Mental Health Support Staff, IICAPS

CLIFFORD BEERS COMMUNITY CARE CENTER•New Haven, CT

12d•$23 - $29•Hybrid

About The Position

Clifford Beers Community Care Center (CBCCC) is a mental health clinic serving children and families. Our mission is to provide integrated services addressing mental, physical, and social determinants in order to improve health, resiliency and quality of life for children, families and communities. The IICAPS Mental Health Support Staff is a member of the multidisciplinary Intensive In-Home Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services (IICAPS) team providing intensive home- and community-based behavioral health support to children and adolescents ages 8 through 17 and their families. Working collaboratively with and under the clinical direction of the IICAPS Clinician and treatment team, the Mental Health Support Staff assists children and families in implementing individualized treatment goals, strengthening coping and emotional regulation skills, improving family functioning, navigating community resources, and promoting stability within their natural environments. Services are delivered in accordance with IICAPS model standards and agency requirements using strength-based, family-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and developmentally appropriate approaches. The Mental Health Support Staff reinforces interventions established by the clinical treatment team and communicates observations, progress, barriers, and safety concerns to the appropriate clinical team members.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Social Work, Human Services, Counseling, Child Development, Family Studies, or a closely related behavioral health or human services field from an accredited institution.
Experience working with children, adolescents, or families experiencing behavioral health, emotional, developmental, or social challenges preferred.
Experience working in home-based, community-based, educational, residential, behavioral health, or human services settings preferred.
Experience supporting children and families affected by trauma, serious emotional disturbance, family instability, substance use, or complex psychosocial needs preferred.
Experience supporting caregivers and families in implementing behavioral strategies, coping skills, or treatment recommendations preferred.
Experience participating in behavioral crisis intervention, de-escalation, or stabilization preferred.
Experience collaborating with schools, healthcare providers, behavioral health providers, social service agencies, or other community systems preferred.
Familiarity with community behavioral health and social service resources preferred.
Experience working effectively with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds and communities.
Valid Connecticut driver's license
Reliable transportation and ability to travel throughout the service area
Ability to meet agency driving requirements
CPR and First Aid Certification
Bilingual (English/Spanish) for designated bilingual positions.
Ability to establish and maintain positive helping relationships with children, adolescents, caregivers, families, and community partners.
Ability to engage children, adolescents, and caregivers who may be reluctant to participate in services or experiencing significant emotional, behavioral, or family challenges.
Ability to provide services effectively in homes, schools, and community settings.
Ability to implement and reinforce treatment interventions and behavioral strategies developed by the IICAPS clinical treatment team.
Ability to support caregivers in implementing positive behavioral strategies and strengthening family functioning.
Knowledge of child and adolescent development, behavioral health, family systems, trauma-informed care, and family-centered practice.
Ability to recognize changes in client functioning and potential safety concerns and communicate critical information promptly to the IICAPS Clinician or appropriate clinical team member.
Ability to support crisis de-escalation and stabilization using trauma-informed techniques within the scope of the position and under appropriate clinical direction.
Strong verbal, written, interpersonal, and family-engagement skills.
Strong organizational, time-management, and documentation skills, with the ability to manage multiple cases and competing priorities.
Ability to work independently in community settings while maintaining consistent communication and collaboration with supervisors and multidisciplinary team members.
Knowledge of community resources and ability to assist families in navigating behavioral health, educational, healthcare, and social service systems.
Proficiency with electronic health record systems and other technology required for documentation, communication, and service delivery.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, establish professional boundaries, and adhere to agency and ethical standards.

Responsibilities

Provide intensive home-, school-, and community-based behavioral health support services to children and adolescents ages 8 through 17 and their families enrolled in the IICAPS program.
Implement and reinforce interventions and strategies identified in individualized treatment, crisis, and safety plans developed by the IICAPS clinical treatment team.
Support children and adolescents in developing and practicing emotional regulation, coping, communication, problem-solving, conflict-resolution, interpersonal, and independent living skills.
Support caregivers in implementing treatment recommendations, positive behavioral strategies, and interventions designed to strengthen caregiver-child relationships and overall family functioning.
Facilitate family interactions that promote communication, problem-solving, relationship building, and shared understanding.
Reinforce therapeutic strategies between clinical sessions and assist families in generalizing skills across home, school, and community environments.
Participate in crisis intervention and stabilization efforts within the scope of the position and under the clinical direction of the IICAPS Clinician or other qualified clinical professional.
Assist families in implementing established individualized safety and crisis plans and promptly communicate emerging safety concerns or significant changes in client functioning to the IICAPS Clinician and treatment team.
Maintain knowledge of community resources and assist children and families in accessing behavioral health, educational, medical, social service, and other community-based supports.
Collaborate with schools, healthcare providers, child welfare agencies, behavioral health providers, and other community partners as directed by the treatment team to support coordinated care.
Participate in treatment planning meetings, case conferences, discharge planning meetings, Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meetings, and other interdisciplinary meetings as appropriate to the role.
Provide transportation or accompany children and families to appointments, community resources, and other service-related activities when appropriate and consistent with agency policy and program requirements.
Maintain frequent and effective communication with the IICAPS Clinician and multidisciplinary treatment team regarding client and family progress, engagement, barriers to treatment, service needs, and emerging concerns.
Meet established direct-service and productivity expectations in accordance with program and agency requirements.
Complete timely, accurate, and appropriate documentation of client-related services in the CBCCC Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Yale IICAPS EHR in accordance with agency policies, IICAPS model requirements, payer requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.
Attend and arrive prepared for scheduled individual and team supervision, case consultation, IICAPS rounds, program meetings, and required trainings.
Seek supervision or consultation when questions, clinical concerns, safety issues, or situations outside the scope of the position arise and follow through with supervisory and clinical direction.
Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality and comply with HIPAA, agency policies, ethical standards, and applicable state and federal requirements.
Participate in ongoing professional development and maintain knowledge of behavioral health practices relevant to children, adolescents, and families.
Develop and maintain knowledge and understanding of the histories, traditions, values, family systems, and experiences of the populations served.
Apply culturally responsive approaches that demonstrate respect for individual and family backgrounds, identities, strengths, and experiences.
Participate in after-hours, on-call, or crisis-response responsibilities as required by the IICAPS program and in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement.
Perform other duties and responsibilities consistent with the position and program needs.