Community Connector (Mental Health Services)

Overview

The ACCS Community Connector will work to ensure successful community integration by connecting adults with psychiatric conditions with available community resources to promote successful integration into their communities. The ACCS Community Connector helps support Person Served as citizens living within communities and works to ensure that everyone has access to community resources and social networks within the community. The ACCS Community Connector will provide both Person Served and ACCS staff with information about community resources and entitlements/benefits available to them. The ACCS Community Connector will also provide interventions to support Person Served in preparing for, seeking and keeping wanted employment and/or educational opportunities.

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. 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 from clinically licensed Team members.
• Help PS identify wanted community-based resources; promote, facilitate and support PS participation in mainstream opportunities, social supports, contacts, community resources and natural supports within and outside the mental health system (e.g., volunteer and work opportunities, activities with family and friends, virtual social networks, church groups, civic organizations, hobby groups, coffee shops and DMH Clubhouses, etc.).
• Provide training and guidance to staff on fostering Community Integration practices using resources including Temple University's Collaborative on Community Inclusion.
• Help PS acquire needed benefits and entitlements, including those for cash and financial assistance, childcare, education, employment, job training, energy assistance, food programs, health care, legal assistance and transportation.
• Provide training and guidance to staff as needed on benefits and entitlements available to PS. Train to the use of the Massachusetts-based website Develop, maintain and revise Community Resource Book for use by all staff.
• Provide interventions to support PS in preparing for, seeking and maintaining employment and/or educational status (in collaboration with Employment Coordinator in FY 2019).
• Help PS with self-management of symptoms through the use of Safety Plans and medication education as needed
• Employ trauma informed, recovery-oriented, person-centered, culturally competent and strengths-based approaches and skills training techniques in the work.
• Provide competency-based clinical evidence-based practices and best practices to PS living independently and in GLEs/SIEs, including Motivational Interviewing; Harm Reduction and Addiction Treatment; Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment (SBIRT); 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.
• Perform evidenced-based clinical and recovery oriented interventions for PS, including Motivational Interviewing; Harm Reduction and Addiction Treatment support; Screening; Brief Intervention, Referral and Treatment (SBIRT); Housing First; Stages of Change; Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP); Seeking Safety and Cognitive Behavioral interventions.
• Promote engagement, housing permanency, 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 services access for PS.
• Participate as member of Community Connector Community of Practice Workgroup led Director of
Rehabilitation for continuous professional role competency development, mentoring and learning.
• Perform other related duties, as assigned.

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
• 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
• Knowledge of community inclusion principles and practices, benefits and entitlement resource
• Ability to form supportive, trusting relationships with 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 assessment skills and practice
• 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 collaborate effectively with other Team members to address the needs of PS in the Treatment Plan
• Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment
• Knowledge of documentation standards and requirements

About Vinfen

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

Typical Requirements:
• Unlicensed Master's level or very experienced direct care staff with Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Must have access to an operational and insured vehicle and be willing to use it to transport PS.
• Preference given to bilingual/bicultural applicants and applicants with lived experience of psychiatric conditions.

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 $48,520.00 - USD $48,520.00 /Yr.