Resident Counselor - Behavioral Care Center

Mental Health Cooperative•Nashville, TN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is based out of an in-patient detention facility center (Behavioral Care Center-downtown Nashville). The Resident Counselor will assist consumers with on-site problem solving, development and implementation of plans to meet immediate and/or long-term needs while in emergency psychiatric services. Mental Health Cooperative, Inc. (MHC) was formed in 1993 to serve individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. Since then, we have expanded our services to children and adolescents with severe emotional disorders across Middle and East Tennessee. Our sole purpose is to support and treat those challenged with serious mental illness and poverty. MHC was founded in Nashville, Tennessee, in response to the need for assertive community-based treatment for individuals who have required frequent inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. Since 1993, MHC has been passionately helping adults with severe mental illness to live quality lives in the community with our state-of-the-art treatment and support. In 1999, MHC recognized the need to support the whole family and expanded services to include children and youth. We established our non-profit agency by merging three community organizations: Urban Case Management of Meharry Community Health Center, Continuous Treatment Team of Council of Community Services, and Mobile Crisis Team of the Crisis Intervention Center. This fusion resulted in an innovative, comprehensive, and multidisciplinary approach that addresses the specialized needs of individuals living with severe behavioral health conditions and challenges related to poverty. MHC remains the only organization in the state focused solely on this population.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a health-related field of counseling, psychology, or social work.
Valid Tennessee Driver’s License
Acceptable Motor Vehicle Report (MVR)
Acceptable Criminal Background Investigation

Responsibilities

Actively engage consumers during his/her stay to effectively intervene and problem-solve during a crisis episode.
Maintain continuous and consistent contact with consumers while admitted to Treatment programs.
Complete all required paperwork by the end of each shift.
When appropriate, advocate for consumer’s needs: (a) Social Security benefits, representative payee, financial assistance; (b) TennCare; (c) Food Stamps; (d) Housing; (e) Set appropriate appointments, i.e., psychiatric, medical, dental, therapy; (f) Assist consumer in referrals to alcohol and other drug treatment, and (g) Transportation.
Assist consumers in understanding their psychiatric diagnosis and medication.
Communicate with and support consumers during his/her crisis episode to seek resolution to his/her crisis and reintegrate into his/her primary support systems.
Maintain a safe therapeutic environment free of sharps and other potentially harmful objects.
Search personal belongings of each consumer entering Treatment programs.
Discuss precipitating events and possible alternatives with each consumer.
Monitor consumer’s behavior, level of cooperation, and ability to remain safe while in Treatment programs.
Assist consumer with finding community resources.
Facilitate consumer groups as needed.
Complete regular safety checks on each consumer.
Use de-escalation skills with consumers to avoid any potential problems.
Provide consumers with needed supplies (food, toiletries, etc).
Participate in cross-training in all EPS Treatment programs.
Work collaboratively with MCRT staff.
Make Customer Service a priority with internal and external customers.
Communicate effectively with staff, supervisors, and consumers.
Demonstrate proficiency in taking vital signs.
Assist nursing with UDS, obtaining and interpretation.
Assists with organizing supplies as needed.
Maintain flexibility in the workplace.
Attend team meetings, supervision, and training as required.
Reports all maintenance/facility issues to Supervisor.
Follow Universal Precautions policies and procedures.