Critical Time Intervention-Mental Health Counselor

Critical Time Intervention Mental Health Counselor

Join the team at Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE), enriching the lives of others, one individual at a time. FREE benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental illness, and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to support people of all abilities reach their full potential and thrive in their communities. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including: housing; recovery services; transition to work; employment; day, community and family services; respite; crisis services; education and after school support; specialty health services; and advocacy.

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Critical Time Intervention (CTI) Team Leader, the CTI Mental Health Counselor (MHC) is responsible for the coordination of the assigned Care Managers and Peer Specialist. The MHC is responsible for providing time limited evidence-based practice of specialized case management interventions to society's most vulnerable individuals during periods of transition. CTI Mental Health Counselors resolve clinical and rehabilitative needs, when within scope of practice, that impact the individual's ability to meet recovery goals. The MHC links individuals to longer-term professional and community-based supports that will continue after the service is completed.

Duties, Responsibilities, and Essential Functions

• Works collaboratively, builds community relationships and serves as liaison to community partners such as Emergency Departments (ED), inpatient psychiatric units both Article 28 and 31, and Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Programs (CPEP).
• Maintains relationship with Nassau County Department of Mental Health, Chemical Dependency, & Developmental Disabilities and Services and the Office of Mental Health.
• Works collaboratively with clinical team members and specialists in the community to identify, design and implement training/support needs of the community.
• Demonstrates the basic tenets of the CTI Best Practices and Policies and Procedures.
• Assists with growth of the program via networking internally and externally in conjunction with other departments.
• Maintains communication with other regional and local CTI teams for the purposes of collaboration.
• Works collaboratively amongst FREE, OMH, OPWDD and other entities to facilitate the cooperation of supports and services, in-person and virtually.
• Ensures that the individual's needs are met and intercede on the individual's behalf as necessary.
• Ensures that therapeutic/case management services are facilitated and/or encouraged for the individuals based on person centered needs, and works collaboratively within these systems of support.
• Provides the individuals with therapeutic interventions for both mental health and substance use disorders.
• Assists and/or provides support with screening, referral, and crisis services as needed and/or as designated and directed by supervisor.
• Provides after-hours emergency services on a 24-hour, rotating basis, such as telephone consultation, crisis intervention, and pre-hospital screening examinations.
• Actively participates in joint case planning and coordination with internal multi-disciplinary team and agency psychiatrists.
• Assists with crisis hotline calls and completes proactive appointments.
• Provides crisis intervention in response to individuals' behavioral and emotional needs, including support to individuals, families and team members, in-person and virtually.
• Addresses emergency situations as they occur in the program according to established policies and procedures, and ensure communication of such situations in a timely fashion.
• Attends in-service training programs, clinical and academic conferences and workshops and other educational presentations to maintain current knowledge of relevant clinical issues and techniques.
• Prevents, recognizes and reports abuse toward the people we support.
• Raises awareness of existing services, pathways to recovery and helping a person to remove barriers that exist for accessing them.
• Assists with selecting and utilizing self-directed recovery tools such as Relapse Prevention Planning including identification/recognition of early warning signs and rapid intervention strategies
• Teaches skills for coping with specific symptoms and stress management, including development of a crisis management plan
• Educates individuals about mental health, treatment, and recovery.
• Collects and completes required data and documentation on individual access and utilization of CTI services.
• Coordinates the receipt of referral and ensures that the benchmarks for the individuals supported are being maintained as they work through the CTI Phase Plans.
• Ensures that all required documentation (paper and electronic) is completed/processed appropriately, in a timely manner, and meets quality and compliance thresholds.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities of All FREE Employees

• Always communicates in a respectful manner with all people including the people we support, supervisors, other valued team members, and members of the community.
• Complies fully with FREE's confidentiality policies by holding in strictest confidence all information pertaining to members, residents, the people we support and their families, clients, providers, contractors, and employees.
• Meets all safety training requirements; adheres to all safety policies and reports any and all unsafe conditions; takes measures to prevent accidents and/or eliminate conditions that pose a safety or health risk.
• Coordinates, supports, attends and participates in all required events/ meetings/ reviews/ committees, including ones outside of standard working hours.
• Meets all job requirements and stays in compliance.
• Adheres to FREE's standard of ethical behavior as outlined in the Employee Handbook and Code of Conduct as well as applicable laws and regulations.

Qualifications

• Education: Master's Degree in social work, psychology, rehab counseling, mental health counseling, nursing, or other human service field required
• Experience: Experience working with individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Substance Use Disorders, and/or Mental Health Diagnoses preferred o Appropriate combination of education, experience and training will be considered
• Specialized Training, Licenses, Certifications: Complete the CTI certification process within 12 months of hiring Complete 9.58 designation certification within 6 months of hiring LCSW, LMHC, LMSW or another related licensure preferred
• Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities: Knowledge of OMH and OPWDD practices, policies and regulations Computer literacy required; familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite Must be able to motivate and coach others Must be efficient, well organized, and have excellent communication skills Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment with flexibility, keeping others informed and anticipating needs is essential
• Other Requirements: Valid Drivers license and satisfy criteria to be an agency driver A current PPD (tuberculosis) test or equivalent screening (will be administered upon hire if needed) A physical examination completed within the last year by a licensed healthcare provider Up-to-date immunization records, which may include (but are not limited to) MMR, Varicella, Tdap, Influenza, and COVID-19, in accordance with hospital system protocols and applicable public health guidelines

Work Environment

This role is performed in-person, some travel within FREE Network and other relevant locations required.

Physical Requirements

Employee is required to sit, walk and stand for prolonged period of time (at least 8 hours). Employee is required to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing. Employee is required to operate standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, fax and filing cabinets. Employee might be required to lift/move light items. Notwithstanding the above listed physical requirements of this position, FREE will provide reasonable accommodations to allow employees to perform the essential functions of the position, provided such reasonable accommodations do not cause undue hardship on FREE.

FREE is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or any other protected characteristic. In addition to federal law requirements, FREE complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in all of its locations. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises