Job Description:

Job Summary:

The School-Based Support Specialist is responsible for facilitating a smooth transition for individuals into community living. They achieve this by offering support and activities outlined in a comprehensive treatment plan, utilizing their expertise in psychological concepts. The role also involves coordinating mental health services with other community and practitioner-provided services. This specialist operates within school hours and on school premises, ensuring that students have access to the necessary resources and assistance during their educational journey.

Essential Job Functions:

Apply behavioral science principles to support youth in thriving in their home and community environments. Offer specialized services during school hours directly on school premises, empowering students to succeed and improve their overall functioning.

Employ a supportive educational approach that aligns with the client's treatment goals and fosters recovery and resilience. Ensure that all services are accessible and tailored to the unique needs of each student.

Engage in a range of activities designed to meet the diverse needs and objectives of the students. Adapt and innovate to deliver effective support, always prioritizing the well-being and progress of the youth.

Manage a caseload, ensuring that the number and nature of cases are coordinated with supervisory staff. Participate actively in client staffing to identify challenges and set achievable goals for treatment, taking on management responsibilities for assigned cases.

Exercise discretion and sound judgment when providing emergency services to students in emotional crisis. Offer rapid assistance and comprehensive follow-up, including outreach and engagement for missed appointments.

Collaborate closely with Brightli Operational Guidelines and adhere to professional ethical codes. Contribute to staff development activities and actively engage in self-evaluation processes.

Support management requirements, including data collection, program evaluation, grant applications, and contract maintenance. Participate in quality assurance procedures and adhere to clinical records protocols.

Demonstrate responsiveness to emergency situations, utilizing discretion and judgment to provide rapid aid. Coordinate comprehensive follow-up services, including outreach and engagement for students who miss appointments.

Function as a vital team member, contributing to staff development activities and embracing self-evaluation practices. Stay attuned to management needs, such as data collection and program evaluation, and actively participate in grant application processes and contract maintenance.

Embrace quality assurance procedures and cooperate with utilization review processes. Adhere to the established rules, procedures, and regulations of the Clinical Records Department to ensure efficient and effective service delivery.

Conducting outreach and home visits as necessary to engage with clients, particularly during school breaks or as needed to support the client's journey.

Be prepared to take on additional responsibilities as needed to ensure the successful provision of mental health services to clients. Adapt to evolving needs and demonstrate flexibility in delivering support.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of case management and rehabilitation methods, principles and techniques as they relate to mental health and/or substance use disorders.

Knowledge of the problems encountered by persons with mental health and/or substance use disorders and how to access the various community resources available.

Knowledge of the methods and modalities as well as the legal requirements and court procedures related to treating mental health and substance use disorders.

Ability to problem solve and communicate ideas clearly and effectively, verbally and in writing to produce clear and concise reports.

Ability to be self-motivated to provide high-level performance while meeting the complex needs of the clients and their families.

Ability to multi-task and coordinate services from a variety of community resources, while maintaining proper communications with all staff (e.g. admissions, process, and discharge plans).

Ability to establish effective relationships with youth and their families via telephone and personal contacts.

Ability to follow direction and accept supervision.

Experience and Education Qualifications:

An individual with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, or other human services specialized field of study; or

An individual with a Bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field and two years of related work experience; or

Any four-year combination of higher education and two years of related work experience, or

An Associate’s of Applied Science in Behavioral Health Support will also fulfill educational requirements; or

An individual with four years of qualifying experience*.

*Qualifying experience must include delivery of services to individuals with mental health disorders, substance use disorders or developmental disabilities. Experience must include some combination of the following:

Providing one-on-one or group services with a rehabilitation/habilitation and recovery/resiliency focus;

Teaching and modeling for individuals how to cope and manage psychiatric, developmental, or substance use disorder issues while encouraging the use of natural resources;

Supporting individuals in their efforts to find and maintain employment and/or to function appropriately in family, school, and community settings;

Assisting individuals to achieve the goals and objectives in their individual treatment plan.

Supervisory Requirements:

None

Employment Requirements:

Successful completion of background check including criminal record, driving record, abuse/neglect and fingerprint check.

Completion of New Hire Orientation at the beginning of employment.

All training requirements including Relias at the beginning of employment and annually thereafter.

Current driver’s license, acceptable driving record and current auto insurance.

Obtain trainings to assist in professional development meeting DMH Standards. 

Extensive knowledge of the policies, procedures, and regulations of the program to which the employee is assigned.

Valid Driver’s license in state of residency with an acceptable driving record is required.

Must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age to operate a company-owned vehicle.

Must be at least twenty-three (23) years of age to operate a company-owned fifteen (15) passenger van.

Must have reliable means of transportation in order to transport clients in personal vehicle.

Proof of valid and current auto insurance is required.

Physical Requirements:

ADA Consideration - Sedentary work:  Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (exists up the 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (exists 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, or pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body.  Repetitive movements of hands, fingers, and arms for typing and/or writing during work shift.

Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time.  Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Position Perks & Benefits:

Paid time off: full-time employees receive an attractive time off package to balance your work and personal life

Employee benefits package: full-time employees receive health, dental, vision, retirement, life, & more

Top-notch training: initial, ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive

Career mobility: advancement opportunities/promoting from within

Welcoming, warm, supportive: a work culture & environment that promotes your well-being, values you as human being, and encourages your health and happiness

Brightli is on a Mission:

A mission to improve client care, reduce the financial burden of community mental health centers by sharing resources, a mission to have a larger voice in advocacy to increase access to mental health and substance user care in our communities, and a mission to evolve the behavioral health industry to better meet the needs of our clients.

As a behavioral and community mental health provider, we value diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workforce and encourage applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. If you are passionate about empowering your local communities and promoting health equity, we invite you to join our mission-driven organization that is committed to building a diverse, equitable, inclusive and authentic workplace.

We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, and encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expressions, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability or veteran status, or to other non-work related factors.

Adult & Child Health is a Smoke and Tobacco Free Workplace.