HEART Team: Library Embedded Behavioral Health Specialist Job Description
The HEART Library Embedded Behavioral Health Specialist hours include providing Embedded Behavioral Health Specialist services at Bellingham’s Public Library up to 40 hours per week over the course of four 10-hour shifts and HEART Outreach Case Management when not providing services at the Library. The HEART Library Embedded Behavioral Health Specialist will be available to assist with on-call duties as it relates to emergent request. HEART services are provided 7 days a week. These hours and shifts are specialized to increase access to services outside of business hours. HEART staff are dispatched to respond or co-respond to behavioral health emergent needs in efforts to assist in mitigating crises and diverting strain on crisis response systems. Co-response efforts will occur in collaboration with community partners such as Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT), Whatcom Ground-Level Response & Coordinated Engagement program (GRACE), law enforcement, and other first responders to provide wrap around services to individuals in need. The HEART team also provides follow-up and ongoing recovery support and case management services.
The HEART (Holistic Engagement through Allied Recovery and Treatment) team is a new intensive community outreach and crisis response program. HEART is a new program in addition to LWC’s comprehensive array of services created to increase access to comprehensive, quality and community-based behavioral health services and promote individual and community resiliency. The HEART team expands on existing whole-person, recovery-focused care services to increase emergent stabilization, recovery support and resource accessibility while mitigating strain on the Integrated Crisis Response System (ICRS). HEART team provides culturally competent, prevention, intervention, resource connection, case management and advocacy to individuals in the community in need of emergent stabilization and recovery support services. In addition to providing HEART Outreach Case Management services, the Library Embedded Behavioral Health Specialist will also work to provide prevention, intervention, resource referrals, and stabilization strategies the reduce risks for substance use, declining mental health conditions and related needs to impacted community members at the downtown Bellingham Public Library.
Skills and Qualifications – Skills and experience working with adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses or individuals with similar health and human service needs. Confidence in triaging, responding to and managing high risk behavioral health needs and other high stress situations.
Members of the team should have strong knowledge and experience in building and maintaining community partner and program relationships. Individuals must have a strong commitment to the right and ability of each person with a severe and persistent mental illness to live in normal community residences; and have access to helpful, adequate, competent, and continuous supports and services. As well as the skills and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with individuals and respect for client rights and personal preference in treatment.
Must have a valid Driver’s license. Must be eligible to obtain an Agency Affiliated Counselor credential in accordance with WAC 246-810-015 within 30 days of hire.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Library Embedded Behavioral Health:
· Proactively engage with library patrons to assess needs and respond accordingly.
· Outpatient community-based behavioral health outreach support services
· Intensive emergent intervention, stabilization, and de-escalation outreach services
· Non-emergent recovery outreach and healthy engagement services
· Behavioral health brief screening and assessment
· Collaborative development of plan(s) for outreach outcomes and next steps
· Referral, linkage, and resource navigation/acquisition to community-based services, including transportation options.
· Care coordination with individuals, youth, and families, along systems of care
· Community education and information/resource sharing
· Screen and address risk factors such as: low community attachment, substance use, antisocial behaviors, violence and/or victimization, education/employment/treatment disengagement, low social-economic status (SES), poor or lacking social supports, and behavioral health concerns.
· Assist individuals in engagement with protective factors that help mitigate identified risk factors.
· Sustain effective relationships with the Bellingham Public Library staff and community partners.
· Provide as-needed support to library staff during behavioral health incidents.
HEART Outreach Case Management:
· Provide face-to-face outreach and emergent stabilization and recovery support services to individuals in need in the community using the following treatment modalities: strengths-based; solution-oriented; person-centered; Recovery Model; Behavioral Health Wellness Model; Cultural Competency; and interdisciplinary care model.
· Remain with individuals at risk of experiencing a behavioral health crisis to provide stabilization and support until the situation is resolved or a referral to another service/provider is accomplished.
· Provide outreach and intervention services that are purposeful and outcome-oriented intended to improve or reduce symptoms and help facilitate resolution of situational disturbances in the least restrictive setting.
· Address access, engagement and utilization barriers of clients who have high level of need, are ambivalent about and/or not engaging in treatment by acknowledging and attending to the unique needs of the individual through outreach, communication, coordination of care, referrals, and other appropriate interventions.
· Assist with short-term stabilization support services to include life skills training and education.
· Consult with community agencies and families to provide crisis intervention support and stabilization services when appropriate in the least restrictive setting.
· Provide medication support services, such as one-on-one cueing, observing, and encouraging individuals to take medications as prescribed.
· Assess and refer individuals to appropriate services and community resources.
· Provide client-centered service coordination (case management) for assigned groups of individuals (e.g., assist with housing, ADLs, life skills, etc.)
· Advocate for clients’ rights and collaborate with community partners to maintain coordination in the treatment process.
· Provide side-by-side support, modeling, and coaching to help clients socialize and build productive skills.
· Document client progress to maintain a permanent record of client activity in EMR.
· Promote personal growth and development by assisting clients to adapt to and cope with internal and external stresses.
· Provide or assist with transportation as needed in a safe and timely manner.
· Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities.
· Inform and collaborate with psychiatrist, MHP consultation per policy, crisis beds, etc. to reduce client hospitalization/incarceration.
· Attending scheduled meetings, trainings, and supervision, as well as annual meetings.
· Establish and maintain constructive communication and a cheerful outlook with clients, agency staff, friends, family, and employers of clients, community organizations, and other service providers.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $25.00 per hour
Expected hours: 40 per week
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Medical specialties:
- Addiction Medicine
- Psychiatry
Schedule:
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Work Location: In person