Mental Health Specialist Jobs in Florida

Minimum Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent and 4 years of work experience; or any equivalent combinations of education, training and/or experience. Applicants within six months of meeting the minimum work experience requirement may be considered for a trainee status.

• Applicants must self-identify as an individual with one or more of the following lived experiences related to substance use:

• Lived experience as an adult in substance use addiction and recovery for a minimum of 2 years from substance use condition.
• Lived experience as a family member or caregiver to another person who is living with a substance use condition.
• Lived experience as a veteran of any branch of the armed forces who is in recovery for a minimum of 2 years from a substance use condition.

• Are between the ages of 18 and 27 years old at the time of application and have lived experience as a person who, between the ages of 14 and 25 experienced a significant life challenge related to substance use, substance withdrawal, overdose, and/or substance use death (to include a family member) and is now living a wellness and/or recovery-oriented lifestyle for at least two years.

• A Valid Florida Driver License is required and a Motor Vehicle Record that meets the requirements of Alachua County policy #6-7; Motor Vehicle Records will be reviewed prior to employment. If, in the past 24-month period, the applicants Motor Vehicle Record has more than three (3) moving traffic infractions or three (3) or more at fault motor vehicle accidents (or combination of both and/or a conviction/pending charge for driving under the influence) or is in violation of any standard mandated by Federal or State Law or Regulation, the minimum qualifications are not met for the position.

• Must successfully pass a pre-employment drug screen and successful completion of all applicable background checks pre-hire and ongoing are required.

• Must successfully pass a Level 2 background check as specified by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. This position requires a screening through the Clearinghouse https://info.flclearinghouse.com.

This is a grant funded position. Employees are eligible for benefits but have no guarantee of permanent employment.

Position Summary

This is responsible para-professional substance use disorder intervention work utilizing lived experiences and skills learned in training to help others achieve and maintain recovery and wellness from mental health and/or substance use disorders to support Alachua County Metamorphosis, Community Support Services Department.

An employee assigned to this classification provides mobile peer support as a part of Alachua County’s response to the substance use epidemic.

Work is performed under the general direction of a higher-level supervisor and is reviewed through conferences, reports, and observation of results obtained.

Examples of Duties

This is an emergency essential classification. Upon declaration of a disaster and/or emergency, all employees in this classification are required to work.

• Exudes a positive customer service focus.

• Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with the County's core values.

• Works with staff and volunteers to continually reassess the Center’s programs, policies, operations, and curricula to move us toward ever better access.

• Fosters a collegial community that builds on the strengths of its residents and staff.

• Under supervision, provides peer specialized mobile response services to clients and families to include prompt screening, intervention support, and linkage to community services.

• Reviews the daily processing of mobile response calls, resident feedback, follow-up contacts, and warm handoffs to community providers.

• Participates in outreach activities to educate the community about substance use, the risk of overdose and death, recovery, residential program services, and court processes.

• Enters data related to peer services and compiles reports to be reviewed by a higher-level supervisor.

• Tracks cases needing follow-up, contacts and meets clients as scheduled, verifies completed referrals, provides satisfaction surveys to clients and tracks satisfaction surveys.

• Drives a County and/or personal vehicle regularly to respond to program referrals and to provide appropriate services; drives to offsite locations to participate in outreach events and/or for training purposes. Drives clients to needed appointments and field trips in the community, as directed.

• Performs the duties listed, as well as those assigned, with care and a sense of urgency.

NOTE: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed in positions allocated to this class. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of difficulties associated with substance use addiction.

• Knowledge of challenges and adversities associated with recovery.

• Knowledge of Barriers to treatment for substance use disorders.

• Knowledge of, and ability to, operate in a team setting.

• Skill in the use of personal computers including word processing programs.

• Ability to work with a variety of populations and demonstrate cultural and linguistic competency.

• Ability to react calmly and quickly in emergencies.

• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

• Ability to make public presentations before community organizations about the program.

• Ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with assisting agencies, other County departments, employees and the general public.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to reach and to be mobile. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required for this job include close and distance vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.