Outreach Worker (Mental Health Services)

Overview

The ACCS Outreach Worker promotes the full integration and functioning of adults with psychiatric conditions needed to live successfully in the community by working towards life goals. Working alongside a Team LPHA Clinician, ACCS Outreach Worker provides evidenced-based and best practice services and supports to Person Served in the community, in a Group Living Environment or Supported Independent Environment.

In this role you will work with each Person Served to build life skills in the areas of activities of daily living, medication administration, symptom reduction, health and wellbeing, employment, school, socialization, and recreation.

Keywords: ACCSOW, outreach worker, social worker, mental health, psychology, human services, employment services, education services, outreach.

***Note, Ideal candidates will be able to work 1 weekend per month.


Responsibilities

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

The essential job duties/responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to the information listed below:

• Participate as member of intervention team for assigned PS. At the direction of the Team LPHA Clinician, based on the PS Treatment Plan, perform skills teaching, and help PS learn about community resources and obtaining resources. Provide PS with support and supervision, as needed.
• Deliver interventions identified on the Treatment Plan targeted at skills building in life domains including but not limited to activities of daily living, medication administration, symptom reduction, health and wellbeing, employment, school, socialization, and recreation and with supervision and direction from clinically licensed Team members.
• Attend medical, psychiatric and other appointments with PS as needed.
• Develop and maintain service-oriented and professional relationships with community resources and service providers.
• Adhere to Medication Administration Program (MAP) policies and procedures.
• Provide crisis intervention to PS, when needed.
• Use trauma informed, recovery-oriented, person-centered, culturally competent and strengths-based approaches and skills training techniques in the work with PS.
• Help PS with self-management of symptoms through Safety Plans, and medication administration program services and education as needed.
• Participate as member of the regional ACCS Outreach Worker Community of Practice Workgroup led by LPHA Clinicians for continuous professional role competency development, mentoring and learning.
• Support the provision of evidence-based practices and best practices to PS, including Motivational Interviewing; Harm Reduction; Housing First; Stages of Change; Seeking Safety, Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), and Cognitive Behavioral interventions, as well as the development of Safety Plans and Crisis Prevention and Response Plans, and 8 Dimensions of Wellness.

• Promote engagement, safe housing, community tenure, achievement of greater self-sufficiency and successful completion of service for all PS.
• Provide thorough and thoughtful documentation of PS needs and services.
• Promote healthcare, employment and education services access for PS.
• Help with orientation of new staff and PS to the ACCS service.
• Attend trainings, as assigned.
• Perform other related duties, as assigned.

About Vinfen

Why Vinfen? We are committed to you! We offer great training, great benefits, career growth and job security!

Our comprehensive and generous benefits package includes:

• A fully funded, employer-sponsored retirement plan that requires no employee contribution as well as an employee-funded 403(b) plan
• First-rate Medical, Dental and Vision plans that are open all employees scheduled to work 30 hours per week or more. Plus, we offer a generous employer contribution toward the cost of medical insurance!
• Employer-paid Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Long-Term Disability Insurance (no cost to you!)
• Employer-paid Short-Term Disability Insurance along with the option to purchase additional, voluntary, Short-Term disability insurance
• Flexible Spending Reimbursement Accounts (Health and Dependent care)
• Voluntary Term, Whole Life, Accident and Critical Care Insurance
• Generous paid time off (Employees scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week):
• 15 days of Vacation per year
• 11 Paid Holidays
• 10 Sick Days per year
• 3 Personal Days per year
• Educational Assistance and Remission Programs
• $500 Employee Referral Bonus with no annual cap!
• Other generous benefits including discounted YMCA memberships, access to discounted movie tickets and more!

About Us:

Established in 1977, Vinfen is a nonprofit, health and human services organization and a leading provider of community-based services to individuals with mental health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and behavioral health challenges. Our services and advocacy promote the recovery, resiliency, habilitation, and self-determination of the people we serve. Vinfen's 3,500 dedicated employees are experienced, highly-trained professionals who provide a full range of supportive living, health, educational, and clinical services in over 550 sites throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. For more information about Vinfen, please visit

My Job. My Community. My Vinfen.

Vinfen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Qualifications

High School Diploma or equivalent is required; Bachelor's degree in human services, psychology or a related field is preferred.

• 1 to 2 years of experience working with adults with psychiatric conditions.
• Must have access to an operational and insured vehicle and be willing to use it to transport Person Served.
• Preference given to bilingual/bicultural applicants and applicants with lived experience of psychiatric conditions.
• All candidates for this position must be a least 21 years of age and be able to pass a CORI, driving record, reference, educational and professional licensure check as well as a multi-state background check.
• All applicants must be able to become CPR, First Aid certified within 2 weeks of employment and MAP certified within 90 days of employment.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Strong commitment to the right and ability of people served by ACCS to live, work, have meaningful relationships and receive the clinical treatment, resources and supports needed to thrive in their community of choice
• Skill in helping people integrate into the community through use of natural supports and basic community resources
• Knowledge of PS engagement strategies
• Ability to form supportive, trusting relationships with PS and families/other supports of the PS
• Sensitivity to the cultural, religious, ethnic, disability, and gender issues of PS
• Knowledge of human, legal, and civil rights of PS
• Knowledge of the effects of prejudice (including internalized negative attitudes about oneself), discrimination, and oppression of people with psychiatric disorders, and the effects of poverty
• Knowledge and use of different communication and learning styles
• Ability to make independent judgments and decisions
• Ability to work in a professional and confidential capacity
• Knowledge of formal and informal functional assessment skills and practices
• Knowledge of recovery-oriented, person-centered and strengths-based values and principles
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally competent services. Sensitivity to the cultural, religious, ethnic, disability and gender issues of PS
• Ability to adhere to the standards of Motivational Interviewing; Harm Reduction; Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment (SBIRT); Housing First; Stages of Change; and Cognitive Behavioral interventions
• Skills and competence to provide interventions for effective Treatment Plan interventions
• Ability to balance competing priorities
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team to effectively and efficiently address the needs of PS as outlined in the Treatment Plan
• Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment
• Knowledge of documentation standards and requirements

Typical Requirements:

• A high school diploma or equivalent is required. A Bachelor's degree in human services field is preferred.
• One to two years related experience working with people with psychiatric disability and/or co-occurring disorders preferred.
• Must have access to an operational and insured vehicle and be willing to use it to transport PS.
• Bilingual/bicultural applicants and applicants with lived experience of psychiatric conditions encouraged to apply.

Driving Requirements:

Driving is a requirement for this position using either a Vinfen van or a personal vehicle. If using a personal vehicle, you must possess and maintain adequate insurance as well as maintain a safe driving record which is subject to annual checks. A valid driver's license must be presented at the time of employment. Incumbents must be at least 21 years of age, have maintained a valid US driver's license for at least one year, and must be able to pass a driver's screening background check.

Physical Effort:

Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, climb as this is a very physically active position. Must be able to lift at least 25 pounds using proper lifting techniques or the use of a two-person lift. Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment such as a calculator, copier, and printer. Ability to sit, reach, climb stairs, and maneuver through narrow spaces or hallways. Ability to assist PS with tasks of daily living. Ability to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time as needed. Ability to bend, reach, file, sit, stand, and move around the facility. Ability to speak, hear, and communicate with PS, staff, and external representatives. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Additional Certifications Required:

CPR required within first two weeks of hire
First Aid required within two weeks of hire
MAP required within 150 days of hire

Pay Range

USD $23.91 - USD $23.91 /Hr.