Behavioral Health Specialist, Youth

Make a career out of making an impact.

Working at Wellspring Living is not just a job, but a calling. It is an opportunity to turn hard work into heart work. Learn more about this opportunity and apply here: https://wellspringliving.org/careers/

Behavioral Health Specialist

Organization Type: Non-Profit, Faith-Based, 100+ Employees

Position Type: Full-Time; Non-Exempt Hourly

Direct Report: Behavioral Health Supervisor

Department: Receiving Hope Center

Hours: 36+ hours per week, including weekdays and weekends

Travel Requirements: Minimal

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited college or university in the area of social work, psychology, childhood education, education counseling and psychology, or a related field
• Minimum four (4) years of mental or behavioral health experience with adolescents and families

Position Summary: The behavioral health specialist will work closely with the clinical team in the treatment of participants with behavioral health diagnoses including anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and more. Some may struggle with feelings of hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, feelings of anger or sadness and more. The behavioral health specialist works directly with participants to help implement the treatment plan as prescribed. The position involves assisting participants with activities of daily living and self-care. In order to improve participant skills, the technician provides a supportive environment by modeling and encouraging positive behaviors and discouraging or de-escalating negative behaviors. Reporting and recording participant progress with various interventions is also an important part of the job.

Position Responsibilities (include but are not limited to):

Leadership and Supervision

• Provide direct supervision to participants
• Approve leave requests after ensuring adequate coverage
• Develop daily schedule, assign tasks and ensure follow through by end of shift
• Ensure staff are following all Receiving Center policies and procedures, as well as what is outlined in the Participant Handbook (dress code, procedures for hygiene, medicine administration, etc.)
• Take lead responsibility for writing statements (or collecting staff statements) regarding any critical incidents that occur on assigned shift
• Provide leadership and expertise in at least one of the following areas:
  1. Bilingual
  2. Nutrition, meal planning, meal preparation – Safe-Serve Certified
  3. Fitness
  4. Medication logs, training, and adherence to policies and procedures
  5. Pro-social activities
  6. Academic assistance
  7. Facilities and compliance
  8. Therapeutic yoga

Maintaining Program Structure

• Lead skills building groups and activities during non-school hours
• Model behavior management and de-escalation skills to participants and staff on shift
• Actively engage with participants in a group or one-on-one setting to ensure stability in the center and decrease the likelihood of critical incidents
• Follow the schedule laid out in the program
• Complete 15-minute bed checks for participants during sleeping hours
• Complete grocery shopping, meal planning, and meal preparation for participants
• Administer and document medication use of participants
• May administer random drug screens
• Ensure adherence to program guidelines
• Provide safety checks
• Complete accurate and detailed documentation daily
• Provide care to program participants without regard to race, gender, ethnicity, religious or spiritual beliefs
• Provide culturally competent care for participants wondering about their sexuality or gender identity, including those who may identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender-variant, or those who have questions

Healthy Living

• Use time on shift to engage with participants and develop intentional relationships
• Cultivate an atmosphere of mutual respect through words and behaviors
• Lead by example in modeling the characteristics of a Mission Driven Professional
• Provide direction and encouragement to program participants
• Practice and teach healthy boundaries to program participants
• Provide support and crisis intervention as needed
• Embody the spirit of a lifelong learner

Qualifications:

• Never have been shown by credible evidence (e.g., a court or jury, a department investigation, or other reliable evidence) to have abused, neglected, sexually exploited, or deprived a child or adult or to have subjected any person to serious injury as a result of intentional or grossly serious injury as a result of intentional or grossly negligent misconduct as evidenced by an oral or written statement to this effect obtained at the time of application and evidence of having made efforts to obtain and evaluate references from previous employers
• Documentation of at least two professional, educational or personal references that attest to capability of performing the duties of the position and to suitability of working with or around children
• Satisfactory preliminary criminal history background check determination and a satisfactory fingerprint records check determination as required by law
• Satisfactory motor vehicle report (MVR)
• Documentation from a licensed physician or other licensed healthcare professional of a health screening examination within thirty (30) days of hiring sufficient in scope to identify conditions that may place residents at risk of infection, injury or improper care
• Current evidence of successful completion of a biennial training program in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and a triennial training program in first aid which have been offered by a certified or licensed health care professional; such programs shall be completed within the first year of employment
• Participation in all required trainings and competency in areas of training content

Skills:

• Strength-based tendencies
• Crisis management
• Communication and collaboration
• Discretion and confidentiality for sensitive or restricted information
• Efficiency and time management across multiple priorities
• Relationship management across Wellspring Living participants, staff, and partners

Character Requirements:

• Service driven
• Relationship focused
• Reliable independent contributor
• Self-motivated
• Flexible
• Team player

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to administer physical restraints as governed by policies and procedures of programs
• Ability to drive company vehicle as needed