Behavioral Health Specialist - Residential Services

Excitement abounds at Heritage Behavioral Health Center!

We are a mission-driven Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic located in Decatur, Illinois who is dedicated to improving mental health and substance use care to individuals in a multi-county area. We recognize that all individuals at our organization have an impact on patient care - regardless of the position they hold.

Why join us?

• We offer a collaborative work environment, opportunities for professional growth, and a comprehensive benefits package.
• We are expanding our primary care, mental health and substance use services to individuals in Central Illinois and beyond and are looking for dedicated staff to meet the needs of our clientele.
• A new salary structure is now in place! Our salaries have been updated and are competitive at both the state and national levels with wonderful benefits.
• Full-time employees receive 56 paid days off during their 1^st year of employment (this includes every other Friday off PAID for your wellness needs). This increases to 61 days the 2^nd year and continues to increase with tenure.
• We have expanded our employee insurance benefit offerings and made them more affordable.

At Heritage, we believe in taking care of our staff's needs so that they can concentrate on taking care of the needs of the individuals we serve. Our staff are our greatest asset, and we treat them as such!

We are pleased to present the following position for your consideration:

Overview: Behavioral Health Specialist

Heritage has full-time positions within our group home and supportive living residential programs to provide engagement, support, and skill-building to assist adults in our residential programs. These programs provide a wide array of services for individuals with mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders. These positions work collaboratively with clients, community providers/organizations, and other Heritage staff. Residential programs operate 24 hours each day and require rotating weekends.

Residential Shifts available include:

• 1^st shift; 7:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
• 2^nd shift; 3:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
• 3^rd shift; 11:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m.

Core Responsibilities Include:

• Daily face-to-face contact with clients to provide active listening, support, and encouragement
• Assist with developing and practicing coping skills to manage mental health, substance use, and/or health-related symptoms
• Assist clients with learning and practicing skills to live independently, including day-to-day activities such as preparing meals, housekeeping, time management, and budgeting to ensure basic needs are met
• Provide medication monitoring and medication training to assist clients with learning how to self-administer medications, how to identify symptoms and side effects, and how to communicate concerns to providers
• Coordination and active participation in the referral and linkage to all healthcare, including primary care, specialty care, testing and treatment for high-risk conditions, mental health, dental, and vision
• Assistance with maintaining eligible benefits, including Medicaid, Social Security, Link Cards, and other entitlements
• Assistance with navigating how to support and assist clients with employment and education
• Assistance with developing positive, supportive activities (re-establishing relationships with friends and family members, support groups, wellness activities, or identifying/participating in positive social activities that support recovery)
• Assistance in engaging and linking individuals to accessing eligible transportation options
• Participate in a team-based approach to providing treatment, including collaboration with clinicians, nursing, healthcare providers, probation, and other partners invested in the individual's recovery
• Attend clinical staffing(s) to collaborate with providers to coordinate treatment, including counselors, engagement staff, nursing, and clinical leaders
• Document in the electronic health record daily on interventions, client's response, and client's progress in treatment

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to be a role model, confidante, caregiver, teacher, and support
• Ability to work with individuals with a mental health and/or substance use diagnosis
• Ability to meet people where they are at in their recovery, be non-judgmental, and have the ability to build rapport
• Ability to work in a team-based environment
• Ability to tolerate ambiguity, uncertainty, and change
• Ability to navigate electronic health records
• Ability to work rotating schedule - every other weekend required

Education and Experience:

• A high school diploma or equivalent;
• Minimum of 21 years of age;
• A valid driver's license, reliable means of transportation, and proof of automobile insurance coverage are required.

Salary Range: $37,440-$45,760 per year ($18.00 - $22.00 per hour) - dependent on education and experience

Heritage also offers the following with this position:

1. Generous vacation, sick and personal leave
2. WELLNESS days - 26 days per year (every other Friday off paid)
3. Paid holidays - 9 in 2024
4. Health Club/Fitness Reimbursement
5. Employee Assistance Program
6. Continuing education opportunities
7. Tuition assistance program
8. Agency provided life insurance and short-term disability policies
9. Retirement plans (401k and Roth)
10. Optional insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, flex spending accounts (healthcare, dependent care), and additional life insurance. (The health insurance benefit includes substantial agency contribution towards the cost.)
11. We are a National Health Service Corp site which gives staff access to the National Health Service Corp federal student loan forgiveness program (LCPC, LCSW, MD, APN, RN, CADC, LSW, and LPC individuals). For more information, visit www.hrsa.gov.