Behavioral Health Specialist I

Come work in an environment where we truly value and respect those we serve and believe in the mission that all people can achieve a higher level of wellness and independence.
The state supported living centers serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile or who have behavioral problems. The centers provide campus-based direct services and supports at 13 centers located throughout the state. Learn About Our State Supported Living Centers

The state of Texas offers many benefits to employees. HHSC is a qualifying organization for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives the remaining balance on college student Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments. We also offer excellent health benefits, a lifetime monthly retirement annuityas well as 401(k) and 457 Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas.

If you are looking for a place to work where you can establish a career that is filled with purpose, this is the job for you!

Under the direction and supervision of the Chief Psychiatrist, the Psychiatry Assistant organizes and develops the infrastructure to support psychiatric services to the state supported living center (SSLC) residents. Assists in establishing and maintaining databases and tickler systems related to psychiatric care and psychoactive medications. Creates and updates spreadsheets, forms, and documents to support compliance with standards of care. Performs chart reviews of abstract resident data for psychiatrist and to track adherence to established treatment and drug protocols. Tracks and analyzes data. Prepares documents for monitoring and regulatory requests and prepares reports. Brings issues forward to the Psychiatrist for further review. Attends the SSLC Interdisciplinary Team Meetings and Committee Meetings to represent psychiatry at the request of the psychiatrist. Contributes information and insights to these teams based on chart reviews and data analysis. Works under a moderate level of supervision as a collaborative team member.

Essential Job Functions:
Attends work on a regular basis and may be required to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
Participates in the planning and monitoring of SSLC individuals’ psychiatric care by extracting pertinent patient data from residents’ charts. Monitors resident charts for consistency in terminology related to psychiatric issues and institutes corrective actions as necessary to improve consistency. Tracks consistency of psychiatric indicators, target behaviors, goals/objectives, including timelines, medication indications, changes in Psychiatric Support Plan (PSP) or Positive Behavior Support Plan (PBSP) and/or addition of Crisis Intervention Plan (CIP) for review and Psychiatrist’s signature within required timeframe. Tracks and analyzes data related to targeted symptoms, side effects, and program compliance. Based on these reviews, brings forward to the psychiatrist for modification, treatment plans which are not meeting the individuals’ needs nor treatment plan goals.

Contributes information and insights as an integral member of the interdisciplinary team at medical review conferences and periodic clinical updates focused on specific individuals. Recommends activities or changes in activities to provide more effective psychiatric care.

Develops and maintains schedules to ensure quarterly and emergency clinics occur as scheduled and as needed. Works in cooperation with other departments such as Behavioral Health, Medical, Dental, Habilitation Therapies, Residential, etc., to ensure integration and compliance with provisions of the settlement agreement and Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF-IID) regulations.

Monitors, trends, and analyzes compliance with established professional standards concerning the types and frequency of laboratory tests, Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS), and Monitoring of Side Effects (MOSES) screens to monitor for side effects of psychotropic medications. Brings non-compliance with professional standards to attention of appropriate staff including Medical Director and Psychiatrist accompanied by appropriate data to facilitate the development of an effective and rapid plan of correction.

Creates and maintains system for tracking when residents should be seen in clinic including the appropriate recall and scheduling of residents based on professional standards and/or resulting from team discussions or information identified during monitoring activities. Coordinates appointments and services with Legislative Authorized Representative (LARs) as needed or assigned.

Works with SSLC staff and psychiatrist to resolve psychiatric service delivery problems. When one is available, appropriately selects and schedules residents to receive services of locum tenens psychiatrist or through telepsychiatry.

Assists in the creating of Quarterly and Follow-up Psychiatric Clinic Forms. Prepares documents for monitoring and regulatory requests. Assists in the preparation of administrative reports, studies, and specialized research projects focused on psychiatric care. Performs internal auditing of all psychiatric documents for required components in conjunction with SSLC external (QAQI) auditor. Reviews compliance reports, tracks necessary improvements and implementation for Psychiatry. Performs other duties and ad hoc projects as assigned by supervisor.

Creates and, alongside the psychiatrist, works on Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluations for new admissions and on annual updates to the comprehensive psychiatric evaluations.

Creates and updates spreadsheets and documents related to psychiatric patient information (polypharmacy, psychiatric diagnoses and medication documents, psychiatric medication lab results). Provides spreadsheets on each individual with comprehensive data with dates, such as laboratory (EKG) results, medications/polypharmacy changes (consent forms), MOSES/AIMS, Reiss Screen, individual service plan (ISP) date, and other information at the discretion of the Psychiatrist.

Creates and updates psychiatric consent forms and implements systems that track the due dates on important documents.

Effectively accesses and utilizes all SSLC software programs; to include IRIS software program for data input, review, update, modify, and/or create documents as needed for efficiency and improvement in the Psychiatric Department.

Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Strong organizational and critical judgment skills in setting up and refining systems of care and clinic processes.
Attention to detail and ability to effectively schedule self and others to maximize time and achieve desired outcomes.
Advanced skills in developing databases, spreadsheets, and data collection forms to collect critical data related to resident care and processes.
Knowledge of common medical and psychiatric diseases seen in individuals residing at an ICF-IID residential facility and the common medications prescribed for these diseases.
Ability to translate abstract rules, regulations, and conversations into concrete data and collection methods.
Proficiency in written and oral English language.
Ability to communicate orally and in writing with a wide variety of individuals.
Ability to take minutes of interdisciplinary meetings and other meetings as assigned by Psychiatrist.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Access, and Outlook) to generate all written documentation and communication.

Registration or Licensure Requirements:
None

Initial Selection Criteria:
Bachelor’s degree or Licensed Vocation Nursing (LVN) licensure plus 1 year of experience working with persons with developmental, mental, or physical disabilities; or
Associate degree plus 3 years working with persons with developmental, mental, or physical disabilities.
Experience using computer databases, word processing, and/or spreadsheets.
Prefer experience participating in health care related interdisciplinary teams inclusive of physicians and/or psychiatrists.

Additional Information:
Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aide, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct and HHS OIG List of Excluded Individuals/Entities. Males between the ages of 18 – 25 must be registered with the Selective Service.

All State Supported Living Center employees are subject to Random drug testing.

Flexibility in work hours may be required for this position. The position may be required to work overtime and/or extended hours. Must be willing to work weekends and holidays.

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility.

All new hire candidates will be required to receive COVID-19 medical screening (nasal test) as part of the due diligence process.

COVID-19 Precaution(s):

Personal protective equipment required and provided
Temperature screenings
Social distancing guidelines in place
Sanitizing, disinfecting, or cleaning procedures in place
Vaccines available for employees

MOS Code:
Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include: 67D, 230X, 4EHX, 68W.
All active duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For additional information see the Texas State Auditor’s Military Crosswalk at http://www.hr.sao.state.tx.us/Compensation/JobDescriptions.aspx

HHS agencies use E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.

I-9 Form – Click here to download the I-9 form.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

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