FLSA Status

Job Role Summary

The Support Specialist provides skills training and development to clients as required by medical necessity. This position provides crisis management and emergency interventions including but not limited to CPR and CPI, as well as provides quality case management as required by medical necessity and directed by the treatment team.

Schedule: 3pm-11:30pm; Week A; Mon/Tue/Fri & Week B; Tue/Thurs

Mental Health Recovery Center Overview

The Kathi & Bob Postlethwait Mental Health Recovery Center is an inpatient facility for individuals with serious mental illness who require the safest possible environment for their recovery. Located on the seventh floor of the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital, the center is a safe area that respects the autonomy of each patient as much as possible.

Staff members are aware of the challenges and misperceptions that can accompany a diagnosis of mental illness and therefore acknowledge this sensitivity by providing treatment in an environment that upholds patients’ rights and dignity. The center’s multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, medical students, nurses, pharmacists, social workers and occupational therapists provide care to more than 800 patients each year. Team members meet regularly to discuss each patient’s care and individual needs, encouraging independence and self-care whenever possible.

The ultimate goal of the Kathi & Bob Postlethwait Mental Health Recovery Center is to return patients to their homes and communities as soon as appropriate. Outpatient case managers work with patients on making that transition by arranging continuity of care and support after discharge

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Embraces, understands, and operates under the Recovery Model, including AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation, Thank You) and the spirit of motivational interviewing
• Provides skills training and development to clients in group and individual settings as guided by medical necessity outlined in the Person Centered Treatment Plan; skills training and development includes but is not limited to the following: home management, (laundry, cooking, cleaning, shopping, budgeting and payeeships), self-care management (bathing, dressing, grooming, nutrition, medication-consistency, assisting with medical follow up, attending medical appointments), emotion management (communication skills, decision making skills, coping skills, anger management)
• Provides crisis management and emergency interventions including but not limited to: CPR and CPI; for Mental Health Recovery Unit only: controlling of physical aggression by actively participating in the seclusion/restraint team
• Provides quality case management directed by treatment team and guided by medical necessity outlined in the Person Centered Treatment Plan
• May provide transportation in company provided vehicle and personal vehicle as directed by treatment team and guided by medical necessity; maintains a copy of Vehicle-Related Accident Reporting Procedures in vehicle
• Meets the agency's standard of client service hours
• Meets the agency's standard of timely completion of progress notes
• Advocates for clients to ensure access to needed services which includes developing community relationships and resources
• Reports to treatment team in staffing including but not limited to: successes and challenges, assessment of client progress, barriers to success, any level of care changes
• Performs selected nursing procedures consistent with Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center, including but not limited to: performing vital signs, collecting specimens, monitoring nutritional status and other such duties as assigned by supervisor and within scope of practice
• Establishes and maintains a safe environment at all times through on-going assessment of milieu/appointment environment and intervenes as indicated in Person Centered Treatment Plan and by nursing or physician order
• Accepts personal responsibility for development that includes 20 hours of training per year including but not limited to topics of addictions, cultural competency and trauma
• Provides written/electronic documentation of every client interaction where an intervention occurs or observation completed

Job Requirements

Two (2) years of experience in Behavioral Health and High School Diploma or equivalent; OR equivalent post-secondary education such as a Bachelor's or Associate's degree

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Basic knowledge of behavioral health
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology
• Knowledge of basic behavior management process
• Knowledge of basic learning principles
• Knowledge of community resources
• Knowledge of patient rights and responsibilities
• Knowledge of hands-on patient care
• Knowledge of hands on computer experience
• Must meet the following basic competencies as applicable: CPR, CPI, Animal Education, Medications, Legal, Addictions, Age-Related