Under general supervision, assists professional and para-professional staff in implementing behavioral health (inclusive of mental health and substance use disorder) consumer services; and performs related or other work as required in accordance with Rule 3, Section 3 of the Civil Service Rules.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
This is the journey level in the Behavioral Health Outreach Worker series. Employees in this class perform a range of supportive activities, teaching and field work, assisting and working under the direction of professional and para-professional staff. Employees in this class perform duties with relative independence.
TYPICAL DUTIES
Assists various behavioral health professional and paraprofessional staff by providing a wide variety of services in the areas of community behavioral health programs.
Assists in teaching basic behavioral health coping skills to clients and families, particularly in areas of utilizing the resources of the children's, adult and older adult systems of care; may assist in teaching basic behavioral health concepts of support, relationships, crisis management, medication management, vocational involvement and related areas.
Provides outreach to locate persons who may need additional support and services to maintain and develop optimal functioning in the community; may assist in providing follow-up counseling as to treatment options and resources available; learns to make referrals as appropriate.
Assists in interviewing clients, gathering, and assembling related information and preparing reports; maintains appropriate records and files. May obtain information from clients on non-clinical intake forms.
Participates in development of programs and delivery of services for behavioral health consumers; learns to provide information and counseling regarding rights, complaint and grievance procedures, and advocacy.
Provides basic community behavioral health education to consumers, family groups, community groups, and other interested persons.
May be required to perform basic housekeeping and maintenance tasks while caring for and assisting clients; May transport clients and assist with other community referrals or appointments. May be required to pick up and deliver supplies, food, or other program related materials.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
EITHER PATTERN I
Experience: One year as a Behavioral Health Outreach Worker Trainee.
OR PATTERN II
Experience: One-year responsible work experience at a community-based organization providing behavioral health services to culturally diverse adults, older adults, or children.
AND FOR BOTH PATTERNS
License: Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.
Special Requirements– If required by assignment:
Must self-identify as an individual with lived experience of the recovery process related to mental illness or substance use disorder either through personal experience or as a care giver or family member.
Must have the ability to become a Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist and obtain certification within 1 year of hire.
KNOWLEDGE
Basic individual and community behavioral health needs and problems; behavioral health organizations and resources; basic principles of human behavior; basic report writing, data gathering and record keeping practices; basic interviewing principles and practices.
ABILITY
Fluently speak, read and write the English language; learn a wide variety of behavioral health programs and procedures; understand and follow technical written and oral-directions; understand and work effectively with diverse cultural and ethnic groups; work with individuals with severe and persistent behavioral health problems; learn to make verbal presentations to highly diverse community groups; establish and maintain effective working relationship with staff, clients and the general public; learn basic principles of teaching or counseling.
PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Mobility-Constant walking; frequent operating of keyboard, standing for long periods, pushing/pulling, bending/squatting and stair climbing; Visual-Frequent overall vision and reading/close-up work; Dexterity-Constant holding and writing; frequent repetitive motion; Hearing/Talking-Constant hearing of normal speech, hearing on the telephone, constant talking in person and talking on the telephone; Emotional/Psychological-Constant public contact, decision making and concentration.
San Joaquin County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and, upon request, will consider reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
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