Job Summary: Community Health Worker (CHW)/ Community Psychiatric Supportive Treatment (CPST) is responsible for the provision of case management services, mental health workshops that are grant funded by HOPE Seven, Summit County Public Health Infant Mortality Grant and/or Akron Summit County Funded Programs. All programming must follow grant and/or program’s guidelines. The purpose/intent of the CHW is to provide specific and measurable group workshops as identified by the grant and to assist with administrative duties as needed.
Essential Functions and Duties: Activities of the CHW/CPST shall consist of one or more of the following: (1.) Coordination and/or assisting in the administrative duties of informing and promoting the target population of the groups being offered; (2.) Providing mental health education services for individuals and organizations throughout the Summit county area; (3.) Documenting group services in accordance with grant and MBHG’s administrative guidelines; (4.) Providing referral information to the community and individuals participating in the groups regarding behavioral health services in the community related to substance abuse, mental health and/or other clinically relevant topics; (5.) Coordination and implementation of the service recipient’s ISP, including ensuring that the ISP reflects the most current interventions necessary to address the individual’s mental health needs and symptoms of his/her mental illness, as evidenced by the service provider’s: (a) Participation in the development of the ISP;
(b) Coordinating other services and providers identified in the ISP to ensure that the ISP is being implemented as written; (c) Monitoring the individual’s progress in achieving goals and objectives/anticipated outcomes as documented on the ISP; and (d) Monitoring the individual’s status in relation to his/her ISP goals to identify when a change in mental illness symptoms indicates the need for a clinical review of the individual’s mental health assessment and ISP. Such clinical review shall be performed by an appropriately qualified individual in order to determine whether a revision of the goals, objectives and/or interventions is warranted. (6.) Supporting in crisis situations, including the service provider: (a) Working with the individual, and family, guardian and/or significant other, as appropriate, to develop a crisis management and contingency plan; and (b) Coordinating and/or assisting in crisis management and stabilization as indicated. (7.) Assessing the individual’s needs, including psychiatric, physical health, entitlement benefits, wellness, support system, and community resources, e.g., the need for housing, vocational assistance, income support, transportation, etc., in order to: (a) Incorporate those needs and accompanying rehabilitative services and activities in the ISP; and (b) Coordinate linkages to needed community services, support systems and resources. In addition, when the individual’s mental illness impedes his/her ability to access these services him/herself, the service provider shall:
(i) Assisting the individual in accessing needed community services, support systems and resources, and
(ii) Assisting the individual to develop the skills to access needed services, support systems and resources for him/herself.
(8.) Individualized, restorative interventions and training to improve interpersonal, community integration, and independent living skills when the individual’s mental illness impacts his/her ability to function in and adapt to home, school, work and community environments. Specific training may address:
(a) Socialization abilities, including communication, interpersonal relationships, problem solving/conflict resolution, and stress management; (b) Support system development; (c) Employment readiness activities, excluding skill specific vocational training. Examples of employment readiness abilities which may be impacted by a person’s mental illness include work related social and communication skills, personal hygiene and dress, time management, etc.; and (d) Other interventions and training necessary to ameliorate life stresses resulting from the individual’s mental illness. (9.) Assisting the individual to acquire psychiatric symptom self-monitoring and management skills so that the individual learns to identify and minimize the negative effects of the mental illness that interfere with his/her daily functioning. (10.) Advocacy and outreach when the individual’s mental illness prevents him/her from doing this for him/herself. (11.) Mental illness, recovery and wellness management education and training. The education and training may also be provided to the individual’s parent or guardian, and family and/or significant others, when appropriate, and when: (a) This education and training is based on the individual’s mental illness and symptoms; and (b) This education and training is performed exclusively on behalf of and for the well-being of the individual, and is documented in the ISP.
(12.) Attending relevant in-service training as required; (13.) Performing other duties as required by the Program Coordinator or designee; (14.) Adhering to and support the Mission/ Ministry/ Purpose of MBHG.
Qualifications: The following identifies those individuals who are eligible to provide Mental Health services: Licensed, certified or registered individuals shall comply with current, applicable scope of practice and supervisory requirements identified by appropriate licensing, certifying or registered bodies: (1.) To provide Service: a. Social worker assistant; b. Social worker; c. Independent social worker; d. Counselor trainee; e. Professional counselor; f. Professional clinical counselor;
g. Psychology intern/fellow; h. Psychology assistant/assistant; i. Psychologist; j. Art therapist; k. Music; l. RA, OCPSA, OCPSI, and OCPSII, therapist/board certified; or trained other. (2.) A valid Ohio Driver’s License and a working automobile. (3.) Proof of liability Auto Insurance with a minimum of $100,000/$300,000 coverage.
Minimum Qualification: Must have CHW certification or be registered into certification program to be completed no more than six (6) months from the date of hire.
Language and Writing Skills: 1. Aptitude to speak effectively before groups of people or employees of organizations. 2. Documentation such as: a. Maintain relevant documentation and provide data, requested; b. Complete progress notes that include place, time, length or service provided, how it related to program requirement, and outcomes of service; c. Document all services rendered d. Complete daily Service Activity Logs (SALS) denoting each group, administrative time, and assignments as requested; e. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made, if requested and medically supported, to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment is at any approved site of MBHG, in the schools, churches, and in the community. They are representative of the environments that a Community Support Provider must be able to work in to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations, if requested and medically supported, may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES THAT ARE ESSENTIAL:
- Demonstrated skill in developing productive relationships with all individuals seeking Mental Health and/or Prevention education and information.
- Knowledge of mental health field, definitions, diagnosis, services and psychotropic drugs.
- Knowledge of local community resources and demonstrated ability to access.
- Ability to work independently, organize work efficiently and prioritize responses to changing needs of individuals served.
- Ability to work non-judgmentally with individuals whose behavior and belief systems are incongruent with information being provided.
- Ability to cope with frustration and still persevere in goals with individuals being served whom may not be open or slowly accept information being provided.
