Human Services Coordinator I, North Shore Site Office

About the role

The Department of Mental Health (DMH), North Shore Site Office is seeking qualified professionals for the position of Human Service Coordinator I to promote services that clinically appropriate, least restrictive and delivered close to home. The services are designed to be strength-based, recovery-oriented and culturally/linguistically competent. The selected candidate advocates for client's rights with all community providers, agencies, families, court systems, employers, and significant others to ensure that client's rights are recognized and respected. This is a unique opportunity to perform important and meaningful work with great people at a beautiful location! The Human Service Coordinator I will promote each client's recovery through the planning and implementing of a well-coordinated array of services, treatments, and benefits based on the client's preferences, strengths, and needs and on the availability of resources.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct care to clients as well as others by helping obtain needed services to enable clients to transition to or remain in the community by enhancing their quality of life.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse population of clients.
• Maintains each client record with needed information to assure a complete and up-to-date record of services is always available.
• Enters all Mental Health Information System (MHIS) information in a timely and accurate manner.
• Coordinates the ISP (Individual Support process) with clients and service providers, convening meetings to write or modify the ISP when indicated; assures implementation of ISP and plans.
• Chairs periodic treatment team meetings participate in client review meetings such as discharge planning, program client reviews, team meetings, and staff meetings to monitor client service plans and make recommendations for other services that will meet client needs.
• Provides supportive counseling to clients and/or significant others to identify, accept and secure services.
• Provides direct assistance to clients as needed to enhance independent living skills.
• Provides or arranges appropriate transportation for clients, when necessary, to assure clients get to needed appointments.
• Develops and maintains working relationships with community agencies and other state programs and agencies to identify unmet needs and to effectively access a comprehensive range of services for clients.
• Provides needed information and education about mental illness, medications, coping skills, services, resources, and self-help groups to individuals with service inquiries.
• Attends trainings to expand clinical knowledge and develops expertise related to mental health issues.
• Carries out job duties in a professional manner by exhibiting a positive attitude and adapts to changes in philosophy, policy, and procedure in a flexible manner.
• Effectively prepares for and uses supervision to process and resolve client issues or concerns.
• Assure that HIPPA regulations are adhered to and that HIPPA sign offs, and releases of information are in the client record.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of clients' needs, and characteristics associated with DMH Priority clients.
• Knowledge of local community resources plus knowledge of and ability to work within agency political contexts.
• Skills in making productive referrals, negotiating assertively from an advocacy-based client centered perspective with a variety of public service agency professionals.
• Ability to work non-judgmentally with clients whose belief system may be predicated on values incongruent with those of the Case Manager.
• Articulates clearly and concisely both in verbal and written modes.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of crisis intervention and risk management.
• Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information.
• Ability to respond to multiple demands by effectively prioritizing tasks.
• Applicants must have (A) at least three (3) years of full-time or equivalent part-time, professional experience in human services work or social work or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below:
  • A Bachelor's degree or higher in a related field may substitute for two (2) years of the required (A) experience.
• Based on assignment, travel may be required. Incumbents who elect to use a motor vehicle for travel must have a current and valid motor vehicle driver's license at a class level specific to assignment.
• Based on assignment as Qualified Intellectual Disabled Professionals, within the Department of Developmental Services, a Bachelor's degree or higher in social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, counseling education, education of the physically or emotionally handicapped, education of the multiple handicapped, education of the learning disabled, human services, rehabilitation, rehabilitation counseling, nursing, recreation therapy, art therapy, dance therapy, music therapy, physical education or other a related field is required.

Preferred qualifications

• Strong and effective interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen well, relate to others and demonstrate sensitivity and respect for individuals.
• Demonstrated commitment to serving a diverse population with cultural competence and sensitivity, as well as the ability to work with a wide range of constituencies with diplomacy and tact.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Valid driver's license.
• Given the population served bilingual or multilingual fluency.

Working conditions

This position travels to meet with clients and family members outside the office in various settings such as homes, hospitals, programs, and other accessible community settings. Candidates will need access to a reliable motor vehicle for transportation.

Schedule

This is a full-time, 37.5 hours per week position and the incumbent will work a schedule from 9:00a.m.-5:00p.m. with Saturday and Sunday as days off.

Pay

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate's years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division's Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.