San Mateo County Health is seeking a well-qualified individual for the position of Lead Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Specialist to, under general supervision, provide lead support in training and assigning, directing, and reviewing the work of professional staff and service providers in the assigned areas; performing the more complex assignments with minimal guidance and/or direction and that requires specialized knowledge in the areas of Integrated Medication Assisted Treatment (IMAT) policies and procedures, primary care setting and behavioral health; manage assigned caseloads; assist with supervisory functions in the absence of the supervisor; and perform related duties as assigned.

The current vacancy is in the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Division's Primary Care Interface Team and will be stationed at various locations, but may travel/drive throughout the county to attend meetings, coordinate care with providers, outreach to community-based organizations, etc.

The Lead BHRS Specialist position would provide support to the team's structure and participate in the Officer of the Day shifts. Provide lead direction and assistance with non-clinical functions to four (4) Primary Care Interface IMAT case managers, community partnering in the field, IMAT and other data gathering, monitoring, and reporting. The Lead would assign and monitor cases from Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) channel, triage and assign mental health and substance use referrals, provide warm hand-off support to primary care providers, provide direct service to complex co-occurring clients, start groups; document clinical services into multiple electronic health records, transport clients to various appointments, train employees on processes, documentation, and other division-specific protocols and guidelines.

The Lead would handle complex caseloads, including high profile cases, referrals from other case managers and/or higher-level managers, facilitate the lengthy and detailed process for obtaining housing vouchers, increase Primary Care Interface presence in the clinics to promote IMAT, educate providers and provide consultation to four (4) Primary Care Interface IMAT case managers.

The Primary Care Interface program is county-wide and serves a vulnerable and under-served population. The Lead will transport clients to various appointments, develop and maintain strong community partnerships, including presentations, referral coordination, and/or acting as a liaison, serve as the lead change agent within a team in developing integrated services for individuals with co-occurring mental health and/or alcohol and substance use, establish and utilize knowledge of eligibility, community resources and linkages for clients. Assist with special projects as assigned.

The ideal candidate will possess:

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  Experience providing leadership and guidance to a mental health and substance use disorder treatment team.
  
• Experience providing support and consultation to primary care and members of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Advanced expertise working in the field of alcohol and other drug services.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with primary care, residential treatment programs, community-based organizations, shelters and other BHRS programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience as a Case Management/Assessment Specialist III in the County is preferred; with valid certification as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor-Certified Addiction Specialist by a Department of Health Care Services approved agency.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• 
  Provide consultation and direction to other client-facing staff.
• Provide input into selection decisions, performance evaluations and corrective action matters.
• Perform deep analysis on client data as it relates to assigned area of expertise and determine a course of action.
• Perform mental health counseling or alcohol and drug case assessment responsibilities or other duties typically performed by a licensed clinician under strict supervision of a clinician and as policy allows.
• Handle the more difficult or complex caseloads, including high profile cases, referrals from other case managers or higher-level managers.
• Determine and develop appropriate treatment plans for all clients in the caseload and carry a caseload of higher acuity clients.
• Serve as the lead change agent within a team in developing integrated services for people with co-occurring mental health and/or alcohol and drug problems.
• Participate in division level policy and planning activities on the recovery model.
• Act as liaison and representative of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services with community providers.
• Establish and utilize knowledge of eligibility and community resources and linkages for clients.
• Participate in the organization of community groups and the development of special projects.
• Lead, assign and review the work of behavioral health and recovery professionals and other staff providing a variety of services to clients with severe emotional, social adjustment or substance abuse problems and receiving treatment.
• Train new and current employees on processes; orient new staff with all documentation requirements and other division-specific protocols and guidelines.
• Assist with special projects as assigned.

• Basic supervisory principles and practices, if assigned as lead.
• Community resources available for treatment of clients and other resources/strategies for client referrals.
• Workload planning and prioritizing techniques.
• Automated case management systems.
• Principles and practices of the specific program area to which assigned.
• Specialized technical knowledge related to assigned program area.
• Individual, group and community behavior.
• Prevention methods and treatment procedures related to alcohol and drug disorders, mental and emotional illness and personality disorders.
• Principles of counseling, including group leader functions.
• Reporting requirements for assigned area.
• Social aspects of drug, alcohol, mental and emotional problems.
• Principles, philosophy, practices, materials, trends and literature related to alcohol and drug disorders, mental and emotional illness, personality disorders and their attendant problems.
• Various models of addiction.
• Appropriate methods and use of assessment to evaluate and assess alcohol and drug disorders.
• Techniques and dynamics of assessment and engagement.

• Plan, assign, direct and review the work of others and train others in work procedures.
• Develop and evaluate creative approaches to the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of alcohol, drug, mental and emotional disorders.
• Interview clients, families and other professionals for the purpose of gathering information and obtain and record social, physical, educational and work histories.
• Write clear, accurate and concise reports.
• Interpret data.
• Establish and maintain the confidence and cooperation of clients including those of varied ethnic and social backgrounds.
• Develop relationships with the treatment provider communities, courts, probation and other professional agencies/staff.
• Speak effectively before groups.
• Exercise tact.
• Function as a team member.

Departmental Promotional Only. Only current County of San Mateo employees in San Mateo County Health with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, Confidential and Management extra-help/limited term, and SEIU or AFSCME represented extra help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date may apply.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

~ TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE ~
Final Filing Date: April 10, 2023
Application Screening: April 11, 2023
Combined Civil Service Panel and Department Interviews: April 17, 2023

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities. The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work. The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels.
We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Talent Acquisition Analyst: Yvonne Alvidrez (032823) (Lead Behavioral Health and Recovery Services Specialist-G242)