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Housing & Community Support Specialist 1 (OPEN & PROMOTIONAL)

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Housing & Community Support Specialist 1 (OPEN & PROMOTIONAL)

Salary

$44,853.72 - $62,773.89 Annually

Location

WA 99260, WA

Job Type

Regular

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

25-00102

Department

Community Services (formerly CSHCD)

Opening Date

04/21/2025

Closing Date

Continuous

FLSA

Non-Exempt

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Job Summary

This recruitment may be used to fill up to three (3) vacancies working 37.5 hours per week.

NOTE: THIS RECRUITMENT REPLACES JOB POSTING #24-00229 DUE TO REVISED MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS. IF YOU APPLIED PREVIOUSLY, PLEASE REAPPLY UNDER THIS NEW RECRUITMENT FOR CONTINUED CONSIDERATION.

The position allocated to this class provides medically necessary behavioral health case management and individualized support services for adults diagnosed with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders. Incumbents provide direct behavioral health services to assist program participants in obtaining housing, facilitating independent living, enhancing community integration, and improving participant quality of life through achievement of treatment goals. Work is performed independently, within well-defined guidelines, under the direction of the Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Manager. Duties are performed both in the office and in the field and require detailed documentation. Positions of this class differ from those of Housing and Community Support Specialist 2 classification by degree and experience requirements and assigned duties.

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS:

+ RESUME

+ COVER LETTER

+ THREE (3) PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES

TOTAL COMPENSATION: $57,413 - $80,351 annually. Total compensation is an estimate based upon base compensation, median retirement fund contributions, and current employer-paid health and related benefit contribution rates (including medical, dental, life insurance, long term disability, and leave). The actual total will vary depending upon each employee's enrollment choices.

Examples of Duties

+ Coordinates services with the Spokane Regional Service Area (RSA) behavioral health agencies for individuals enrolled in primary behavioral health care services with the providers.

+ Provides direct behavioral health services to individuals enrolled in division programs.

+ Participates in intake interviews; assists in completion of intake documentation; completes individual treatment plan-recovery goals, per Department of Health (DOH) standards; and completes all other necessary forms.

+ Assesses individuals for program eligibility and assists in gathering necessary documentation for housing programs.

+ Designs person-centered treatment plans based upon individual strengths; encourages and promotes a strength-based environment to assist individuals in meeting their individual life goals.

+ Assists individuals with decreasing isolation, depression and the exacerbation of other mental health symptoms.

+ Mails calendars and flyers to participants of upcoming events.

+ Conducts housing searches with individuals who may have substantial barriers to independent living, to secure placement in safe and satisfactory housing; advocates to prospective property management; advocates with Northwest Fair Housing Alliance for individual rights if a person is being discriminated against when attempting to obtain housing.

+ Navigates complex HUD paperwork for access to housing for chronically homeless, low income, disabled individuals/families.

+ Orchestrates lease signing, condition reports, and coordination of moving services; schedules and facilitates physical moves through contracted moving services; and assists individual in establishing utility services.

+ Maintains stabilization and integration into the community once housing goals have been achieved.

+ Assists individuals in maintaining their housing arrangement and in resolving crisis situations; mediates between individuals and property management with tenancy problems as they arise, (e.g. lease violations, eviction notices, etc.).

+ Maintains knowledge of and regularly collaborates with local governmental agencies (e.g. Department of Social and Health Services, Department of Motor Vehicles, Social Security Administration, Immigration Authorities, HUD housing programs and Spokane Housing Authority).

+ Determines additional community resources necessary and/or helpful in assisting an individual in reaching their treatment plan goals in recovery and independent living.

+ Educates individuals on activities of daily living.

+ Connects individuals to services in the community for basic health and dental services, vocational programs, legal representatives, money management including payee resources, food banks, shelters, low cost household items, clothing banks, Fair Housing, SNAP money management program, Responsible Renters class, etc.

+ Provides transportation for housing searches, attendance at various events and access to community resources.

+ Assesses severity of threats, felony charges and possession of weapons for safety of individual and housing providers.

+ Assists with the Community Centralize Individual/Family intake process for placement of Permanent Supportive Housing, Transitional Housing or Rapid Rehousing programs.

+ Coordinates all Community Integration Program (CIP) social events, including preparation and completion of monthly calendar and weekly fliers.

+ Complies will all contract requirements, meets minimum standards for service productivity as established by contracts and program management.

+ Completes all necessary documentation, including charts, records of service, Daily Service Activity Logs (SAL), monthly progress reports, Raintree data information, etc. within the timelines established for service delivery and to meet the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA), DOH, Managed Care Organization (MCO), and SCRBH (ASO) standards.

+ Ensures all pertinent documentation meets medical necessity and golden thread standards.

+ Utilizes the Electronic Medical Record to complete service documentation in a timely manner while supporting medical necessity.

+ Audits files to ensure accuracy of information.

+ Participates in development and implementation meetings to ensure the accurate usage of the system.

+ Coordinates and collaborates all individual behavioral health issues to the MCOs and behavioral health partners in a timely manner to troubleshoot and coordinate appropriate supportive services for individuals, to maintain residence in a least restrictive environment, to ensure safety of the individual in the community.

+ Assesses individuals for risk, including danger to self or others.

+ Provides appropriate care and referral to individuals deemed at risk, including, but not limited to: developing a safety plan, contacting the individual’s primary behavioral health care provider, contacting the regional behavioral health crisis line, and contacting 911.

+ Follows federal and state laws on compliance, confidentiality, and security protocol.

+ Participates as a team member of the Agency by attending staff meetings and actively participating in agency meetings.

+ Communicates regularly with leadership to keep them abreast of activities, plans, and concerns.

+ Completes all training required by the WAC and RCW’s within the required time frames and attends training to improve clinical skills.

+ Follows the laws of the State of Washington and the federal government as they pertain to mental health practice.

+ Encourages and participates in community networking.

+ Supports treatment team meetings developed by other agencies.

+ Works closely with and acts as liaison between contracted outpatient providers and MCOs to facilitate resources and to assist in identifying challenges and addressing barriers to utilization.

+ Provides direction and guidance to individuals, contracted providers, and allied systems to ensure alignment with the CSD mission and desired outcomes.

+ Identifies solutions to non-standard requests.

+ Maintains collaborative and collegial working relations with all provider employees.

+ Builds and maintains strong system working relations with the behavioral health delivery system and with allied service systems.

+ Maintains records in accordance with requirements of law, contractual requirements and agency policy.

+ Adheres to Service Encounter Reporting Instructions and other contract reporting requirements.

+ Assists with setting up and tearing down client events; shopping, organizing and preparing for client events; and monitoring clients at events and documenting progress towards goals.

+ Coordinates community donations, including arranging furniture pick up, etc.

+ Performs other related duties as required/assigned.

Minimum Requirements

+ Bachelor’s degree in Counseling or other advanced degree in one of the social sciences or an affiliated field, or

+ Associate’s degree in a Human Service-related field and two (2) years of experience in the behavioral health field, or

+ Meeting the experience and credentialing requirements under Department of Health (DOH) Registered Agency Affiliated Counselor (AAC) pursuant to RCW 18.19, with at least five (5) years of related experience, which may include experience gained as a student intern, juvenile rehabilitation counselor, or peer counselor- preferably in the field of Mental Health or providing Behavioral Health service and/or crisis intervention services.

+ Possession of Registered, Certified or Licensed Agency Affiliated Counselor (AAC) Credential pursuant to RCW 18.19 and RCW 71.05.020 and/or ability to gain an AAC License within sixty (60) days of hire. Submission and processing time by DOH do not count toward sixty-day requirement.

+ Prefer experience working with individuals with complex life issues who have chronic or serious mental illness.

+ Obtain National Provider Identifier (NPI) within 30 days of hire and maintain throughout employment. May not be a State or Federal (OIG) and System for Award Management (SAM) excluded provider, in any capacity for the Medicare, Medicaid, and all Federal healthcare programs.

+ Maintain professional credentials required for the service being provided, including the completion of training or coursework to receive any required Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits needed to maintain the credentials.

+ Possession of a valid driver's license at time of hire and for the duration of employment

Selection Factors

+ Knowledge of housing and other community resources, including federal and state entitled benefits individuals may qualify for.

+ Knowledge of challenges faced by socioeconomically disadvantaged or individuals with disabilities.

+ Knowledge of case management approaches, service referral and available community resources, organizations and supports for the mentally ill.

+ Knowledge of the Spokane RSA System of Care including mental health agencies and substance use disorder and recovery services.

+ Knowledge of common mental health and substance use disorder diagnoses.

+ Knowledge of relevant confidentiality requirements, policies and procedures.

+ Skilled in communicating effectively both orally and in writing, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to give and receive work direction.

+ Skilled in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with clients, co-workers and community agencies/partners.

+ Ability to deal with the public in a pleasant, courteous and calm manner, often under stressful situations.

+ Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team.

+ Ability to accept persons who may be different from yourself.

+ Ability to exercise tact and discretion in obtaining cooperation of others.

+ Ability to maintain a professional demeanor during stressful and/or hostile situations.

+ Ability to develop a therapeutic alliance with individuals in services, demonstrating empathy and unconditional positive regard.

+ Ability to work on a long-term basis with individuals with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders understanding the complexity of challenges and life stressors each individual experience(s).

+ Ability to understand modest achievements demonstrate progress for individuals with serious mental illness or co-occurring disorders.

+ Ability to accurately and professionally implement and document the services provided to clients.

+ Ability to manage a caseload of approximately 30-40 individuals.

+ Ability to collaborate and coordinate with Enrolled Responsible providers and allied systems in the community.

+ Ability to demonstrate effective time management skills in coordinating daily activities, appointments and completing necessary paperwork.

+ Ability to facilitate effective resolution of conflicts between clients and others.

+ Ability to operate standard office equipment, including a personal computer.

SPOKANE COUNTY

Employee Benefits Summary

The following is a brief list of benefits available to Spokane County regular employees. Complete information is available from Human Resources Department. This information is subject to change.

PAID TIME OFF

Spokane County Observed Holidays

Up to 10 (ten) paid holidays are observed by Spokane County.

PTO

Non-represented and a select group of represented employees receive a bank of hours that combine both vacation and sick leave into a paid time off bank. There is no waiting period to use this time and it starts out at almost 2 days per month accrual increasing in accrual rates annually for first 5 years.

Vacation

For employees with less than five (5) years of continuous service, the accrual rate is 1 day of vacation each month for a total of 12 days per year. After six (6) months, employees are eligible to take accumulated vacation time. (Please note the vacation time accumulation may vary depending on contract language).

Sick Leave

Sick leave is earned at 1 day per month and can be taken as the days are accumulated.

Other Leaves

Spokane County provides several other paid leaves such as: bereavement leave, jury duty and military duty leave.

INSURANCE BENEFITS

Medical Insurance

Two plans are currently available: Premera Blue Cross (PPO) and Kaiser Permanente (HMO). Spokane County pays 95% of the premium for full-time employees and 90% of the premiums for spouses and dependents. Premiums are deducted each pay period (pay periods: 15th and last day of the month).

2024 Rates:

Premera

Employee Only: $38.04 per month

Employee & Spouse: $149.52 per month

Employee & Family: $209.60 per month

Employee & Child(ren): $136.16 per month

Kaiser:

Employee: $35.92 per month

Employee & Spouse: $140.56 per month

Employee & Family: $196.06 per month

Employee & Child(ren): $128.58 per month

Dental Insurance

Two plans are currently available: Delta Dental of Washington (PPO) and Willamette Dental (DMO). Spokane County pays 95% of the premium for full-time employees and 90% of the premiums for spouses and dependents.

2024 Rates:

Delta Dental Willamette Dental

Employee: $5.74 per month Employee: $5.98 per month

Family: $11.48 per month Family: $11.96 per month

Group Life Insurance

The County provides a $25,000 group life insurance policy to employees. The County provides a $10,000 benefit for those represented by 492, 492CS & 492CL. This benefit is paid in full by Spokane County.

Long Term Disability Coverage

Provides an income protection benefit in the event of a long-term illness or injury at rate of 60% of income up to a maximum of $5,000 per month. Spokane County pays the full premium for this plan. Deputy Sheriff's receive a benefit through their union for disability.

RETIREMENT

Retirement Plan (401a)

Spokane County employees are automatically included in the Washington State Retirement System. Both the employer and the employee contribute to the plan. This retirement plan provides a guaranteed lifetime monthly benefit once vested and eligible for retirement.

Additional Retirement Plan Option (457b)

Employees may supplement their retirement income and save money on taxes by participating in this optional County program. Roth (after-tax) option is also available through this retirement plan.

VOLUNTARY BENEFITS

AFLAC

Supplemental insurance is optional and is provided by AFLAC to help pay for benefits not covered by major medical insurance. The employee pays 100% of the premium.

Travel Assistance

Provides additional travel protections anytime you travel more than 100 miles from home. Includes pre-trip information, emergency ticket replacement, and emergency evacuation coverage. This benefit is paid in full by Spokane County.

Flexible Spending Plan (FSA)

Spokane County sponsors a Section 125 Flexible Spending Account to allow out-of-pocket Medical & Daycare Expenses to be paid with Tax Free Dollars. Premiums are automatically set up pre-tax under the FSA.

Voluntary Term Life Insurance

Voluntary Term Life Insurance is additional optional life insurance provided through The Standard Insurance. New employees are guaranteed up to $50,000 for self and $20,000 for a spouse with no medical underwriting needed.

WORK/LIFE PROGRAMS

Employee Assistance Program

Employees and their family members are eligible to receive free counseling. There are also benefits relating to financial and legal concerns.

Reduced Cost Bus Pass Program

Spokane County participates in a program with STA which discounts bus passes to $5 a month.

Wellness Programs

There are opportunities for nearby exercise programs at reduced cost and education programs around wellness themes including financial well-being, nutrition and stress reduction.

Discounts

There are local and national discounts available to Spokane County employees.

01

Describe your experience working with people who have mental health disorders. Be specific in identifying your role and job responsibilities, the scope of the programs and the organizations you worked for.

02

Describe your experience teaching and modeling interpersonal and independent living skills. Be specific in identifying your role and job responsibilities, the scope of the programs and the organizations you worked for.

03

Describe your ability to work independently with minimal supervision. Be specific in identifying your role and job responsibilities, the scope of the programs and the organizations you worked for.

04

Describe your experience tracking progress, providing feedback, and reporting data. Be specific in identifying your role and job responsibilities, the scope of the programs and the organizations you worked for.

05

Describe your knowledge of/experience working with resources in the Spokane community which may be available to clients with mental health disorders.

06

This position works with individuals on a long-term basis, often with only modest achievements. Given this, describe how you would maintain enthusiasm, compassion and a sense of personal accomplishment in this position. What do you anticipate would be your greatest frustrations?

07

I certify my understanding that all information provided herein is subject to verification and is true to the best of my knowledge and ability. I understand that any falsification may cancel any terms, conditions or privileges of employment.

+ Yes, I certify to this.

+ No, I do not certify to this.

08

Please check the box that applies to your current Union status (if you are not a current Spokane County employee, please select "I am not a Union member").

+ I am in the open position's department and my position is covered by the 1553 collective bargaining agreement

+ I am in another department and my position is covered by the 1553 collective bargaining agreement

+ I am in a position covered by the Master Contract collective bargaining agreement (not 1553)

+ I am in a position covered by another collective bargaining agreement (not 1553 or Master Contract)

+ None of the above apply

Required Question

Employer

Spokane County

Address

824 N Adams Spokane, Washington, 99260

Phone

509-477-5750

Website

http://www.spokanecounty.org/employment