Community Connector (Mental Health Services)

Vinfen•Somerville, MA

14d

About The Position

The ACCS Community Connector promotes the full integration and functioning of Persons Served (PS) needed to live successfully in the community. Helps support PS as citizens living within communities and works to ensure PS access to community resources and social networks within the community. Provide PS and ACCS staff with information about community resources and entitlements/benefits available to PS. Provides interventions to support PS in preparing for, seeking and keeping wanted employment and/or educational opportunities. SIGN ON BONUS: $3K

Requirements

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
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.
Driving is a requirement for this position using either a Vinfen van or 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 six months, and must be able to pass a driver's screening background check.
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.
CPR required within two weeks of hire
First Aid required within two weeks of hire
MAP required within 150 days of hire

Nice To Haves

Preference given to bilingual/bicultural applicants and applicants with lived experience of psychiatric conditions.

Responsibilities

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 http://www.massresources.org . 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.