Mental Health Associate - Addiction Recovery Center

Mental Health AssociateMental Health Associate works with the treatment team to ensure complete coordination of the patient treatment plan from admission through discharge.QualificationsEducational Requirements: Bachelor's degree in related field.Certification & Licensure RequirementsCertified Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC) Must possess and maintain a current certification from Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association within three years of hire/start date.Must have control over personal use of all mood-altering chemicals and behaviors.If recovering from an addiction, must currently have a minimum of 2 years of uninterrupted recovery and must actively treat this addiction by appropriate recovery practices.Use of usual and customary equipment used to perform essential functions of the position.Other RequirementsRequired English Skills Advanced reading skills Advanced writing skills Advanced oral skills Communication Skills Ability to respond appropriately to customer/co-worker Interaction with a wide variety of people Maintain confidential information Ability to communicate only the facts to recipients or to decline to reveal information Ability to project a professional, friendly, helpful demeanor Computer Skills Basic computer knowledge: Uses word processing, spreadsheet, e-mail application, and web browser. Comfortable within a Windows OS and learning new applications.ResponsibilitiesENSURES PATIENTS RECEIVE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES: Assists the interdisciplinary treatment team in patient assessments and the development of goal-directed treatment.Works with the treatment team to provide complete services to patients.Accurately documents activities according to the policies and procedures of the IIAR.Is knowledgeable of and capable of providing emergency assistance in regard to inappropriate acting out behavior by any patient. Always attempts to utilize verbal redirection, interaction of other staff, utilization of quiet room, etc. before instituting emergency measures such as Security Alerts, restraints, etc.Is knowledgeable and capable of working with patients who present a dual problem, Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorder.Is knowledgeable of and appropriately institutes the daily program format on the adult. Guides activities on the daily schedule to provide optimum treatment while instilling a sense of positive empowerment to patients.Provides that all patient contact and interaction is based upon inherent dignity, individuality, culture and beliefs of each patient. Patient care is provided in a compassionate, humane, and non-enabling manner.Provides patient care with attention/knowledge of age specific care.Conducts Addiction Assessments including but not limited to patient rights, obtaining releases of information, advanced directives, etc.)Participates in interdisciplinary clinical staffing or ensures pertinent information is provided to teamDemonstrates Motivational Interviewing skills when working with patients.Serves as the witness for RNs when wasting medication.THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY FOCUS: Assists in the creation and maintenance of a therapeutic milieu so that the unit is a safe, caring, nurturing, healing, and educative environment.Sets behavioral limits on patients according to unit policies, individual plan of care and behavior modification plansDe-escalates patients utilizing CPI techniquesParticipates in application of seclusion/restraints when appropriate; provides monitoring of patients in such situation; completes appropriate documentation, including restriction of rights formsProvides supportive care to patients and families.Conducts safety roundsAssists patients in conflict resolutionRole models stress managementEnsures patient safety of unit by following policies/procedures and adhering to unit protocols and national patient safety goalsTHERAPEUTIC GROUPS AND INDIVIDUAL THERAPIES: Provides group and individual therapies for all patients as assigned in order to provide comprehensive, quality treatment.Facilitates educational sessions, structured groups and psychoeducational groups in accordance with the patient's plan of careUtilizes a variety of therapeutic models as appropriate to the clinical situation, but primarily has a brief therapy/cognitive behavioral therapy focusEnsures the milieu maintains a therapeutic environmentIncorporates Recovery principles in all therapeutic interventionsDocuments interventions in a succinct and goal directed manner using DAR formatRecognizes and reports abuse/neglect situations as required by lawProvides support, sets limits, and/or facilitates learning from the situation when providing situational 1:1 interventionsAdheres to group rules and scheduled groups start and end on time.Follows group content outlines in group manual and individualizes groups to needs of current patient populationEngages patients to participate of all patients as appropriate in community meetingsInteracts with parents/significant others to answer programming questions, patient progress, etcGives accurate, objective data during report to oncoming shift in supplement to RN report.