Mental Health Counselor (Restoration Center)

Vinfen•Lowell, MA

12d•$21 - $21

About The Position

Overview Summary: Provide direct service in the Restoration Center Respite Program, designed to provide a staff-secure, safe, and structured recovery and treatment focused environment for adults who have behavioral health symptoms, mental health, substance use or co-occurring disorders, that require 24-hour per day support in an unlocked treatment setting in a community-based program that serves as a medically necessary, less-restrictive, and voluntary alternative to inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. Responsibilities Job Duties and Responsibilities: Helps prepare person served transitioning to the community to engage in a recovery process and to communicate their strengths, hopes, dreams and goals to the team. Assists with the completion of functional and strengths-based assessments as needed. Implements individual’s Community Support plan. Ensures an environment that promotes safety, recovery, and treatment. Participates in trainings; attend supervision meetings, staff meetings and Team meetings as requested. Assists clients in routine living activities including cleaning, meal preparation, vacuuming, and grocery shopping. Performs light meal prep and monitor dining area. Adheres to all company and divisional and program specific policies and procedures, including safe work practices, worker’s compensation, universal precautions and exposure control. Complies with accreditation and licensing standards, as well as physical site licensing standards and regulations. Uses crisis intervention techniques when necessary. Accesses on-call back up when needed. Completes incident documentation as needed. Ensures maintenance and safety of physical site. Performs other duties as required. About Vinfen Why Vinfen? We are committed to you! We offer great training, great benefits, career growth and job security! About Us: 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 www.vinfen.org/careers . 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.

Requirements

Strong commitment to the right and ability of people served by Respite to live, work, have meaningful relationships and receive the resources and supports needed in their community of choice.
Ability to work in a therapeutic milieu setting.
Skills and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with program clients.
Knowledge of recovery-oriented, person-centered and strengths-based values, and principles and modalities.
Knowledge of empowerment and self-advocacy techniques.
Sensitivity to cultural, religious, ethnic, disability, and gender issues.
Knowledge of human, legal, civil rights, community and other resources.
Knowledge and use of different communication and learning styles.
Ability to balance competing priorities.
Ability to make independent judgments and decisions.
Ability to work in a professional and confidential capacity.
Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment.
One to two years of job-specific experience in the human services field preferred.
A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
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 one year, and must be able to pass a driver's screening background check.
Direct Care Roles - 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 clients with tasks of daily living. Ability to speak, hear, and communicate with clients, 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. For positions in day programs or group residences, the ability to assist in routine living activities including cleaning, meal preparation, vacuuming, shoveling, and grocery shopping.
CPR within 2 weeks of hire, First Aid within 2 weeks of hire, New Employee Training (NET), CPSS required.

Nice To Haves

Preference given to bi- lingual/bi-cultural applicants and applicants with lived experience of psychiatric conditions

Responsibilities

Helps prepare person served transitioning to the community to engage in a recovery process and to communicate their strengths, hopes, dreams and goals to the team.
Assists with the completion of functional and strengths-based assessments as needed.
Implements individual’s Community Support plan.
Ensures an environment that promotes safety, recovery, and treatment.
Participates in trainings; attend supervision meetings, staff meetings and Team meetings as requested.
Assists clients in routine living activities including cleaning, meal preparation, vacuuming, and grocery shopping.
Performs light meal prep and monitor dining area.
Adheres to all company and divisional and program specific policies and procedures, including safe work practices, worker’s compensation, universal precautions and exposure control. Complies with accreditation and licensing standards, as well as physical site licensing standards and regulations.
Uses crisis intervention techniques when necessary. Accesses on-call back up when needed.
Completes incident documentation as needed.
Ensures maintenance and safety of physical site.
Performs other duties as required.