JOB

DESCRIPTION: Behavioral Health Specialist – Veterans Program

Reports To: Veterans

Program Supervisor

 Salary Band: Band A- Full Time (40 HRS) POSITION

SUMMARY:

The Behavioral Specialist is

responsible for providing client centered counseling services and evidence

based strategies that support program participants with their desire to end

their current condition of homelessness; obtain employment; and to become stably

housed. This position will support and provide services to Guests that reside

in one of Gateway Center’s Residential Programs. The person in this position

will provide mental health assessments and ensure linkage to other behavioral

health care services. The position will work collaboratively with each

participant’s residential program

case manager to ensure that individual service plan accounts for any mental and

or/social development issues.

The Behavioral Specialist will

be responsible for providing behavioral health support and the facilitation of

psycho-educational groups. The Behavioral specialist will assist in preventing

relapse in conditions that tend to recur over time. The Behavioral Specialist

maintains an awareness of state and national health care trends and proactively

responds with initiatives to enhance provision of care and ensure efficient

resource utilization. The Behavioral Specialist works closely with the agency’s

Case Managers, Guest Service Agents and Peer Specialists.

The overall goals of the position

are to improve the client’s ability to access and comply with behavioral health

treatment, become employable or gain access to benefits; and to identify

housing options that support the client in being stably housed at discharge.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Conduct interviews, and screenings of prospective clients
• Conduct assessment of clients’ behavioral health needs
• Provide short-term
• counseling and evidence- based treatments
• Working closely with clients to develop treatment plans and make referrals as needed
• Maintain complete chart notes; maintain confidentiality and adhere to all HIPAA policies
• Facilitate and lead groups and individual sessions
• Ensure all case records are current by documenting ongoing contacts through case notes within 72 hours, trainings attended, referrals, and resources offered
• Maintain complete and current documentation on all clients in required databases
• Submit monthly reports to supervisor
• Ensure all Behavioral Health resources are updates and accessible to program staff
• Participate in staff development and all required Agency meetings
• 3 weeks staffing of program vets
• GPD weekly treatment meeting (every 6 weeks for vets)
• Biweekly VACB treatment meeting
• Weekly VA floor meeting
• Support with scheduling VA appts (SATP, mental health)
• Working closely with GWC VA program staff, VA
• Liaisons and VA medical / FTM.
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree preferred in social service field preferred (i.e.social work, counseling, child and family services, human services)
• Strong organizational skills and commitment to substance abuse and disease concept focused treatment models.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficient in Outlook and Microsoft Word and other Software Packages
• Flexibility (may require some evenings and weekend work)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described

here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to

successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable

individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of

this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger,

handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is

required to stand; walk; and stoop,

kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision

abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color

vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment

characteristics described here are representative of those an employee

encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable

accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform

the essential functions

While performing the duties of this

job, the employee is regularly exposed to airborne pathogens. The noise level

in the work environment is usually moderate.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION:

Gateway Center is an Equal

Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,

creed, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, citizenship, sex, marital or

veteran status, disability or handicap, sexual orientation or any other basis

prohibited by applicable law. Gateway Center also takes affirmative action to

employ, and advance in employment, qualified women, minorities and covered

veterans. Gateway Center also makes reasonable accommodations for qualified

individuals with disabilities, in accordance with the Americans With

Disabilities Act and applicable state laws.

Since 2005, Gateway Center (GWC) has been committed to providing effective, strategic and innovative solutions as part of our collaborative model.
GWC is a proven leader and has positioned ourselves to be adaptable to respond to the needs of the homeless community. GWC programs are designed to address the underlying barriers that prevent individuals and families from transitioning out of homelessness, such as unemployment, behavioral health, housing affordability, and/or medical conditions. We provide a trauma informed and a client-centered environment where individuals can receive the tools they need to end their homelessness and achieve self-sufficiency. To ensure the alignment of services, Gateway Center has focused our efforts into our Five Keys to Success (1) Housing Placement and Stability, (2) Health and Wellness, (3) Family and Community Engagement, (4) Job Skills Training and Placement, and (5) Literacy.