Lead Behavioral Health & Recovery Services Specialist (Department Promotional Only)

Description

San Mateo County Health is seeking a well-qualified Lead Behavioral Health & Recovery Services Specialist to, under general supervision, provide lead direction in training and assigning, directing, and reviewing the work of professional staff and service providers in the assigned area; performing the more complex assignments with minimal guidance and/or direction and that requires specialized knowledge; manage assigned caseloads; and assist with supervisory functions in the absence of the supervisor.

The current vacancy is in the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Division's Integrated Medication Assisted Treatment (IMAT) Teamand will be stationed in Belmont, CA, but will travel/drive throughout the County to transport clients, attend meetings, coordinate care with providers, etc.

This position supports a team that works seven (7) days a week including evenings and holidays. Candidates may occasionally need to be available, on a pre-scheduled basis, for consultation or crisis response during these off-hours. TheIMATteam primarily works embedded in San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC) Emergency Services alongside a multidisciplinary team serving a highly complex population. We also have team members co-located at the San Mateo County jails and the Maple Street Navigation Center.

Primary responsibilities:

• Lead, assign and review the work of behavioral health and recovery professionals and other staff providing a variety of services to clients with complex mental health, emotional, social adjustment and/or substance use problems.

• Train new and current employees on processes; orient new staff with all documentation requirements and other division-specific protocols and guidelines.

• Handle the more difficult or complex caseloads, including high profile cases, referrals from other case managers or higher level managers.

• Communicate effectively and often with multi-disciplinary partners to promote client wellness and recovery.

• Create and maintain shift coverage schedules with oversight by team Supervisor.

• Organize, update, and communicate team policies and procedures.

• Develop and maintain strong community provider partnerships; including organizing outreach presentations and referral coordination.

• Support data collection and reporting efforts.

Additional duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide consultation and direction to community workers and other client-facing staff in the assigned section/clinic.

• Perform deep analysis on client data as it relates to assigned area of expertise, and determine a course of action.

• Perform mental health counseling or alcohol and drug case assessment responsibilities or other duties typically performed by a licensed clinician under strict supervision of a clinician and as policy allows.

• Assist with special projects as assigned.

• Determine and develop appropriate treatment plans for all clients in the caseload and carry a caseload of higher acuity clients.

• Serve as the lead change agent within a team in developing integrated services for people with co-occurring mental health and/or alcohol and drug problems.

• Participate in division level policy and planning activities on the recovery model.

• Act as liaison and representative of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services with community providers.

• Establish and utilize knowledge of eligibility, community resources and linkages for clients.

• Participate in organization of community groups and the development of special projects.

• Perform related duties as assigned.

Theideal candidate will possess:

• Experience as a lead direct service worker, assigning and reviewing the work of staff.

• Experience handling difficult and complex client cases.

• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with community partners.

• State of California Certification for Individuals Providing Counseling Services in Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Programs.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and electronic health/medical record systems.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

The IMAT team, within Alcohol & Drug Services of Behavioral Health & Recovery Services Division, engages individuals with severe and persistent substance use disorders to provide a range of services and supports, including but not limited to, substance use screening and brief intervention; assessing clients' needs using assessment criteria to determine medical necessity and identification of key clinical interventions; determination of stage of change; and engaging clients by using Motivational Interviewing, and Harm Reduction practices. The team provides intensive case management including: transportation, client advocacy, client-driven treatment planning, and care coordination with community partners.

NOTE:The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Qualifications

County Status:An applicant must have been a County of San Mateo employee in San Mateo County Health with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, Confidential and Management extra-help/limited term, SEIU or AFSCME represented extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date.

Knowledge of:

• Basic supervisory principles and practices, if assigned as lead.

• Community resources available for treatment of clients and other resources/strategies for client referrals.

• Workload planning and prioritizing techniques.

• Automated case management systems.

• Principles and practices of the specific program area to which assigned.

• Specialized technical knowledge related to assigned program area.

• Individual, group and community behavior.

• Prevention methods and treatment procedures related to alcohol and drug disorders, mental and emotional illness and personality disorders.

• Principles of counseling, including group leader functions.

• Reporting requirements for assigned area.

• Social aspects of drug, alcohol, mental and emotional problems.

If assigned to Option 2: Case Management/Assessment, knowledge of the following is also required:

• Principles, philosophy, practices, materials, trends and literature related to alcohol and drug disorders, mental and emotional illness, personality disorders and their attendant problems.

• Various models of addiction.

• Appropriate methods and use of assessment to evaluate and assess alcohol and drug disorders.

• Techniques and dynamics of assessment and engagement.

Skill/Ability to:

• Plan, assign, direct and review the work of others and train others in work procedures.

• Develop and evaluate creative approaches to the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of alcohol, drug, mental and emotional disorders.

• Interview clients, families and other professionals for the purpose of gathering information and obtain and record social, physical, educational and work histories.

• Write clear, accurate and concise reports.

• Interpret data.

• Establish and maintain the confidence and cooperation of clients including those of varied ethnic and social backgrounds.

• Develop relationships with the treatment provider communities, courts, probation and other professional agencies/staff.

• Speak effectively before groups.

• Exercise tact.

• Function as a team member.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

Option 2 - Case Management/Assessment: Three years of experience assessing and evaluating clients using assessments instruments and/or guidelines, identifying and making referrals based on those assessments, and interviewing clients for in a social service program. Experience as a Case Management/Assessment Specialist III in the County is preferred.

License/Certification:

Some positions may require a State of California Certification as a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Practitioner, and/or State of California Certification for Individuals Providing Counseling Services in Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Programs.

Application/Examination

Departmental Promotional Only. Only current County of San Mateo employees in San Mateo County Health with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, Confidential and Management extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date may apply.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form.A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT:Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply"button above.If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

~ TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE ~

Final Filing Date: June 27, 2024

Application Screening: July 3, 2024

Combined Civil Service Panel and Department Interviews: July 18, 2024

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities. The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment.The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community.We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work. The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels.

Talent Acquisition Analyst: Yvonne Alvidrez (061424) (Lead Behavioral Health & Recovery Services Specialist - G242)