Family Support Specialist

Overview

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FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALIST OPPORTUNITYAberdeen, WA

Our Clinical team works in the homes of families and in the community; plus, in an office site.

Catholic Community Services, Family Behavioral Health is looking for a Family Support Specialist to join our team of innovators who explore and develop new approaches and implement novel strategies. Our teams provide individualized, creative and flexible services, infused with evidence-based and evidence-informed strategies. This position will be based out of the FBH Aberdeen site.

WHO WE ARE:

We are a values-driven organization, providing family-oriented behavioral health care for children, youth and families, provided primarily in their own home and community. Our enthusiastic clinical teams provide whatever is needed to help children and youth remain safely in their own home with their family, restoring hope, providing intense mental health services and supports, and helping to strengthen the family unity. With sites located in throughout Western Washington and Portland Oregon, we offer comprehensive intensive, Wrap-around mental health services to a diverse population for youth and families. We employ nearly 800 energetic and compassionate employees.

WHAT WE VALUE:Compassion Diversity Strength-Based-Approach Social-Justice & Our Staff! 

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Starting range: $32.76 - $36.44 per hour 
• Bi-lingual fluency skills in Spanish and English, or other languages, as needed: $100 -200 per pay period (2 times per month) for service provision in support the families we serve. Tiered language stipend based on language proficiency and youth and family needs.

BENEFITS:

• 12 paid holidays; plus 1 personal holiday each year!
• 3 weeks' vacation per year
• 12 sick-days per year
• Medical
• Dental
• Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance (1 times annual salary)
• Retirement Plans: 403-B Employee Savings Plan and an Employer Contribution Pension

Training and Supervision:

• Daily and weekly supervision and support, as needed
• Immediate assistance and clinical supervision/consultation available at any time

The Family Support Specialist is responsible for providing and implementing prescribed mental health treatment strategies, crisis response and de-escalation as needed, as well as Crisis Plan implementation. In addition, the FSS incorporates recovery-oriented wellness and individualized skill building strategies.

This position provides one-on-one mental health treatment strategies and services to high-risk children, youth and their families in the family home, therapeutic foster home, and/or community locations (e.g. during crisis in emergency departments, crisis response or behavioral observation and assessment in home and schools, etc.). In addition, the FSS works with the youth and family to participate in community safety and wellness activities during times of stabilization. This position requires the skills and abilities to assess safety and risk 'in-the-moment' in crisis situations while providing assistance and while accessing additional support as needed. Mentoring and coaching/implementing behavioral support, treatment and safety/crisis plans in the home and community is a strong component.

All services must be allowable (billable) through Medicaid and provided as specifically identified and prescribed in the Individualized Mental Health Treatment Plan. All treatment services must be documented per required timeframes, in accordance with federal Medicaid requirements and entered into Psych Consult, the FBH Electronic Health Record (EHR), as well as medical EHR's of Managed Care Organizations (MCO's), Behavioral Health Organizations (BHO's), or others per contract requirements.

The FSS must, at all times, present as a positive and responsible role model to the youth and family, while maintaining appropriate and professional boundaries. This position requires on-call availability, including 24/7 availability scheduled on a rotating basis.

Responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY:

Therapeutic Assessment, Service Implementation and Delivery:

• Act as a “First Responder”, providing direct crisis response, de-escalation, emergency supervision and redirection of children and youth who may be experiencing behavioral crises in their home, school, and community.
• Responsible for participating in clinical intake observation and assessment of child/youth with the goal of multi-dimensional assessment in all life areas including home, school and community. FSS will demonstrate ability to present clinical observations to team as input into the safety and treatment plan.
• Based on child/youth treatment needs and mental health diagnosis, collaborate with assigned clinician to identify and support consumer access to physical health and substance abuse treatment services available in the community.
• Participate in clinical decision making for high-risk youth, contributing to the development and implementation of an individualized treatment plan that outlines supervision and assessment of current mental health and safety needs.
• Implement prescribed behavioral strategies and treatment services to high-risk children and youth, modeling and teaching social behavior, self-protection skills and awareness, and developmentally appropriate coping and social interaction skills. Provide skill building support that enhances a youth’s ability to function effectively and safely in the community addressing therapeutic issues such as anger management, alternatives to aggression toward others, frustration tolerance, and socialization.
• Complete family and behavioral health assessments with youth and parent, including CANS (child adolescent strengths and needs) and SNCD (Strength Need Culture Discovery). Where required, assist clinician in completing the CALOCUS (Child and Adolescent Level of Care Utilization System).
• As part of a clinical team, assess family need for community resources to ensure safety and recovery oriented treatment. Work with other Medicaid funded providers to introduce youth and family to needed behavioral health and community resources.
• Analyze and assess home environment. This may include performing safety sweeps in the home or therapeutic foster home for children and youth with suicidal ideation and other high risk safety concerns (as identified in a Mental Health intake or crisis referral).

. Demonstrate appropriate judgement by reporting information as immediately as needed to the appropriate clinician, supervisor.

. Communicate with all reporting entities as required by law within required timeframes.

• Participate in gathering child and youth intake information and assist in determining medical eligibility for services, demonstrating an understanding of Medicaid requirements and State Access to Care Standards.
• Demonstrate an understanding of behavioral health services and their role in wellness and recovery by communicating role, responsibility and agency philosophy to assure mutual respect, confidence and trust with the child, family and other stakeholders. *Meet and engage the family communicating compassion, support, respect and enthusiasm for their recovery journey.
• Accurately complete documentation per required timeframes, to be entered into the FBH Electronic Health Record, Psych Consult.
• Deliver direct therapeutic services including Evidenced Based and Promising Practices (i.e. Cognitive Behavioral Therapies) that are customized to meet each youth and family’s uniqueness, personality, culture and interest and treatment goals as identified in their Individualized Treatment Plan.
• Deliver prescribed behavioral health services, working with assigned clinician to evaluate effectiveness of the Treatment Plan and Safety Plan, and recommend changes as needed to ensure the success of the child or youth.

Implementing Services:

• Healthcare Coordination - Work in collaboration with families, primary care physicians and healthcare specialists to support coordination of medical and behavioral health services to children/youth and their caregivers.
• Utilize Motivational Interviewing techniques to ensure therapeutic intervention maintains a focus on strengths, needs and capacities of child, youth, and their families.
• Using clinical tools in “Practice Wise” (treatment strategies manual) plan treatment sessions for children and youth identifying evidenced based services to address behavioral health needs and provide those services directly to youth in the home and community.

Qualifications

WHAT WE ARE SEEKING:

• Age 21 or older per DSHS requirements.
• Bachelor's Degree in social work, psychology, human development or related field or Associate degree in social services, mental health or related degree and three years’ experience serving children and/or families (mental health, social services, education, etc.) may substitute for Bachelor's Degree.
• Eligible to become an Agency Affiliated Counselor with WA State (HIV/Aids required).
• Proof of negative TB test within past 12 months.
• Demonstrate effective verbal and written communication.
• Availability to work flexible hours (evenings, nights, weekends).
• Ability to make visual safety and well-being assessments of family home conditions and crisis situations.
• Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, and automobile insurance.
• Must have an acceptable driving record per CCS’ driving policy (required to provide current driving abstract).
• Applicant must successfully pass required background checks prior to an offer of employment.
• Demonstrate maturity, professionalism and initiative.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Support and uphold the mission, beliefs and values of Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services.
• Demonstrates the necessary attitudes, knowledge and skills to deliver culturally competent services and work effectively in multi-cultural situations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social services, mental health or related degree and one or more years’ experience serving children and/or families (mental health, social services, education, etc.).

ABOUT ABERDEEN:

The City of Aberdeen is located in Grays Harbor County on the southern edge of the Olympic Peninsula at the convergence of the Wishkah and Chehalis Rivers. Enjoy all the area has to offer:

• The history of this area has been driven by logging and fishing industries, in the last few years there has been an effort to replace these with emphasis on tourism and designating Aberdeen as the largest retail center on the Washington Coast. Our top-notch schools help to prepare our children for their future. 
• In Aberdeen and our surrounding areas, enjoy beachcombing, birdwatching, kayaking, or quiet walks in the pristine forests.

If you are passionate about providing strength-based mental health services for children, youth and their family, we would love to hear from you!

If you are not on our careers page: please copy and paste the following URL into your browser: https://fbh-ccsww.icims.com/jobs/intro?hashed=-435738801 to view and apply for our opportunities. 

For additional questions, contact Karla Lacktorin, Regional Clinical Recruiter, at [email protected] 

Note to Internal Candidates: HR reviews internal compensation and determines increase based on their experience and also agency internal equity factors.

Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Please let us know if you need special accommodations to apply or interview for this position.