Awake Overnight Residential Counselor (Mental Health Services)

About Vinfen

Established in 1977, Vinfen is a nonprofit, health and human services organization and a leading provider of community-based services to individuals with mental health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and behavioral health challenges. Our services and advocacy promote the recovery, resiliency, habilitation, and self-determination of the people we serve. Vinfen's 3,500 dedicated employees are experienced, highly-trained professionals who provide a full range of supportive living, health, educational, and clinical services in over 550 sites throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut.

About the Role

As an ACCS Awake Overnight Residential Counselor in a Residential Group Living Environment (GLE), you will provide direct support to people with psychiatric conditions in a residential Group Living Environment designed to assist in fostering independence. ACCS Awake Overnight Residential Counselors are vital to ensuring that Persons Served are able to receive quality services regardless of the time of day. In your role you will work together with the people we serve, their families, friends, employers, and other support staff to transform their lives by either building independence skills or increasing each person's quality of life.

Responsibilities

• Help Persons Served who are new to the residence settle in, provide support to Persons Served who have difficulty sleeping at night, encourage good sleep habits
• Implement Persons Served Treatment Plan interventions as directed by Team LPHA Clinician
• Perform day-to-day assignments as directed by Program Director
• Use recovery-oriented, person-centered, harm-reduction, trauma-informed, culturally competent and strengths-based approaches with Persons Served
• Adhere to safety, maintenance, Human Rights and other operational policies and procedures
• Comply with physical site licensing standards and regulations
• Store, administer, document and dispose of Persons Served medication consistent with Medication Administration Program (MAP) requirements, funding source regulations and company policy, if applicable
• Teach Persons Served medication management
• Create opportunities for Persons Served to participate in the smooth operation of the residence, including participating in meal preparation, physical site maintenance, etc.
• Encourage social interaction between residents and help create a collaborative environment where Persons Served, family, friends, and others important in the lives of Persons Served are welcome, respected and valued
• Serve as a resource for neighbors
• Help Persons Served prepare meals
• Participate in trainings; attend supervision and staff meetings as requested
• Assist with the orientation of new staff
• Complete all required documentation
• Contribute to program's quality improvement goals and objectives
• Help Persons Served use crisis intervention techniques when necessary
• Access on-call back up when needed
• Complete incident documentation as needed
• Perform physical site maintenance activities following maintenance schedule
• Perform other related duties, as assigned

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Associate's degree in a human services related discipline preferred
• Prior experience working in a human services setting strongly preferred
• Bilingual/bicultural applicants and applicants with lived experience of psychiatric conditions encouraged to apply
• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Must have held a valid US driver's license for at least 6 months
• Must be able to pass a CORI, driving record, employment reference check as well as a multi-state background check
• Must be able to become CPR and First Aid certified within two weeks of hire
• Must become MAP certified within 150 days of hire

Skills

• Strong commitment to the right and ability of Persons Served to live, work, have meaningful relationships and receive the resources and supports needed in their community of choice
• Skills and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with Persons Served, families and neighbors
• Sensitivity to cultural, religious, ethnic, disability and gender issues
• Ability to balance competing priorities
• Ability to make independent judgments and decisions
• Ability to work in a professional and confidential capacity
• Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, climb as this is a very physically active position
• Must be able to lift at least 25 pounds using proper lifting techniques or the use of a two-person lift
• Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment such as a calculator, copier, and printer
• Ability to sit, reach, climb stairs, and maneuver through narrow spaces or hallways
• Ability to assist Persons Served with tasks of daily living
• Ability to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time as needed
• Ability to bend, reach, file, sit, stand, and move around the facility
• Ability to speak, hear, and communicate with Persons Served, staff, and external representatives
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus