Residential Counselor (Mental Health Services)

Vinfen•Lawrence, MA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

As an ACCS Residential Counselor, you provide direct support to people with psychiatric conditions in a residential group living environment designed to foster independence. You work with the people served, their families, friends, employers, and other support staff to build independence skills and improve quality of life. Duties include administering medication under the Medication Administration Plan (MAP), helping with activities of daily living such as household chores and cooking, and working with the Clinical Program Director to implement recovery-oriented, person-centered, harm-reduction, trauma-informed, culturally competent, and strengths-based treatment plans. The position also involves collaborating with integrated team members, supporting residents’ participation in the operation of the residence, fostering social interaction and a welcoming environment, advocating for residents, and using crisis intervention techniques when necessary. The counselor supports evidence-based and other best practices, completes required documentation, attends trainings and meetings, assists with staff orientation, and contributes to quality improvement. Driving is required, using either a Vinfen van or a personal vehicle.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
At least 21 years of age.
Valid U.S. driver's license held for at least six months; driving is required using either a Vinfen van or personal vehicle.
If using a personal vehicle, maintain adequate insurance and a safe driving record subject to annual checks.
Pass CORI, driving record, employment reference, multi-state background, and driver's screening checks.
Become CPR and First Aid certified within two weeks of hire and MAP certified within 150 days of hire.
Demonstrate a strong commitment to the right and ability of people served to live and work in their chosen community, maintain meaningful relationships, and receive needed resources and supports.
Have the skills and competence to establish supportive, trusting relationships with people served, families, and neighbors.
Demonstrate sensitivity to cultural, religious, ethnic, disability, and gender issues.
Ability to balance competing priorities and make independent judgments and decisions.
Ability to work professionally and confidentially.
Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment.
Ability to perform physically active work, including standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, climbing, and maneuvering through narrow spaces or hallways.
Ability to lift at least 25 pounds using proper lifting techniques or a two-person lift and assist people served with daily living tasks.
Ability to operate a computer and office equipment such as a calculator, copier, and printer.
Ability to sit, reach, climb stairs, file, and move around the facility; remain stationary for up to 50% of the time as needed.
Ability to speak, hear, and communicate with people served, staff, and external representatives.
Required vision abilities include close, distance, color, peripheral, and depth vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

Associate's degree in a human services discipline.
Prior experience working in a human services setting; one to two years of job-specific experience is preferred.
Bilingual/bicultural background.
Lived experience of psychiatric conditions.

Responsibilities

Help orient people served who are new to the residence.
Collaborate with integrated team members as needed to address the needs of people served.
Implement treatment plan interventions as directed by the team LPHA clinician.
Perform day-to-day assignments as directed by the Program Director.
Use recovery-oriented, person-centered, harm-reduction, trauma-informed, culturally competent, and strengths-based approaches.
Follow safety, maintenance, Human Rights, operational policies, and physical site licensing standards and regulations.
Store, administer, document, and dispose of medication according to MAP requirements, funding-source regulations, and company policy; support program compliance with Vinfen MAP protocols and teach medication management.
Create opportunities for people served to participate in the operation of the residence, including meal preparation and site maintenance.
Encourage social interaction between residents and foster a collaborative environment in which residents, families, friends, and others are welcomed, respected, and valued.
Serve as a resource for neighbors.
Help people served prepare meals and with activities of daily living.
Advocate for people served.
Participate in trainings and attend supervision and staff meetings as requested.
Assist with orientation of new staff.
Complete required documentation and incident documentation as needed.
Contribute to program quality improvement goals and objectives.
Help people served use crisis intervention techniques when necessary and access on-call backup when needed.
Support evidence-based and best practices, including Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, Housing First, Stages of Change, Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP), Seeking Safety, and Cognitive Behavioral interventions.
Perform physical site maintenance activities according to the maintenance schedule.
Perform other related duties as assigned.