Mental Health Engagement Specialist - Youth & Adult Services (JTC)

About the job

Frontier Behavioral Health is hiring a full-time Mental Health Engagement Specialist (MHES) for Youth and Adult Services (JTC) in Spokane. Working alongside mental health clinicians, peer support specialists and mental health care providers, the specialist supports clients of all ages, acting as the main care team contact for clients who are enrolling or already enrolled, and may carry a reduced caseload of about 30 clients.

Frontier Behavioral Health is a Spokane nonprofit offering evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment for adults, youth and seniors facing many kinds of behavioral health issues. Its Youth and Adult Services (YAS) outpatient program offers individual, group and family therapy, peer support and child and family services, and clients may choose to involve family or others in their voluntary treatment.

What you'll do

• Give episodic counseling that is trauma-informed and person-centered, using evidence-based practices within your scope of practice
• Act as the primary member of the care team for clients who are enrolling or already enrolled, manage incoming clients and their orientations, and support clients before their first outpatient appointment
• Provide services in life areas such as health, education, employment, social and family life, culture, recreation, spirituality or religion and housing, with a trauma-informed, client-centered approach that follows the clinician and recovery models
• Offer services such as sleep hygiene, mindfulness, emotional regulation, psychoeducation, cognitive coping, behavioral activation, communication basics and work on strengths and values, and give mental health measures with feedback
• Engage clients with supportive listening, psychoeducation and skill building, educate and refer them to resources, follow up in the short term, and provide backup response for unplanned client needs
• Lead and co-lead client treatment and orientation groups
• Complete suicide and homicide risk assessments and review them; when risk shows, consult a supervisor on the response needed for safety, then carry out safety plans and interventions
• Conduct risk assessments, create and carry out safety plans, and provide crisis intervention and stabilization as needed, including helping clients reach inpatient behavioral health care
• Coordinate care by including the client's support network, helping clients find and access resources, and providing employment and housing help when appropriate and necessary
• Keep client records, FBH charting, correspondence, HRIS entries and other paperwork complete, timely and confidential, follow state rules and FBH policies, and attend required supervision and weekly clinical staff meetings

What you need

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, in social work, psychology or another related field
• Within 30 days of hire, apply for the Counselor Agency Affiliated – Registered credential through the WA State Department of Health
• A valid, unrestricted driver's license and active car insurance, and willingness to drive a personal vehicle for work
• Knowledge of the Washington administrative codes and statutes covering mental health treatment and service delivery
• Excellent oral and written communication that is clear, positive, prompt and appropriate, while keeping client information confidential
• Proven active listening skills that show respect, professionalism, engagement, a positive attitude and empathy
• Work with clients in the office and across the community, including residences, group living settings, hospitals, shelters and the streets, some of which may not be clean or habitable
• Able to drive, walk up to several city blocks over varied terrain, climb stairs and get in and out of vehicles often
• Daily computer use, and possibly lifting 10 to 20 pounds

Preferred

• One year of work experience with people who have a psychiatric impairment
• Experience with crisis intervention

Schedule

• Full-time
• Travel to see clients in the community and between work sites
• Services for clients of all ages in virtual, office and community-based settings

Benefits

• Quarterly productivity incentives
• Paid time off, accruing up to 26 days in the first year, plus 9 paid federal holidays
• Paid sick and safe time, plus extended sick leave
• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• A 403b plan with a 3% employer contribution and a further 3% employer match
• Flexible spending accounts
• Company-paid life insurance starting the first of the month after 6 months from the hire date
• A sign-on bonus
• Free licensure supervision for staff working toward clinical licensure
• Eligibility for federal and state loan forgiveness through qualifying programs
• Reimbursement of the required license or certification application fee
• A free Employee Assistance Program and staff discounts with FBH partners around Spokane