Mental Health Specialist V

Essential Job Functions: 

Attend’s work on a regular basis and may be required to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and perform other duties as assigned. 

Conducts comprehensive psychosocial assessments for patients with complex behavioral, medical, and social needs to include substance use history, risk behaviors, and recovery readiness. 15% 

Screens for chemical dependency, trauma, psychosocial factors, and non-medical social determinants of health to inform care planning, withdrawal risk, relapse indicators, and recovery needs; integrates this into treatment planning for patients for potential program participation and services. 10% 

Participates in developing and maintaining facility-level chemical dependency programming and group curricula for patients. Conducts chemical dependency program orientation sessions. 10% 

Maintains patients' treatment plans and progress records and modifies treatment plans accordingly in a timely, accurate documentation aligned with clinical, ethical, and regulatory standards. Evaluates substance abuse counseling and education needs of the patient population. Develops, monitors, and updates individualized treatment and recovery plans in coordination with the care team. 10% 

Facilitates individual and group counseling for patients with co-occurring behavioral health and substance use conditions using motivational interviewing, trauma-informed, evidence-based approaches. Assists in developing and implementing program policies and procedures. 10% 

Participates in quality improvement initiatives to enhance care coordination, treatment access, and health optimization. Prepares clinical analyses, designs and monitors behavior modification and skill acquisition plans.10% 

Designs and delivers staff development on trauma-informed care, ethics, and behavioral health best practices. Develops and presents educational and training programs, workshops, and seminars on substance abuse. 10% 

Participates in conferences for diagnosis and treatment planning and facilitates discharge planning by linking patients to appropriate community resources, social support, and follow-up services and when needed coordinates referrals to outpatient or residential substance use programs, MAT (medication-assisted treatment), and peer support. 10% 

Provides clinical supervision and consultation to behavioral health staff, interns, and support personnel and directly supervise staff in the Behavioral Health Department. Serves as interim or backup Behavioral Health Director, supporting staffing, operations, and communication. 10% 

Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.  5% 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): 

KNOWLEDGE IN:

Counseling, psychology, therapy, chemical dependency, addiction, co-dependency, counseling techniques, recovery processes, and related disciplines; psychological tests, measurements, and related disorders; and the laws and regulations regarding the treatment of substance abusers. 

Treatment of mental illness.  Joint Commission, CQI principles, DSHS standards, Texas Administrative Code Minimum Standards, and Texas Health and Safety Code Regulations.  DSHS and TCID mission and policies and procedures.  Ethical principles and code of conduct.  Texas Mental Health Code for civil and criminal commitments.  Psychiatric Disorders - DSM V TR.  Medical Issues. Treatment Milieu.  Behavior.

SKILLS IN: 

Interviewing, in listening, in counseling clients and patients, and in the use of a computer and applicable software.  Ability to screen and evaluate clients; to counsel and instruct clients; to plan, develop, and implement rehabilitative and chemical dependency treatment programs; to prepare reports. Effective communication.  Problem solving.  Crisis intervention.  CPR and CPI.  Working effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team.  Managing rapidly changing priorities and working effectively with a diverse case load.  Skills in managing conflict among staff.  Skills in analyzing workloads and how to assign staff to accomplish tasks in a timely and effective manner. 

ABILITY TO: 

Interpret diagnostic interviews and test data, to conduct individual and group discussions, to analyze behavioral deficits, to develop plans for implementing and monitoring rehabilitation activities in skill acquisition and behavior management, to communicate effectively, and to supervise the work of others. Must serve diverse population and be effective in using interpretation services for non-English patients.  

Function effectively as a treatment team member.  Serve as liaison between TCID, community resources, the court system, persons served and families.  Identify persons served/family needs and activate the appropriate system.  Organize and coordinate treatment issues.  Skills and sensitivity in working with a diverse population.  Serve as a backup to the Director of Behavioral Health Services for the Texas Center for Infectious Disease. 

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications: 

Must have one of the following: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical or Master Social Worker (LCSW or LMSW), Licenses Psychological Associate (LPA), 

Initial Screening Criteria: 

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a master's or doctorate degree in counseling, psychology, social work or a related field.