Adult Community Clinical Services Benefits & Vocational Specialist - Rehabilitation Counselor (C)

DescriptionThe Department of Mental Health (DMH) is seeking an exceptional Rehabilitation Counselor C with the Cape Cod Site Office. The successful candidate will function as the Vocational Benefits Specialist on the Adult Community Clinical Services (ACCS) Integrated team and serves as a resource for all benefits/entitlements related questions and concerns. Assess Person served financial status and assist with accessing and securing appropriate benefits/entitlements. Provides vocational support to persons served, as needed, including providing rehabilitative interventions to assist persons served in building and using skill s and accessing resources to achieve treatment goals, manage symptoms and live productive and meaningful lives. Provides trauma-informed, person-centered community-based interventions that target skill development to assigned caseload. Participates in the development of Individualized Action Plans (IAPs) with assigned caseload and will be expected to complete all documentation in a timely manner.The incumbent will be expected to build relationships with and acts as ACCS liaison to local EOHHS agencies and entitlement programs and is responsible for ongoing communication with other treatment providers to assure coordination of treatment planning and for sharing pertinent information. Provides culturally and linguistically competent services that are also sensitive and responsive to religious practices, sexual orientation, gender differences, physical disabilities, as well as services that are age and developmentally appropriate, including young adults and elders.Please Note: The work schedule will be first shift working 8:30am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. The days off will be Sunday and Saturday.Duties and Responsibilities (these duties and responsibilities are not all inclusive):Function as the Benefits Specialist for ACCS to assess financial status and assist person served with accessing and securing necessary benefits/entitlements.Serve as a member on an ACCS Integrated team by attending regularly scheduled meetings, coming prepared to present psychosocial history, mental status, diagnosis, treatment provided, and the treatment planned for assigned cases and by participating in discussion of other cases to ensure that persons served receive optimal care.Builds relationships with and acts as ACCS liaison to local DTA, Social Security, MassHealth, etc., offices.Provide benefits/entitlements related feedback and information to integrated team and GLE staff to facilitate communication between benefit/entitlement resources, the team and person served.Assists person served with developing skills necessary for securing and maintaining employment.Assists person served with referral to MRC and clubhouse to access vocational services and supports. Responsible for assisting in the development, understanding, & implementation of lAPs of those that are on assigned case load by involving person served and significant others as appropriate.Assess the needs of assigned persons on a regular basis by reviewing records, providing supportive counseling, and maintaining regular contact with persons served and families via outreach in their home or other community environments.Provide rehabilitative interventions to assist persons served in building and using skills and accessing resources to achieve treatment goals, manage symptoms and live productive and meaningful lives. These interventions take into account SAMHSA’s 8 Dimensions of Wellness.Provide competency-based, evidence-based, and best practice interventions including use of identified screening tools.Responsible for reading & communicating all pertinent information and attending daily rounds and staff meetings and informing supervisor or designee of any critical information.Responsible for transporting or arranging transportation for persons served that need that level of service.Responsible for assessing persons served mental status and assisting them with utilizing coping strategies, natural supports, and safety planning when necessary.Involve persons served and all identified natural supports and collateral providers in the process of treatment planning and ensure that plans are agreed upon by obtaining person served or LAR signature.Responsible for maintaining person served records in a timely manner by documenting in EMR and paper record and completing all other related forms to ensure compliance with DMH regulations and Rehab Option requirements.Provides culturally and linguistically competent services that are also sensitive and responsive to religious practice, sexual orientation, gender differences, physical disabilities, as well as services that are age and developmentally appropriate, including young adults and elders.Required Qualifications:Ability to gather information through observing and questioning individuals.Ability to interact with people who are under physical and/or emotional stress.Ability to work in a team setting and in-group situations.Ability to establish a support and deal tactfully with persons from varied ethnic, cultural, or economic backgrounds.Ability to maintain calm a manner in stressful or emergency situations.Ability to exercise sound judgment.Ability to observe behavioral reactions and changes in usual pattern. Preferred Qualifications:Licensed Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and/or Licensed Mental Health Counselor with experience in working with community-based population.Previous experience working with people with chronic mental illness. Given the population served, bilingual or multilingual fluency.Special Requirements:A current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator’s license or equivalent from another state is needed for this function.DMH Vision and Mission:The Department of Mental Health, as the State Mental Health Authority, assures and provides access to services and supports to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages, enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities. The Department establishes standards to ensure effective and culturally competent care to promote recovery. The Department sets policy, promotes self-determination, protects human rights, and supports mental health training and research. This critical mission is accomplished by working in partnership with other state agencies, individuals, families, providers, and communities.About the Cape Cod and the Islands Community Mental Health Center:The CC&I CMHC provides comprehensive services to adults and children. Programs include a 16-bed acute in-patient unit, Case Management, Day Treatment Program, and Adult Community Clinical Services (ACCS). The CC&I CMHC is a Joint Commission certified facility. In all we always aspire to create an environment which promotes growth and independence for patients, families, and employee alike.Learn more about our important work:Pre-Hire Process:A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit and click on "Information for Job Applicants."Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.ADA Reasonable Accommodation:If you require a reasonable accommodation with the application/interview process, please contact us at: EOHHS Candidate ADA RequestsFor questions, please contact the Office of Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io and select option #4.QualificationsFirst consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: REQUIRED WORK EXPERIENCE: At least four years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience in social work, social casework, vocational counseling, employment counseling, rehabilitation counseling, or educational counseling. SUBSTITUTIONS: - A Bachelor's or higher degree in rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation counseling, education of the physically or emotionally handicapped, education of the multiple handicapped, education of the learning disabled, social work, psychology, human services, or counseling may be substituted for the required experience on the basis of two years of education for one year of experience. - A Bachelor's or higher degree in a major other than rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation counseling, education of the physically or emotionally handicapped, education of the multiple handicapped, education of the learning disabled, social work, psychology, human services, or counseling may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required experience on the basis of four years of education for one year of experience. - A Master's or higher degree in social work, psychology, human services, rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation counseling, or counseling may be substituted for an additional year of the required experience on the basis of two years of education for one year of experience. - Licensure as a Licensed Rehabilitation Counselor by the Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health Professionals or Certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification may be substituted for the required experience. - One year of education equals 30 semester hours. Education toward a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed. Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.Comprehensive BenefitsWhen you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!Title 101 CMR 23.00 (“Regulation”) requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza.An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.Job Field: Community and Social ServicesOrganization: Department of Mental HealthSchedule: Full-timeShift: Day