Mental Health Program Specialist - Glen Mills, PA

POSITION SUMMARY: The Mental Health Program Specialist I implements and documents programs for individuals with behavioral health needs, provides supportive counseling, and advocates for individual's needs and rights with outside support service agencies, families, etc. This role also assists and supports individuals in all activities of daily living, facilitates therapeutic groups, and plans and implements community integration plans for individuals.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Attend meetings of the interdisciplinary team in the development of treatment programs for individuals with behavioral health needs to become fully informed on the treatment plan to be able to provide support to the individuals based on the plan goals, as directed by the supervisor or Operations Manager
• As set by regulations and the behavioral plan, create and maintain all appropriate documentation relevant to the scope of this position, including progress notes, as needed, and shift reports, for the purpose of providing information for client records and for use by other professionals within the program
• Provide supportive counseling to individuals with personal, behavioral, or social problems including but not limited to implementing deescalating techniques depending on situational context with individuals supported, facilitating therapeutic groups and house meetings according to individual needs, encouraging individuals in the constructive use of leisure time, and encouraging individuals with attaining daily and long-term treatment goals
• Collect behavioral data for the individuals in the program which have been identified by the behaviorist
• Advocate, in collaboration with the program case manager, for individuals with all outside support agencies to provide needed resources or services to meet established treatment goals, supporting the individual in expressing their needs in verbal and/or written form
• Maintain communication with the program medical team to ensure the individual's physical health (e.g., medical, basic grooming, dietary needs) needs are met. Provide verbal reports on individual's progress and/or needs during shift huddles with the full interdisciplinary team to ensure a safe and clean living environment for individuals, also addressing fire/safety concerns, as well as room and facility management issues
• Intervene in crisis situations in accordance with established safe crisis intervention protocols
• Escort individuals to and from doctor's appointments and other appointments, as needed
• Attend scheduled staff team meetings, appropriate in-services, and those required by funding source and regulatory bodies, as designated or assigned by supervisor, to provide updates on individuals' progress, to be updated on program events, and to obtain any assistance in effectively performing job duties
• Conduct fire drills, safety rounds checks, and building inspections per program, state, and county regulations, and provide the appropriate documentation for same
• Report all emergent problems or concerns, including but not limited to physical altercations, calls to fire or medical emergency agencies, maintenance emergencies, death, and medical and/or psychiatric episodes to the supervisor or director to ensure appropriate response, the safety of all parties, completion of immediate documentation, and needed follow-up per program and regulatory requirements
• Remain on duty until relieved
• Adhere to regulatory standards, procedures, and schedules established by the supervisor
• Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, and safe crisis intervention using agency-trained protocols
• Perform other duties as assigned

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Residential Shift Supervisor

DIRECT REPORTS: None

CONTACTS: Elwyn staff, state regulatory staff, individuals, funding sources, social service agencies, families, county representatives, and advocacy groups

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS REQUIREMENTS:

• High school diploma or equivalent, plus twelve (12) credits in mental health or forensics services, OR high school diploma with three (3) years' experience in the mental health or forensics fields; associate's degree in human services, or related field, OR sixty (60) college credit hours including twelve (12) hours in mental health services or forensics preferred
• Experience working in or having completed an internship in the behavioral health field
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage and prioritize multiple, often competing, priorities
• Demonstrated strong attention to detail
• Demonstrated strong time management and organizational skills
• Demonstrated excellent judgment with the ability to independently solve problems and make decisions with little or no need for direct supervision
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate future needed changes or identify problem areas and take effective actions
• Must possess excellent customer interaction, collaboration, presentation, and written and verbal communication skills
• Must be able to perform CPR, first aid, and safe crisis intervention techniques using agency-trained protocols
• Demonstrated basic experience with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Knowledge of Electronic Health Record (EHR) / Electronic Medical Record (EMR) preferred
• Must have current, valid driver's license in state of residence, 3 years driving experience in the United States, and acceptable driving record

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE: See Physical Demands Checklist below which represents the general physical demands and environment conditions to which the employee holding this position must meet, in addition to the duties and responsibilities listed above, to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Elwyn will engage otherwise qualified candidates for this position whose disabilities may require reasonable accommodations to enable an individual to perform the essential functions.

Elwyn reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as needed. This job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive statement of duties and responsibilities of the job nor does it constitute a written or implied contract.

Elwyn is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Elwyn does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, pregnancy status, medical condition, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, sexual orientation or identity, age, national origin, citizenship, handicap status, marital or family status, mental or physical disability, perceived disability, military or veteran status, political activities or affiliations, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law, ordinance, or regulation.