What are the responsibilities and job description for the Suicide Mortality Behavioral Health Technician - Countywide position at Cochise County?
NATURE OF WORK: Under general supervision, performs behavioral health work of considerable difficulty; performs related duties as assigned.
As defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class.
TYPICAL DUTIES: (Illustrative Only) Collaborate with the Suicide Mortality Review (SMR) Epidemiologist to support the development of comprehensive case narratives; identify and contact next of kin (NOK) or close associates of individuals who died by suicide; schedule and conduct trauma-informed interviews with NOK to gather contextual information about the decedent's life and circumstances; provide emotional support during interviews and offer appropriate grief and mental health resources to NOK and other loved ones; document and compile detailed case notes and summaries to inform SMR case reviews; actively participate in multidisciplinary SMR team meetings and case reviews.
Associate degree in behavioral health from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning recognized by the US Department of Education or a certification in behavioral health issued by a state or federal agency or by a recognized professional organization; possess or have the ability to obtain CPI certifications; one (1) year of post-degree clinical experience or one (1) year of an internship of professional experience; must possess or have the ability to obtain a Level 1 fingerprint clearance card within seven days of starting employment; must possess and maintain a valid Arizona driver’s license and the ability to be covered by county insurance.
An equivalent combination of education and/or experience from which comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities have been achieved may be considered.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Preference may be given to individuals with experience working with substance use populations, those at risk for suicide, or those experiencing behavioral health challenges. In addition, preference may be given to individuals who speak English and Spanish.
PLEASE NOTE: This safety sensitive position requires a post offer, pre-employment background screening to include the successful completion of a polygraph and a psychological exam. Position is subject to pre- employment and random drug testing.
As a public health professional, you may be called upon to provide surge capacity during a Public Health emergency. This means you may be called upon to perform duties outside of your routine assignments, location, and hours of work.
- trauma-informed care principles and practices, particularly in grief, bereavement, and crisis intervention;
- suicide risk factors, protective factors, and social determinants of health related to behavioral health outcomes;
- ethical and legal considerations related to privacy, confidentiality, and handling of sensitive information in public health and behavioral health contexts;
- comfortable deescalating verbally tense or potentially highly emotional situations.
Considerable knowledge of:
- behavioral health and public health terminology, systems, and practices;
- interviewing techniques for sensitive populations, including motivational interviewing and active listening;
- community mental health resources and referral pathways;
- cultural competence and its role in behavioral health assessment and intervention.
Considerable skill in:
- engaging with grieving individuals in a compassionate, respectful, and nonjudgmental manner;
- conducting structured and semi-structured interviews and accurately documenting qualitative data;
- managing emotionally intense conversations while maintaining personal and professional boundaries;
- written communication for case documentation, particularly in creating clear and concise narrative summaries;
- navigating Microsoft suite.
Ability to:
- build rapport quickly with individuals experiencing emotional distress or grief.
- exercise sound judgment, discretion, and empathy when working with highly sensitive and emotionally charged information.
- work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, including epidemiologists and public health professionals.
- maintain organization and meet deadlines while managing multiple case interviews and documentation tasks.
- prepare written findings in a detailed, clear and precise manner;
- adapt to changing program requirement needs to develop new methods, approaches, and/or procedures;
- coordinate closely with area resources such as health care professionals, behavioral health facilities, support and outreach, and legal services;
- provide other support as is appropriate;
- follow written and verbal instruction;
- read, write and speak English;
- communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is primarily performed under general supervision in a variety of climatic conditions. Requires driving throughout assigned areas of the county to include remote and isolated areas.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Essential functions of this position require: lifting, manual dexterity, ability to communicate.
Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body; involves sitting majority of time; walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.
Mental Application: Utilizes memory for details, verbal instructions, requires emotional stability, critical thinking, adaptability, and creative problem-solving skills.
Salary : $20 - $24