Air Force Mental Health Service Job Descriptions (4C0X1)

A Mental Health Service Specialist supports mental health services in psychiatry, psychology, social work, family advocacy, substance abuse prevention and rehabilitation, and mental health programs. Manages mental health service resources and activities. Assists mental health professional staff with developing and implementing treatment plans. Performs specified mental health treatment. Reports and documents a patient's care. Related DoD Occupational Subgroup: 302.

Duties and Responsibilities of an Air Force Mental Health Specialist

Conducts or assists in the treatment and rehabilitation of mental health patients. Performs initial basic assessment procedures including standardized psychological testing, clinical interviewing, mental status examinations, substance abuse evaluations, and psychological and nursing assessment. Assists in identifying mental health and nursing diagnoses, treatments, patient education, and disposition planning. Participates in patient care conferences and substance abuse intervention. Observes, monitors, records, and reports patient's progress. Conducts or assists in conducting group and individual counseling, therapeutic community, and other related milieu activities. Institutes precautionary measures to prevent patient injury, suicide. Provides mental health and substance abuse prevention education. Performs general and special clinical procedures. Assists patients with nutritional, hygiene, and comfort measures. Obtains and records vital signs. Performs chaperone and escort duties. Maintains therapeutic relationships. Performs aeromedical evacuation procedures. Supports the Air Force drug testing program.

Plans and supervises mental health service activities. Coordinates with other agencies regarding specified care, treatment, prevention, rehabilitation, and administrative functions. Contacts military and community agencies to obtain collateral information. Explains and interprets mental health services to patients or others. Assists in, or arranges patient referral to public, private, and military community agencies.

Manages enlisted resources. Establishes priorities based on knowledge of interchangeable skills among assigned enlisted personnel. Manages preparation and maintenance of records and reports pertaining to specialty services. Reviews procedures and requirements within specialty services to preclude duplication and to free personnel for more direct service work with patients. Establishes, maintains, and evaluates specific mental health, family advocacy, and substance abuse training programs. Conducts in-service training. Schedules recurring training and conducts task evaluations.

2.4 Performs combat and disaster casualty care procedures. Supervises and assists with the care of individuals experiencing acute and post-traumatic stress reactions.
Supervises and performs administrative duties. Prepares, maintains, and disposes of mental health, family advocacy, and substance abuse treatment records. Receives patients and scheduled appointments. Evaluates mental health service activities. Collects and updates administrative and statistical data. Conducts unit self-assessments. Compiles and prepares medical and administrative reports. Briefs patients on safety and evacuation procedures.

Specialty Qualifications

Knowledge

Knowledge is mandatory of psychiatry, psychology, social work, family advocacy, and nursing principles, procedures and theories; confidentiality and legal aspects of patient care; understanding of medical, nursing, and mental health terminology; psychopathology; adjustment mechanisms; substance abuse pathology; 12 core functions for substance abuse counselor certification; combat and disaster casualty care management; communication processes; critical incident stress management debriefings, specialized mental health and nursing treatment techniques; anatomy and physiology; deviant and unacceptable behavior; principles of interpersonal relationships; counseling and interviewing techniques; diagnostic nomenclature; psychopharmacology; administration and scoring of psychological tests; medical and mental health ethics; medical and clinical records administration; principles of milieu therapy; personnel, unit and clinic management; and budgeting and acquisition of supplies and equipment.

Education

For entry into this specialty, completion of high school is mandatory. Completion of college courses in psychology, social or behavioral sciences such as psychology, counseling, substance abuse treatment, sociology, and marriage and family is desirable.

Training

For award of AFSC 4C031, completion of the mental health service apprentice course is mandatory.

Experience

The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated. (Note: See Explanation of Air Force Specialty Codes).

4C051. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 4C031. Also, experience administering, scoring, and reporting psychological test results; interviewing patients to obtain their biopsychosocial history, personal information; and assisting professional staff to carry out their prescribed treatment plan.

4C071. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 4C051. Also, experience conducting briefings, performing or supervising psychological test administration; and interviewing, and assisting inpatient treatment, or substance abuse prevention and counseling.

4C091. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 4C071. Also, experience managing mental health service activities.

Other

The following are mandatory as indicated:

For entry, award, and retention of this AFSC, absence of any speech impediment, and ability to read aloud and speak distinctly.

For entry, award, and retention of these AFSCs, no record of emotional instability, personality disorder, or unresolved mental health problems.

Note: This job requires a Sensitive Job Code(SJC) of "F."

Deployment Rate for this AFSC

Strength Req: G

Physical Profile: 222231

Citizenship: No

Required Appitude Score: G-53(Changed to G-55, effective October 1, 2004).

Technical Training:

Course #: J3ABR4C031 002

Length (Days): 54

Location: S