Mental Health Specialist Job Description
Mental health specialist
provides direct mental health services, which include crisis intervention, individual, family and group counseling.
Mental Health Specialist Duties & Responsibilities
To write an effective mental health specialist job description, begin by listing detailed duties, responsibilities and expectations. We have included mental health specialist job description templates that you can modify and use.
Sample responsibilities for this position include:
Provide crisis intervention and appropriate referrals to inpatient and community services
Regularly assign, instruct, and check the work of Mental Health Specialists and other staff
Serve as a clinical expert acting as a resource to staff in initiating care plans, discharge planning with interdisciplinary staff, and interpreting the Involuntary Treatment Act
Act as a liaison for the department with providers, nurses, and external authorities
Provide feedback to coordinate appropriate staffing levels for the department
Provide feedback on MHS 1 and 2 performances
Resolve clinic issues such as treatment plans, staff assignments, and safety hazards
Assist in evaluating and identifying policies and procedures to suggest operational changes
Perform basis physical care and other tasks delegated by supervisor or Charge RN
Assist in maintaining safe, therapeutic milieu (including completing safety rounds every hour during the day and every 15 minutes at night)
Mental Health Specialist Qualifications
Qualifications for a job description may include education, certification, and experience.
Licensing or Certifications for Mental Health Specialist
List any licenses or certifications required by the position: CPR, BLS, HWC, AHA, AASP
Education for Mental Health Specialist
Typically a job would require a certain level of education.
Employers hiring for the mental health specialist job most commonly would prefer for their future employee to have a relevant degree such as Bachelor's and Collage Degree in Health, Psychology, Social Work, Education, Graduate, Behavioral Science, Counseling, Social Science, Therapy, Human Services
Skills for Mental Health Specialist
Desired skills for mental health specialist include:
Crisis intervention
Mental health consultation
Mental health counseling
Identification of mental health issues
Assessment techniques
Crisis intervention techniques
Mental health issues
Each patient as an individual within the framework of the family
Understanding of family systems dynamics
Word processing and data entry
Desired experience for mental health specialist includes:
Contribute to ongoing psychosocial patient assessments
Use clinical expertise when initiating patient care plans with interdisciplinary team and implements plan of care
Deescalate potentially dangerous situations and promotes stability on unit, maintains patient/staff safety and manages aggressive patient behavior
Lead therapeutic individual and group sessions
Determine when immediate intervention is needed and provides direction in emergencies
Determine when further evaluation is required in order to involuntarily detain a patient
Mental Health Specialist Examples
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Mental Health Specialist Job Description
Job Description Example
Our innovative and growing company is searching for experienced candidates for the position of mental health specialist. To join our growing team, please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications.
Responsibilities for mental health specialist
- Participate in the training of staff, students, and volunteers in the unit
- May provide direction or assign tasks to other staff
- Recognizes and communicates abnormal findings to nursing and case management team
- Recognize and communicates observations related to effects and side effects of medications and signs of substance intoxication, withdrawal, and over-sedation
- Adhere to HMC policies related to documenting all aspects of care
- Provide patient/family education regarding patient disposition
- Incorporate discharge planning into patient care
- Communicate with providers, authorities and others for patients’ continued care including the emergency department
- Document using the computerized medical record
- Stocs and organize all areas of medical respite
Qualifications for mental health specialist
- Provides direct supervision to children (ages 5-11 years) residing in the Children’s Transitional Residence
- Functions as a member of the unit team
- Develops knowledge of UHBC and program policies and procedures
- Assists Special Education Teacher in the classroom providing education services to children
- Helps implement the classroom behavior management system
- Participates in the development of children’s individual Treatment Plan
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Mental Health Specialist Job Description
Job Description Example
Our growing company is hiring for a mental health specialist. If you are looking for an exciting place to work, please take a look at the list of qualifications below.
Responsibilities for mental health specialist
- Interacts with child/patients (ages 5-11 years) in a therapeutic manner
- Participates in the assessment and treatment of children (ages 5-11 years)
- Maintains knowledge of University Behavioral Health Care and Unit policies and procedures
- Interacts with children and adolescents (ages 5-18 years) in a therapeutic, supportive manner
- Provides case management and youth development activities to students
- Maintains knowledge of UBHC and unit policies and procedures
- Maintains cooperative working relationship with others and assumes appropriate leadership functions
- Completes required documentation according to established guidelines and time frames
- Completes assignments in accordance with established unit time frames, as observed by supervisor
- Assisting with various aspects of case management
Qualifications for mental health specialist
- Meeting with clients to assess case management needs
- Assisting with behavioral health/pharmaceutical benefit issues
- Assisting with appointment scheduling
- Attend interdisciplinary team meetings community meetings to discuss and promote employment services
- Develops knowledge of UBHC and program policies and procedures
- Co-facilitating activity groups
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Mental Health Specialist Job Description
Job Description Example
Our company is searching for experienced candidates for the position of mental health specialist. If you are looking for an exciting place to work, please take a look at the list of qualifications below.
Responsibilities for mental health specialist
- Planning for program activities
- Patrol grounds by foot or by vehicle for the protection and security of buildings, equipment, living areas, and fenced-in areas
- Respond to calls for assistance or for emergencies relating to resident disturbances, CSU admissions, medical emergencies, fires and other types of disaster situations
- Operate the Welcome Center
- Patrol for traffic and parking violations
- Conduct hospital-wide fire drills
- Make routine inspections of buildings in designated zones
- Serve as Centrex Operator
- Provide escort of residents to and from institution terminals and other hospitals and mental health facilities
- Assist Transportation with medical runs as needed
Qualifications for mental health specialist
- Successful completion of a one (1) year training program as a Mental Health Specialist Trainee or one (1) year of similar full-time experience in the mental health field
- CPR/First Aid certification or qualify to obtain within six (6) months of hire
- Requires an Associate Degree, preferably in a related field, including 12 credits in human services in areas such as psychology or its equivalent
- Participate as a designee in meetings, special projects, or special functions as appointed, representing the department in a professional and courteous manner
- A high school diploma or its equivalent and two years of experience providing for the safety and security of patients and/or staff in either a residential or outpatient mental health or acute care facility
- Successful completion of a basic recruit training course or its equivalent can substitute for the required experience
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Mental Health Specialist Job Description
Job Description Example
Our company is searching for experienced candidates for the position of mental health specialist. To join our growing team, please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications.
Responsibilities for mental health specialist
- Assist with project management for residential development by preparing and reviewing grant documents for compliance with OMH regulations and standards
- Review proposed operating budgets with OMH Budget and Fiscal staff
- Participate and manage special projects associated with the Housing Unit’s responsibility in the areas of planning, housing policy, and review of housing needs
- Gather and analyze information from residential database systems
- Prepare vouchers to disburse OMH capital funds, gather information in preparation for mortgage closing to disburse bond proceeds
- Review, score, and comment on Request for Proposals (RFP) submissions for opportunities in housing development
- Review and comment on Prior Approval Review (PAR) applications on development of new housing programs
- Contributions to development and revision of written plan of care
- Respond to concerns, questions, or complaints regarding mental health care in New York State
- Answer calls to the 1-800 line from 1pm-9pm, Monday through Friday
Qualifications for mental health specialist
- One (1) or more years of experience in child behavioral services
- A high school diploma or equivalent plus four (4) years of related work or life experience
- Candidates with a Bachelor’s Degree will qualify for this position
- Successful completion of college course work with a major course of study in one of the social, behavioral or rehabilitative sciences can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required work experience
- Ability to perform investigations
- Ability to read, interpret and apply regulatory materials
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Mental Health Specialist Job Description
Job Description Example
Our company is growing rapidly and is hiring for a mental health specialist. To join our growing team, please review the list of responsibilities and qualifications.
Responsibilities for mental health specialist
- Respond to any letters/emails that may come regarding same
- Ensure follow up regarding the concern/complaint
- The incumbent will also be part of a regular standby on-call rotation to triage incidents referred to OMH by the Justice Center outside of normal business hours
- Perform comprehensive assessments of patients and the relevant systems to formulate diagnoses and plan appropriate interventions
- Serve as a conduit for accurate and timely information to key people on potential or current patients
- Provide information and consultations to patients, potential patients, families, significant others, physicians, hospital staff, and to communities in general to assess mental health needs
- Providing technical assistance related to best practices for assisting people with SMI to acquire and maintain maximum independence in the community
- Assist the OMH program lead on identifying next steps for successful implementation of settlement agreements and other program and policy directives
- Participate in interagency meetings on current and future agency initiatives, being prepared to discuss case specifics, compliance with any legal agreement, and next steps
- Track case specific data for reporting to the court
Qualifications for mental health specialist
- Must have a CDL with passenger endorsement within ninety days of employment
- Demonstrates skill/ability in using computers
- Associate’s degree and two (2) years of experience in the provision of appropriate services to youth and/or related experience
- Work cooperatively and in a positive manner with key players to maximize the efficient and appropriate delivery of mental health services
- Foster and guide appropriate use of services to support the continuum of care
- An Associate Degree, preferably in a related field, including 12 credits in human services, such as psychology or its equivalent, may be substituted for the minimum requirements of this position