Job Description

Job Description

Behavioral Health Specialist - $85,000.00 - $90,000.00 exempt role - onsite in San Marcos, CA.

Join the Team Voted Best Place to Work in North County!

Why Work for Gary and Mary West PACE?

Because you're looking for more than just a job - you want work/life balance and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of North County seniors and their families.

At Gary and Mary West PACE, we support your personal and professional well-being with:

• Generous pay and a comprehensive benefits package focused on your health and wellness.
• 11 paid holidays, 16 days of PTO, and 5 days of sick time.
• A 5% employer match to our 403(b) retirement plan.
• No on-call time - because your time matters.

We invest in our team with an annual education allowance and a commitment to professional growth, helping you expand your skills and advance your career.

You'll thrive in a supportive, mission-driven culture where collaboration feels like family. As part of our multi-disciplinary team, your voice is heard, and your work is truly valued.

Join us and do your best work-because here, your contribution matters.

About PACE

Philanthropists Gary and Mary West founded West Health with the mission of enabling seniors to successfully age in place with access to high-quality, affordable health and support services that preserve and protect their dignity, quality of life, and independence. The Gary and Mary West PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly), affiliated with West Health ( is a non-profit that delivers medical, social, and behavioral services to the frail elderly to the North County of San Diego. This PACE center is entrepreneurial in nature and focuses on innovations and bringing new processes to the traditional PACE environment.

We're looking for passionate healthcare providers who want to be part of a team dedicated to enable seniors to live in their communities as independently as possible by providing compassionate, comprehensive health and supportive care.

One Team One Mission

Position Summary:

The Behavioral Health Specialist provides assessments, individual and group counseling in formats appropriate to clinical populations served. This role will conduct assessments of clients' mental health and cognitive functioning and develop appropriate treatment plans, collaborate as part of an interdisciplinary team, and promote professional working relationships with both internal and external customers. The Behavioral Health Specialist represents West PACE in community settings via formal presentations and community committees as appropriate and adheres to and supports all organizational policies and procedures and standards. Promotes teamwork!

Essential Functions:

• Performs initial evaluations of participant needs and develops customized treatment plans appropriate to participant's goals and level of functioning, mental health or cognitive status, and care needs.
• Conducts psychosocial and behavioral assessments of program participants, and writes professional reports.
• Educates staff and participants on stress and trauma coping mechanisms.
• Provides participants with the resources they need to reach personal goals.
• Monitors participant progress and modify their treatment plans as needed.
• Coordinates with social and medical agencies, healthcare providers and community outreach programs to provide participants with needed services.
• Provides supervisor with data involving participants and health service areas.
• Initiates data collection and research projects within PACE to demonstrate outcomes.
• Participates in daily Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) meetings and Care Planning meetings as necessary. Has information prepared for the meetings and shares information with team members to assist in care coordination.
• Coordinates on-going training programs for PACE personnel upon request including staff in-service training.
• Seeks out opportunities to represent West PACE in the community.
• Complete all required documentation in a timely and accurate manner.
• Responsible for continuing education in assessment and treatment methods, products, trends, etc. and communicates this information to staff members.
• Reports any breaches of ethical treatment of program participants to supervisor.
• Protect privacy and maintain the confidentiality of all company procedures and information about employees, participants, and families.
• Follow GMW PACE policies and procedures and participate in any required Quality Improvement activities, staff training, and meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Certification:

• Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. CACII preferred.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) and CPR certification required.
• Valid Driver's License. Must maintain current automobile insurance.
• Bilingual English /Spanish highly preferred.

Skills and Experience:

• Minimum of one-year experience working with a frail or elderly population required.
• Experience and training in psychological assessments, Dialectic Behavior Therapy, Substance Abuse treatment, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention are a plus.
• Experience with Severe and Persistent Mental Illnesses and personality disorders required.
• Ability to differentiate between biological, psychological and neuropsychological contributors to behavior in a diverse clinical population.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the DSM-5/ICD-10 required.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills and demonstrate the ability to interact clearly and effectively with both internal and external customers.
• Skilled in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with participants, co-workers, vendors, medical staff, and the public.
• Ability to use and navigate on a computer, using MS Word and other applications.
• Operates in full compliance with all applicable federal, state and local fire, health, safety, sanitation, Emergency procedures and other Standards prescribed in law or regulations.
• Maintains verbal and written skills required for the position.

Medical Clearance:

Employees must have medical clearance for communicable diseases and up-to-date immunizations before having direct participant contact.

Job offers are contingent upon a successful pre-employment drug screen, background check, and physical assessment.

Gary and Mary West PACE provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, pregnancy, military and veteran status, age, physical and mental disability, genetic characteristics, gender, gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation or any other considerations made unlawful by applicable state or local laws.

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