Behavioral Health Support Specialist

The Salvation Army Mission: The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

Mental Health Respite Mission: Through professionalism, nurturance, and empowerment MHR will provide supportive services with the purpose of leading participants in personal growth and improving life skills for transitioning to the least restrictive level of care within the community environment.

Summary/Primary Purpose: Provide direct service to adult individuals who experience mental health/substance use issues and homelessness. Interact with program participants with empathy, dignity, and respect. Model social, communication, time management, organizational, problem solving and work ethic skills for residents. Willing to utilize trauma informed practices and have a philosophy that is client centered and recovery orientated. Mental Health Respite provides a safe, protected, supervised residential environment on a short-term basis. The intent of the service is to support individuals by providing linkages to needed behavioral health services and assist in transition back into the community.

Mental Health Respite Program Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sH7oC__qyNE

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Provide day to day care and ensure needs of individuals residing at Mental Health Respite are met.
2. Effectively promote, teach and assist individuals with skill building and daily living skills.
3. Assist individuals in planning and participating in group, social and recreational activities.
4. Complete and maintain required documentation to include as appropriate client intake paperwork.
5. Provide a safe environment to meet the individuals needs and enhance skill acquisition.
6. Monitor participants for warning signs of crisis and intervene to prevent crisis.
7. Deliver crisis intervention when needed by participant regarding personal, symptomatic, or system related issues.
8. Establish and maintain professional and productive working relationships.
9. Maintain open communication with co-workers through shift briefings and emails regarding staff, program, building and participant announcements, barriers, and progress.
10. Complete check of unit (sharps, doors locked, etc.) and participants' whereabouts at beginning, end and throughout shift (hourly). Document findings in the appropriate setting.
11. Prepare and monitor meals for participants. This may be heating prepared food or cooking from ingredients in coordination with the posted menu.
12. Communicate with professionals and other supports of the participants through phone, fax, email, etc., to coordinate services or support systems in a professional, factual, accurate, and timely manner while upholding confidentiality.
13. Transport participant when necessary to complete goal related activities in accordance to policy and procedures for on-going treatment concerns.
14. Observe medications being taken by participants and complete appropriate documentation. Set up weekly medi-sets and set up monthly MORs for assigned participants.
15. Attend and participate in staff meetings and trainings as scheduled.
16. Administer brief assessment of participants wellbeing and make appropriate accommodations to assure safety.
17. Complete 12 hours of intensive on-going training per year based on program/participant population need such as Emergency Protective Custody training (EPC), Board of Mental Health (BOMH), Behavioral Health Diagnosis, symptomology and interventions annually.
18. Regular attendance at work is an essential function of the position.
19. Driving is an essential function of the position.
20. Provide on call coverage as needed to include coordinated efforts to fill open shifts available schedule in accordance with unit staffing ratios per regulations.
21. All other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: N/A