Mental Health Specialist - ACT

Location: Valley Cottage, NY  (Rockland County) Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5:00 pm Pay rate: $25.00 hourly   OVERVIEW OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITES: We are seeking a Mental Health Specialist to join our Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team. This position will provide community-based support to individuals living with Serious Mental Illness. This position maintains a caseload, participates in treatment planning, and coordinates care with the interdisciplinary team and other community partners and resources.  Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), is an evidenced-based practice that uses a person-centered and recovery-based approach to offer treatment, rehabilitation, and support services to individuals that have been diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI). Typically, individuals served by ACT have a treatment history that includes multiple psychiatric hospitalizations, risk of harm to self or others, and lack of success in traditional outpatient services.  Many of these individuals are also living with co-occurring substance use disorders, and ACT utilizes a harm reduction approach to support them in reaching their self-identified recovery goals.  ACT services are provided by a mobile, multi-disciplinary team who meet at the program participant’s residence and in mutually agreed upon settings in the community where the participant feels comfortable. ACT supports recovery through a highly individualized approach that provides participants with the tools to obtain and maintain housing, employment, relationships, wellness, and relief from symptoms and medication side effects. The nature and intensity of ACT services are developed through the person-centered service planning process and adjusted through the process of daily team meetings and frequent contacts with participants and their collaterals.     The goal of ACT services is to assist individuals to achieve their personally meaningful goals and life roles.  ACT integrates the principles of trauma-informed care and cultural competence, addressing the impact of discrimination/stigma, and inter-system collaboration into its service philosophy.     PRIMARY FUNCTIONS: Maintain a caseload of participants as assigned and provide case management services to support across multiple life domains such as housing, entitlements, education, daily living skills, medical care.  This can fluctuate based on staffing and other team needs. Perform intake interviews and evaluate appropriateness for treatment. Complete bio-psycho-social assessments and treatment plans, and other required reporting (e.g. AOT, CAIRS) within required timeframes. Establish collaborative, supportive relationships with participants to promote engagement in recovery and work toward life-goals. Provide Wellness Self-Management services, which are designed to improve community functioning and prevent relapse. Services may include person-centered recovery-oriented practices that provide knowledge and skills to help individuals enhance personal wellness and develop resiliency; skills training; and assisting individuals to make informed decisions to improve their quality of life. Complete timely and accurate progress notes for all participant and collateral contacts in compliance with all relevant regulations, laws, and agency policies and protocols. Complete discharge summaries and documentation in accordance with agency policy and regulatory standards. Attend and actively participate in interdisciplinary team meetings. Make appropriate referrals to outside providers and community resources as needed. Provide crisis intervention and support during emergencies.  Participate in on-call rotation.   ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONAL / ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT: Participate in individual and group supervision as scheduled. Respect and support interdisciplinary team decisions regarding patient care. Participate in staff training and professional development activities. Perform additional duties as assigned.   QUALIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES: Ability to work independently while functioning as part of an interdisciplinary team. Strong skills in boundary-setting, limit-setting, and crisis management. Excellent communication, writing, and organizational skills. Knowledge of challenges, systems, and resources related to housing and homelessness that impact the population served. Ability to use electronic health record systems for documentation and other electronic systems for communication (e.g. email, Teams, Zoom, etc.) Bilingual Spanish, Haitian Creole, or Yiddish speaking a plus.   EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Bachelors degree or Associates degree with experience. At least one year of experience working in a behavioral health setting. Experience working in community-based settings is a plus. Valid NYS driver’s license required.   PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to perform the job's essential functions successfully. Must be able to move throughout the workday and accompany individuals served in the community. Ability to sit or stand for long periods while using a computer. Able to work in an open-space office setting in close proximity to co-workers (within 3 feet). Must be able to move in tight spaces as needed. Occasional lifting of more than 5 lbs. (e.g., carrying backpack with laptop and material