Pay is commensurate with experience within a range of $18.75 - $22.32 per hour. Full time, non-exempt, benefits eligible. Bert Nash offers excellent benefits which include medical, dental, vision, KPERS retirement, life insurance, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing free counseling and resources, and generous PTO.

Caring. Hope. Giving back. Our mission at the Bert Nash Center as the Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) of Douglas County is to advance the health of the community through comprehensive behavioral health services responsive to evolving needs and changing environments. We accomplish this by believing in our team. Each person that works for the Bert Nash Center contributes directly to the success of our clients, organization, and community. Our values of compassion, integrity, equity and hope reflect in everything we do.

Responsibilities and Duties: 

The primary responsibility of the Behavioral Health Specialist position will be to provide supervision and supportive services in a transitional residential environment that serves adults with recurrent mental health disorders. Consistency is a must.

Specific duties include:

1. maintaining a safe, stable, supportive, and productive environment during the time spent with residents for the purpose of reducing the need for hospitalization and promoting a successful transition to permanent, community-based housing;
2. monitoring resident safety and medication adherence;
3. providing services as a member of a pool of Community Support staff, to be activated on an as-needed basis for attendant and psychosocial services;
4. Helping consumers regain the ability to make independent choices and take a proactive role in treatment. Specific activities may include:
5. helping consumers discuss questions or concerns about medications, diagnosis or treatment approaches with their treating clinician;
6. helping consumers articulate in their own words their goals and aspirations in the development of their individualized plan.
7. Engaging residents during un-structured time to help build social skills and model recovery strategies;
8. providing individualized support within the transitional living environment, as well as providing attendant care services in a variety of settings with the primary purpose being to maintain the client in the community and reduce the risk of hospitalization;
9. assisting with preparation and facilitation of psycho-social groups designed to increase life skills and independent functioning;
10. assist in acclimating new residents by following established admission procedures;
11. serving as a primary point of contact for, as well as consulting with, case manager, treatment team, family, or other agencies to provide good follow through on treatment plans and linkage to needed BNC or community services;
12. implementing structured time, activities, and behavioral interventions designed to increase daily living skills and prepare residents for independent living;
13. delivering reimbursable hours of service compliant with established standards;
14. completing all documentation associated with services provided in a timely and accurate manner;
15. assisting with the evolution of an effective, efficient preventative program of services;
16. Assist in management of supply inventory, reporting maintenance needs and/or safety concerns to Program Supervisor and/or Program Manager;
17. attend weekly staff meetings;
18. provide crisis on-call services as needed-required on call rotation of 3-4 nights per month and
19. regular and predictable attendance is an essential function of the job.

Additional responsibilities may be assigned as circumstances warrant.

B. Accountability: The Behavioral Health Specialist will be directly accountable to the Program Manager or his/her designee. The Program Manager or his/her designee will, no less than annually, complete a performance evaluation in compliance with personnel policies.

C. Qualifications: The Behavioral Health Specialist position requires:

1. Have one year of college course work in the field of human services or one year of experience in the field of human services; or other experiences with adults who have severe and persistent mental illness which can serve as a basis for understanding symptoms and treatment; a combination of at least one year of education, and/or work, and/or experience in the field of human services can substitute for a year in any one area;

2. reliable transportation and valid, unrestricted driver's license;

3. be 21 years or older;

4. prior computer experience and basic computer fluency; familiarity with MS SharePoint is a plus

5. must be able to achieve within one's first 6 months of employment a working competency in the management and use of the Center's electronic medical record (EMR) software as demonstrated by timely and accurate documentation of the clinical record;

6. an ability to work independently and in cooperation with others;

7. strong organizational and time management skills;

8. strong oral and written communication skills;

9. strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations;

10. demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment in a variety of situations;

11. some flexibility in assigned working hours; occasional work on holidays, weekends or overnights

12. a commitment to interdisciplinary and community mental health center approaches; and

13. an energetic and positive approach to the rapidly evolving changes and challenges of a complex workplace.

14. must be able to perform light housekeeping tasks (sweeping, mopping, etc.)