MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST

Mental Health Specialist

Mental Health Specialists deliver direct care services under the supervision of a Therapist or a Mental Health Professional who is responsible for each resident's Active Treatment Plan. Mental Health Specialists have one of the most direct and influential roles in our residents' progress in treatment. Mental Health Specialists report directly to their unit's Supervisor regarding shift scheduling, training, daily activity schedules, house maintenance, and all the other tasks related to the direct care of residents.

Responsibilities include:

• Ensuring the provision of compassionate, culturally sensitive services.
• Ensuring all house or unit residents are present and on time for all clinical activities. Any absence from a clinical activity must be preapproved by the Therapist responsible for a resident's Active Treatment Plan.
• Creating a culture of care which discourages the use of protective holds and escorts.
• With the assistance of the Therapist, creating a living environment which residents evaluate positively.
• Ensuring agency's Behavioral Management Plan is implemented with fidelity.
• Actively participating in treatment team meetings and communicating fully regarding the delivery of treatment services to the house or unit residents, each resident's progress and condition on the unit or house, and the impact of program operations on treatment.
• Implementing with fidelity all personalized interventions indicated in each resident's Active Treatment Plan.
• Maintaining the structure, cleanliness and organization of the house or unit.
• Implementing the agency's milieu model with fidelity.
• Providing life skill training to residents as a routine matter in the course of daily living in the house or unit.
• Interacting positively with residents, their family members, fellow staff members and all other stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications include:

• Empathy for others and practice the Golden Rule in relationships with residents and their families, with fellow staff member and with others.
• An eager learner and willing to try new methods.
• A fundamental love for children and a desire to be an agent for change in their lives.
• Actively pursuing a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in a mental health-related field; or
• Have earned a Bachelor's degree and is a student pursuing a graduate degree in a mental health-related field and have completed at least two courses in that identified field; or
• Have a high school degree or a GED and have two years experience providing direct services in a mental health, physical health, social services, educational or correctional setting.
• A strong sense of personal authority, maturity and integrity for a positive, influential role with children.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, in a diverse range of audiences and settings.
• Skilled in conflict resolution and mediation.
• Strong verbal and social skills for use with residents and staff.
• Commitment to the protection of confidential information, records and reports.
• A strong work ethic and willingness to commit to significant job responsibilities.
• Flexibility in ability to function in demanding position.

Employment provisions include:

• Time on Duty: To be arranged so as best to accomplish the work to be done.
• Salary: As provided for in the Annual Budget.
• FLSA Exemption: Non-exempt
• Benefits: As stated in Personnel Policies and Procedures and determined by the Board of Directors.

Working Conditions:

• Percentage of time in climate controlled area ("inside" work): 70%
• Percentage of time spent outdoors: 30%
• Exposure to hazardous materials: FREQUENTLY – BIO-BODILY FLUIDS

Equal Opportunity Employer. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.