Location: Fredericksburg,VA, USA
OVERVIEWProvides intensive, time-limited, community mental health case management to Permanent Supportive Housing participants who are transitioning from institutional settings or homelessness to permanent housing. Promotes a focus on recovery, psychiatric rehabilitation and bridges the gap between institutional living and community services. Focus on engagement and rapport-building, connects individuals with services and natural supports. Work is performed under general supervision and is guided by agency policies and procedures, quality assurance, diagnostic guidelines and professional practices and including ethical standards related to client interactions, state and federal licensure and accreditation regulations and guidelines.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESProvide field based/mobile case management services in the areas of independent living skills, community integration events, employment, benefits establishment, and other services as needed to assist tenants in reaching treatment plan goals.Provide crisis intervention services focused on enhancing the tenants' ability to independently problem solve, utilize effective coping skills, and manage and self-coordinate own care.Meet tenants at minimum twice per month to provide strengths-based case management and service coordination services designed to assist tenants in obtaining and maintaining stable housing.Mediate and advocate on behalf of the tenant to help him/her obtain and keep housing, health care benefits, entitlements, transportation, etc.Attend staff meetings, case conferences, training workshops and community meetings as needed.Refer participants to other community resources to gain support for goals and follow up to ensure referrals were completed. A referral may include providing or setting up transportation for a client to access the resource effectively. It may also mean accompanying them and/or setting up an advocate to attend a meeting with the participant.Assists in obtaining social security card, birth certificate, insurance cards and photo ID.Obtain SOAR certification and assist clients in applying for disability benefits.Track and document client progress.Conducts intake interviews, obtains data, assesses individual status and risk, identifies needs and develops, implements, coordinates, and monitors individual treatment and service plans.Provides direct supportive counseling to the individual.Provides counseling and educational information to the individual's family and other influential persons to help support implementation of the service plan and optimal goal achievement.Arranges for or provides transportation for individuals to access services.Assists individuals with moving personal belongings on day of move in.Monitors effectiveness of services delivered and received by the individual and modifies plans and providers as appropriate.Prepares and maintains case files and documentation.Advocates on behalf of the individual for appropriate treatment/interventions.Assists with housing search, landlord outreach, acts as liaison as needed between individual and landlord.Performs related duties as assigned.KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIESDemonstrated knowledge of homelessness, behavioral health, success planning, community rehabilitation and case management. Able to be flexible and appropriately handle stressful situations. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to network with landlords and develop relationships with community service providers. Must have an understanding of relationship-based service models and be comfortable working alongside volunteers. Must be a self-initiator and be able to problem solve various life issues.Thorough knowledge of public and private resources, court services, mental health programs, substance abuse programs and service delivery systems in the local community and the eligibility criteria, intake processes, termination criteria and procedures; thorough knowledge of individual management guidelines for Virginia; considerable knowledge of social casework management, including need assessment and supportive level counseling; considerable knowledge of the nature and types of disorders, diagnosis, treatment modalities and interventions applicable to individuals with mental illness and recovery model, behavior management, independent living skills training, supportive counseling, relapse prevention, family education, crisis intervention, discharge planning, service coordination, functional and other assessment types; considerable knowledge of clinical documentation and office practices; ability to conduct effective interviews, observe, assess and record individual behaviors and functioning and develop treatment and service plans; ability to identify needs and link individuals with appropriate services; ability to establish and maintain rapport with the individual population; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with agency and facility staff and of other private and public facilities, agencies and organizations; ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing; ability to operate a vehicle; ability to function calmly in stressful situations; ability to prepare and maintain detailed records and prepare related reports; ability to collect, compile and evaluate electronically sourced or other data and prepare reports; ability to persistently negotiate with individuals and service providers.TYPICAL EDUCATION, TRAINING AND WORK EXPERIENCEBachelor's Degree in human services and at least one year professional work experience in direct care to Adults with serious mental illness. Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP); Experience working with homeless population preferred.LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATIONSValid VA driver's license. ENVIRONMENTAL AND PHYSICAL EXPOSUREWork involves considerable exposure to disagreeable environmental conditions such as the requirements to interact with clients having unsanitary behaviors, poor hygiene and contagious illness and/or are potentially violent in unsafe or unsanitary residences or other locations; drive a vehicle, and/or transport clients in inclement, if not severe weather; occasionally physically assist and/or lift clients in the course of care.