Residential Aide - Twin Lakes (Somerset, PA)

Job Title: Residential Aide

UPMC is hiring full-time Residential Aides to support Western Behavioral Health at Twin Lakes in Somerset, PA.

The Residential Aide provides clinical treatment services to residents in the Twin Lakes Residential Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program. This is a program designed to service adults age 18 and above who have diagnoses of substance abuse or dual disorders and who meet the PCPC dimensions for level 3 residential care. The model of care is a recovery model approach and is based in the principles of a therapeutic milieu and twelve step recovery, and when indicated, psychiatric rehabilitation.

Shifts for this position can include days, evenings, overnights, weekends, and holidays. Free parking is available on site. The incumbent will be joining a friendly, supportive team that is passionate about providing quality services for its clients. The ideal candidate will be team-oriented and will have knowledge of addiction and recovery.

Responsibilities:

• Provides self help skills training such as activities of daily living, socialization groups related to interpersonal effectiveness, social skills, effective and appropriate communication, hygiene, laundering, maintaining belongings, community involvement and awareness, and development of skills for recovery.
• Responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the therapeutic residential unit and makes routine rounds of the entire residence to ensure safety, monitoring of all consumer areas, and intervention in crisis situations. Accompanies residents to all off unit activities and monitors residents in these situations (e.g. recreation activities, self-help group meetings).
• Provides linkage with the community-based recovery self-help groups and other community contacts that can serve as support resources for the residents.
• Accompanies residents to all off unit activities and monitors residents in these situations (e.g. recreation activities, self-help group meetings). Transports residents in department van.
• Assists in orientation of new residents to the unit.
• Provides education to residents on recovery from substance abuse, psychiatric illness. Provides education to residents about community self help programs for addiction (AA, NA, CA, WFS, RR, SMART Recovery), mental health disorders (Recovery, Inc; EA; mood or anxiety disorders groups); or dual disorders (Dual Recovery Anonymous).
• Completes annual training needs assessment per BDAP and program guidelines; completes all training requirements commensurate position. Attends annual training as required. Works with clinical nurse manager and project director to establish learning needs and plan to meet same.
• Completes accurate documentation of care provided and be responsible for daily note describing behaviors and attitudes each shift and special notes in the case of any specific behavioral incident of note. Documents significant interactions with residents in complete, clear and concise manner.
• Plans, organizes and implements psycho-educational, special topic and twelve step recovery groups acting as leader or co-leader.
• Maintains confidentiality of residents and hospital information. Handles telephone information requests with courtesy, accuracy and respect for confidentiality.
• Functions effectively during emergency and crisis situations.
• Performs contraband searches on all residents. Secures residents belongings as per program protocol.
• Collaborates with treatment team to provide input from daily observations of the residents in the milieu setting and assures quality and continuity of care through liaison with other members of the treatment team.
• Serves as role models to residents and facilitates skill generalization.
• Provides psychological support and behavioral redirection to residents/ families/ significant others.
• Facilitates daily community meetings, morning meditation and evening wrap-up groups.
• Discusses with supervisors any significant personal reactions to residents which may impede therapeutic progress.

Qualifications:

• High School Graduate or GED required.
• Knowledge and experience working with substance use disorders and dual disorders preferred.
• Familiarity with 12 Step Program required.
• Experience working within a therapeutic milieu (behavioral health) setting preferred.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills required.
• Ability to work with residents in the program and in collaboration with other staff members as required.
• Ability to make decisions quickly and under stressful circumstances to prevent crisis situations required.
• Ability to work flexible hours to include early morning, evening, nights and weekend hours when required.
• Safe driving record required.
• CPR training or willingness to train required.
• May in the course of their job duties be in rooms where medications are stored.
• No contact with medications is allowed.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC)
• Driver's License
• Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran