specialist II. 

OR II

Experience:

• The equivalent of three (3) years of experience performing duties comparable to those of Mental Health Specialist I. 

Substitution:

• Possession of a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling, health education, or other health related field may be substituted for two (2) years of experience in pattern II.

OR III

Education:

• Possession of a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling, health education, or other health-related field. 

AND

Experience:

• The equivalent of six (6) months of experience performing duties comparable to those of Mental Health Specialist II with justice-involved or at-risk individuals.

License :

• Some positions require a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s license. 
• Applicants must possess such license prior to appointment to such positions.

Special Requirement:

• In compliance with the Administrative Simplification provision of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), employees in this classification are required to possess a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number prior to their first day of employment. 
• A thorough background investigation will be conducted of all prospective Forensic Mental Health Specialists to ensure they are suitable to work in a jail setting and must be able to obtain and maintain security clearance conducted by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.
• Incumbents may be assigned to workday, evening, night, and rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays. 

NOTE : The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: 

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Examples of Duties" section of this specification.

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:

• Peer counseling and motivational support techniques for helping behavioral health consumers.
• Representation and understanding of an individual’s lived experiences as it relates to mental health challenges, substance abuse issues and/or involvement with justice system.
• The mental, physical, emotional, and social needs of consumers with mental health, physical health and/or substance abuse issues.
• Principles and techniques of mental health treatment and recovery principles and practices.
• The psychosocial aspects and characteristics of mental illness and severe emotional disturbance.
• Principles of risk assessment, crisis intervention and treatment.
• Harm reduction principles and practices.
• Behavioral health programs, community organizations and resources, and peer support networks in the local community.
• Basic understanding of mental health case management and appropriate coding, charting and documentation requirements for health care providers.
• Elementary psychiatric and medical terminology.
• Familiarity with medications commonly prescribed for consumers.
• Computer applications related to work.

Ability to:

• Relate and communicate effectively with behavioral health consumers.
• Work effectively with staff and consumers in treatment services and as a member of an inter-disciplinary team of behavioral health care providers.
• Provide a variety of behavioral health services to diverse consumers in a jail setting.
• Interview and secure personal health and social information to help determine consumer needs.
• Analyze problems, identify solutions and respond appropriately to crisis situations involving consumers.
• Maintain and monitor records of assigned consumers.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Analyze, evaluate, and make sound decisions.
• Organize and prioritize work and meet critical deadlines.
• Interpret, explain, and apply regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Prepare clear, accurate, and effective reports, correspondence, and other written materials.
• Work effectively with a diverse population.

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve, and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of: race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.

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