Behavioral Health Support Lead

Description

Full-time, Exempt
Start your career at Bellwether Housing as a Behavioral Health Support Lead in the vibrant city of Seattle, WA! 

Who We Are: 

Established in 1980 with a vision to create urban housing opportunities, Bellwether Housing has been a trailblazer in transforming lives. By breaking down housing barriers, we've empowered individuals and families, especially those from marginalized communities. As we continue to make a lasting impact, we're embarking on an ambitious mission to build and acquire 2,500 homes by 2025. This is your opportunity to be part of our dynamic team and help shape the future of affordable housing! 

Position Overview:  

The Behavioral Health Support Specialist supports Bellwether Housing’s capacity to assist residents with acute, complex social and behavioral health issues that endanger their housing.  

The primary responsibility of the Behavioral Health Support Lead will be to provide assistance, consultation, and education to other Bellwether staff navigating behavioral health services and assist residents experiencing mental health and substance abuse challenges that are impacting their housing stability. In this role, you would be responsible for responding to residents in acute crisis at Bellwether properties in collaboration with other services and property management staff. You will also engage with the local crisis response system, mitigate conflict between residents and Bellwether staff, and transition residents to permanent supportive services that address their specific behavioral health complexities. 

In this position, you will also provide short-term case management to 10-15 households at risk of housing loss due to unmanaged substance abuse and mental health challenges impacting the safety of themselves and other community members. Half of the work week will be dedicated to serving at-risk residents at Arbora Court in Seattle's University District and the remaining half will be spent assisting and training services staff who are navigating behavioral health challenges and crises across Bellwether Housing properties.  

Work Schedule:  

Hybrid – 4 days onsite, Monday – Friday, 8:00 am-5:00pm. The final schedule is to be determined by the supervisor.  

Your Impact:  

• Outreach to and engage directly and in person with residents at risk of housing loss and build productive relationships that support residents' stability and foster trust.  
• Promptly follow up on referrals from Bellwether staff members.  
• Partner with Property Operations teams and Resident Services peers to address challenging and complex resident behavior issues impacting community safety and housing stability.  
• Assist, guide and support Resident Services staff as they navigate the behavioral health service needs of residents.  
• Help educate and inform Bellwether staff on behavioral health issues and conditions that impact residents we serve.  
• Facilitate engagement of residents through creative, equitable, culturally relevant, and resourceful strategies that build trust and confidence with Bellwether residents.  
• Advocate for clients' access to community resources and services, ensuring that clients' needs are met, and rights maintained; consult and collaborate with community providers to ensure strong supportive networks are accessible to residents.  
• Engage in effective networking and collaboration to utilize available community support and resources to transition residents to permanent supportive services.    
• Assist other Bellwether staff with navigating local behavioral health crisis services systems.  
• Respond to emergencies such as residents experiencing suicidal thoughts, mental health episodes, and interpersonal conflict. De-escalate elevated community members and provide direct support to residents and staff.  
• Collaborate with residents and services staff to develop follow-up plans following emergencies centered on supporting resident stability and safety.  Communicate plans to all relevant residents, staff members and 3rd party service providers.  
• Work to understand each client's unique circumstances and personal preferences and goals and incorporate them into the crisis response to help the client regain a sense of control.  
• Regularly travel between sites within Seattle to meet with residents  
• Complete required documentation of services and maintain up to date records. 
• Other duties as assigned.  

Requirements

Who You Are:  

• Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, behavioral health, or a related field required, Master's degree preferred.  
• 5 years of direct exper