Behavioral Health Specialist II, Adult Outpatient Complex Care

Job Description:

Behavioral Health Specialist II, Adult Outpatient Complex Care

Description

Summary

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

Deschutes County Health Services supports over 400 staff in Behavioral and Public Health programs working to promote and protect the health and safety of the community in a broad variety of community-based settings.

Deschutes County Behavioral Health (DCBH) is the Community Mental Health Program providing safety net and core clinical services for community members in Deschutes County dealing with mental health and substance use conditions. DCBH is also a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). As such, DCBH relies on multi-disciplinary teams to provide innovative, evidence-based, recovery-oriented services in behavioral healthcare settings co-located with physical health providers.

To hear from staff about working at Deschutes County Behavioral Health, please click HERE.

ABOUT THE COUNTY:
We know where you choose to live, work and play matters. Deschutes County is one of the largest employers in Central Oregon and the largest municipal government in the region. Our dedicated and passionate workforce of more than 1,250 employees provide County services in a number of departments, divisions, and offices.

Located in the heart of Central Oregon, between the towering Cascade Mountain Range to the west and the high desert plateau to the east, Deschutes County is the outdoor recreation capital of Oregon. We enjoy a renowned quality of life, with big-city opportunities and small-town neighborhoods.

We hope you’ll consider joining our talented team.

ABOUT THE JOB:
As a part of the Adult Outpatient Complex Care Team, the Behavioral Health Specialist II primarily provides individual and group counseling, assessment and service planning services to individuals with current behavioral health needs and co-occurring substance use needs. You will have the opportunity to provide intensive outpatient services to a diverse group of adults with mental health and co-occurring medical and/or substance use conditions. This includes individuals with a variety of diagnoses or experiences including, but not limited to anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, Bi-polar disorder, and psychosis. In addition to being skilled at providing individual and group counseling, a successful candidate is one who is willing and able to provide integrated health interventions, family focused treatment services, case management services, lead therapy groups, and work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Our team provides collaborative team-based care, so you will work closely with case managers, peer support specialists, psychiatry providers and RNs for treatment planning and service coordination. We provide services within an intensive treatment model, which offers a variety of services to clients within an episodic model of care, so that our focus is on stabilizing clients and readying them to graduate from our care and move to a lower level of care, when indicated.

This position works as part of an intensive outpatient approach from our Courtney Clinic in Bend. Services will be provided face-to-face, via video, and over the phone with clients.

Key Responsibilities:

• Providing individual and group services to clients and families.
• Prepare comprehensive assessments using the DSM-V-TR, service plans, and progress notes.
• Provide crisis risk assessment, crisis care, and safety plans.
• Coordination with medical providers, child welfare, and other community partners.
• Collaboration with other Deschutes County Behavioral Health teams.

What You Will Bring:
Knowledge of or experience with:

• Preparing concise and complete assessments, service plans and documentation related to client treatment, progress and services in a timely and professional manner.
• Working effectively both independently and in a team setting.
• Screening, assessing and diagnosing clients for services.
• Implementing evidence-based therapy practices and core counseling skills.

Skill in:

• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other employees, clients and their families, other agencies, and the public at all times.
• Acting professionally with regard to code of ethics and confidentiality.
• Effective written and verbal communication.

*This posting is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but rather constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function.

Notification to all candidates will be sent via email and/or text only. Please opt in for text messaging or check your email and your Governmentjobs.com account for application status.

Review the full job description by clicking HERE.

Compensation

$6,004.15 to $8,046.13 per month for a 172.67 hour work month.

$6,304.35 to $8,448.45 per month for a 172.67 hour work month f or those possessing current licensure without restrictions from a recognized governing board in Oregon as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

Excellent County benefit package when eligible. This union-represented position is available immediately.

BENEFITS:

Our robust healthcare package covers medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage at a minimal cost of $100 for employee only and $121 per month for employee plus dependents, which includes an innovative on-site clinic, pharmacy, and wellness and wellbeing services. Additionally, we include life insurance, retirement (PERS), generous paid time-off (14-18 hours/month to start, pro-rated for part-time), holidays, and professional development opportunities. Please click HERE for full benefit details.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in Psychology, Social Work, Recreational Therapy, Music Therapy, Art Therapy or a behavioral science field;
• AND one (1) year of experience in the behavioral health field;
• OR any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that provides the required skills and knowledge to perform the essential functions of the job.

There are registration/certification requirements under the Mental Health and Addiction Counseling Board of Oregon (MHACBO) that apply to Qualified Mental Health Professionals (QMHP) hired by Deschutes County Health Services (DCHS). This only applies to QMHPs who do not possess current licensure or are currently pursuing licensure as an LCSW, LMFT, or LPC. Please see website for information on these requirements: https://mhacbo.org/en/ .

There is no need to take action at this point. More information will be provided to candidates who progress to the final stage of the interview process. Registration and/or certification must be received within 14 days of hire date. Fees will be paid by DCHS if the candidate selected for the position meets the criteria for registration/certification.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Current licensure without restrictions from a recognized governing board in Oregon as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
• CADC certification and/or experience providing addictions treatment.
• Experience with short-term or solution focused treatment therapy.
• Experience with evidenced-base models of therapy, such as DBT, CBT, EMDR, CPT.
• Experience treating individuals with SPMI, bipolar, and/or PTSD disorders.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English.

Necessary Special Requirements

Driving is a requirement for this position. Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Oregon driver's license within 30 days of hire date. The employment offer will be contingent upon presentation of an acceptable and verifiable driver's license, pre-employment screening for criminal history, driving history, and controlled substances (NOTE: Positive test results for marijuana use may result in rescission of a contingent offer of employment). This screening must be completed with satisfactory findings in order for a formal offer of employment to be extended.
NOTE: Per OAR 407-007-0000 to 407-007-0100 this position requires a Criminal Background check through the State Background Check Unit/Orchards, which may also include being fingerprinted. These rules provide for the reasonable screening under ORS 181A.195, 181A.200, 409.027 AND 413.036 of the County’s employees to determine if they have a history of specific criminal behavior identified in federal or state law or rules such that they should not be allowed to work, be employed, or perform in positions covered by these rules. Please click HERE to review Criminal Records Check Rules. All offers of employment for this position are contingent upon the candidate receiving final approval from the State Background Check Unit/Orchards to work in this position.

Must be willing to work a flexible schedule when necessary, to meet client and department needs.

Must have dependable transportation and be able and willing to drive throughout Deschutes County in sometimes adverse weather conditions.

BHS II, Licensed only:

• Candidates must not be excluded (or Opt-out) from participation in the federal health care programs (Medicaid, Medicare and other federally funded programs that provide health benefits); AND must not be excluded from participating in federal procurement (Federal Acquisition Regulation) and non-procurement activities (Executive Order No. 12549).
  
• All clinicians providing Mental Health services must be eligible to be enrolled in Oregon Medicaid as a MH Provider within the first 30 days for hire.
  

Excellent County benefit package when eligible.
Deschutes County offers eligible employees a comprehensive healthcare package that covers medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage at a minimal cost of $100 for employee only and $121 per month for employee plus dependents. Included in the health care package is the Deschutes Onsite Clinic (DOC), which provides a wide range of health, wellness, and primary care services to employees and their dependents. The DOC offers convenient hours and no out-of-pocket costs to patients. The DOC Pharmacy is a full service pharmacy available to employees and dependents to have their prescriptions filled at a discounted co-pay. In addition to the health care package, Deschutes County provides a generous and comprehensive benefits program to eligible employees.

When Are you Eligible:
If you are hired on the first business day of the month, your benefits will start on the first of that month (immediate benefits, either that day or back to the first of the month if the first is on a Saturday or Sunday). If you are hired after the first business day of the month, your benefits will start on the first day of the following month.

Employer paid benefit offerings include:

• Life Insurance for employee and dependents
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
• Long-term Disability Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement Program through Oregon PERS
• Time Management Leave

Employee paid voluntary benefit offerings include:

• 125 Flexible Spending Program
• 457 Deferred Compensation Program
• Supplemental Life and Accident Insurance

To learn more about Deschutes County's generous benefit offerings, please visit www.deschutes.org/hr and click on Employee Benefits or click HERE for full benefits guide.

Closing Date/Time: 4/15/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$6,004.15 - $8,448.45 Monthly