Behavioral Health Support Specialist

Job Title: Behavioral Health Support Specialist
Reports To: Director of Behavioral Health
Location: Cave Junction. Oregon
Job Type: Full Time
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Pay Range: $21-$26.50+/hour DOE
Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM -5:00 PM

Job Summary:

The Behavioral Health Support Specialist (BSS) is a core member of the Illinois Valley Mobile Health Unit team, responsible for coordinating behavioral health care, supporting patient treatment and follow-up, and facilitating referrals to clinically indicated services. The BSS works collaboratively with primary care providers (PCPs), behavioral health providers, and other members of the care team to support patient engagement, treatment adherence, and improved clinical outcomes.

This position primarily operates aboard the mobile health unit, serving patients throughout Cave Junction and surrounding areas. When the mobile unit is not deployed, the BSS supports care delivery at the Cave Junction clinic. All duties are performed within the scope of the position's certification and applicable regulations.

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Coordinate behavioral health care with patients' primary care providers and other behavioral health providers, as appropriate.
• Screen patients for common mental health and substance use disorders.
• Educate patients about mental health and substance use disorders, available treatment options, and recovery resources.
• Monitor patients' clinical symptoms, treatment progress, medication adherence, side effects, and potential complications through in-person and telephone follow-up.
• Support psychotropic medication management as prescribed by primary care providers, within the scope of practice.
• Provide brief, evidence-based interventions, such as Behavioral Activation, Problem-Solving Treatment, and Motivational Interviewing, as appropriate for primary care settings.
• Facilitate referrals to evidence-based psychosocial treatments, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), when clinically indicated.
• Participate in scheduled caseload consultations with the psychiatric consultant for new patients and those not improving as expected.
• Communicate treatment recommendations from psychiatric consultations to primary care providers.
• Promote patient engagement, continuity of care, and timely follow-up.
• Track patient follow-up and clinical outcomes using the electronic health record (EHR) and applicable patient registries.
• Document patient encounters, progress, and treatment recommendations accurately in the EHR to support communication among the care team.
• Use patient registries and tracking systems to identify and re-engage patients who need follow-up.
• Facilitate referrals to additional services, including housing assistance, vocational rehabilitation, specialty mental health care, and substance use disorder treatment.
• Support relapse prevention planning for patients in remission.

Working Conditions:

• Work Environment: Primarily field-based aboard the Illinois Valley Mobile Health Unit, with work performed at the Cave Junction clinic when the unit is not deployed.. May have exposure to airborne or blood-borne pathogens and hazardous materials. Uses computers, telephones, electronic health records, and standard office equipment.
• Travel Requirements: Local travel to community locations, meetings, health fairs, and partner agencies. Requires a valid, unrestricted Oregon driver's license, automobile insurance, and safe driving record.
• Physical Demands: Ability to stand, walk, sit, bend, reach, push, carry, and lift as required to perform job duties. Ability to maintain physical mobility throughout the clinic. Vision and hearing must be within functional range, with corrective devices as needed.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

Education:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Valid Oregon Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) qualification meeting applicable state and federal requirements for certification, licensure, and degree.
• Mental Health First Aid certification preferred, or commitment to complete within six months of hire.
• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) completion required, or commitment to complete within six months of hire.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification required, or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.

Experience:

• Experience screening for common mental health and/or substance use disorders.
• Experience engaging patients in person and by telephone to support treatment, follow-up, and care coordination.
• Experience documenting patient encounters and tracking clinical outcomes in an electronic health record (EHR).

Knowledge & Skills

• Ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary care team.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to maintain professional relationships with patients, providers, and colleagues.
• Ability to establish therapeutic relationships with patients, as appropriate to the role.
• Ability to engage and support patients through both in-person and telephone interactions.
• Knowledge or experience in screening for common mental health and substance use disorders.
• Working knowledge of common mental health and substance use disorder diagnoses, as appropriate to the role.
• Familiarity with brief, structured, evidence-based intervention techniques, including Motivational Interviewing and Behavioral Activation.
• Basic knowledge of psychopharmacology related to common mental health disorders, within the scope of practice.
• Ability to document patient encounters, track clinical outcomes, and maintain accurate electronic health records.
• Ability to support patient engagement, treatment adherence, follow-up, and coordination of referrals.

.Comprehensive Benefits Package

At Siskiyou Community Health Center, we’re committed to supporting the health, financial well-being, and work-life balance of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) & Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 403(b) Retirement Plan & Retirement Savings Opportunities
• Paid Time Off, Holiday & Paid Sick Time
• Family Leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Life Insurance
• Employer paid Mercy Flights Membership
• Tuition Reimbursement & Professional Development Support
• Mileage Reimbursement

Pre-Employment Requirements: Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a post-offer background check, employment verification, and drug screening. The drug screening must produce a negative result for marijuana and other substances prohibited by the organization’s drug-free workplace policy.

At-Will Employment: Siskiyou Community Health Center is an ‘At-Will’ employer. Nothing in this job description should be interpreted as an employment contract.