Mental Health Associate - Residential and Support Services - Health and Human Services

About the role

Provides individual and group recreational, social and skills training services under a professionally developed service plan; keeps records of persons served status; performs service plan directed case management functions under close supervision; performs related duties as required.

Responsibilities

- Provides oversight and Mental Health services in a residential setting serving adults with serious mental illness. - Helps to create and maintain a caring and supportive setting. - Monitors for emotional and behavioral changes and implements de-escalation strategies as needed. - Monitors for compliance with conditional release plan from the PSRB. - Reinforces culture of abstinence and recovery. - Manages milieu environment by modeling pro-social behaviors, assisting clients by guiding them through coping strategies by using grounding techniques and Person-Centered interventions. - Assists with house management (e.g. inventory, meal preparation, house sanitation). - Provides individual and group skills training to assist in promoting community tenure (e.g. mindfulness skills training, coping strategies, independent living skills). - Coordinates and facilitates resident activities and community outings. - Transports residents to medical appointments, shopping etc. when needed. - Monitors medications and assists with medication administration. Assists with drug/alcohol screen UAs as needed. - Works effectively with case managers, crisis workers, families of residents, and others involved to provide well-coordinated treatment. - Completes clinical record documentation in timely fashion. - Meets performance expectations for time and billing standards. - Assists residents with daily living activities such as shopping, cleaning, laundry and other housekeeping duties as needed. - Other duties as assigned by your supervisor.

Requirements

- Three years relevant work experience in a behavioral health services field; OR - Bachelor's degree in a behavioral science field; OR - Any satisfactory combination of work, education, training or experience relevant to the position, as determined by Marion County. - Must possess a current Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO) Qualified Mental Health Associate certification (QMHA) or register within ninety (90) days of hire and complete in accordance with MHACBO guidelines. - Must possess a current driver's license in the applicant's state of residence and an acceptable driving history. - The finalist for this position will be required to pass a criminal history background check, including fingerprinting; however, conviction of a crime may not necessarily disqualify an individual for this position. - This is a safety sensitive/special needs position. Final candidates selected for this position will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screen, including testing for marijuana. - If position is within a Drug & Alcohol Treatment program, must be able to obtain CADC1 certification within 6 months of date of hire. - Must not be excluded from participation in the federal health care programs (Medicaid, Medicare and other federally funded programs that provide health benefits); AND must not be excluded from participating in federal procurement (Federal Acquisition Regulation) and non-procurement activities (Executive Order No. 12549). - This assignment is represented by a union. - This is a full-time regular position, which is eligible for overtime. - Typical Work Schedule: Friday-Saturday 0800-1830, Sunday-Monday 1200-2230, Wednesday-Friday 2200-080, and Saturday 1800-0430, hours may vary depending upon the needs of the department and program.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Working knowledge of the general concepts of mental health (including common symptoms for major behavioral health conditions) and chemical dependency as well as community resources; de-escalation, crisis intervention, and engagement strategies; strengths-based resiliency and recovery models; definitions of basic- and community-living skills; measurable goals/outcomes of mental health recovery, substance use disorders recovery, and co-occurring disorders recovery; evidence-based strategies for skills training and improving overall health; daily living activities that promote health and wellness. Ability to demonstrate active listening skills and interviewing techniques; establish effective working relationships with diverse individuals and foster shared decision-making with behavioral health consumers, family members, and providers; clearly convey information about behavioral and general health; exercise cultural and trauma-informed competency when linking to resources; follow directions and accept feedback in a professional manner; prepare reports and document services provided to persons served in a timely and professional manner with clarity, conciseness, and completeness; work within an interdisciplinary team; practice appropriate boundaries with consumers; recognize unsafe situations.

Physical Requirements

Operates a motor vehicle; transports residents, picks up supplies, sees using depth perception; stands; sits; moves about the work area; bends forward; climbs 1 floor of stairs; lifts, pushes, pulls and carries up to 10-20 lbs. up to 50 yards; moves carts weighing up to 10-20 lbs.; operates a keyboard; speaks clearly and audibly; reads a 12-pt. font; distinguishes shades; hears a whispered level of speech; heat, cold, humidity, varying climate/weather depending on the season, but the house is a temperature controlled environment; dust is frequently due to housekeeping expectations; smoke is rare, but the residents do smoke cigarettes outside of the home and often the smell lingers in their clothing; wet areas may occur due to housekeeping expectations; use of household cleaners and chemicals (e.g. bleach, cleansers, etc.).

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Marion County is a qualifying public employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, full-time employees working at the County may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance on Direct Student Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan. Questions about your student loan eligibility should be directed to your loan servicer or the US Department of Education.

VISA Sponsorship

Marion County does not offer VISA sponsorship. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. Marion County is an E-Verify employer and will use E-Verify to confirm that hires are authorized to work in the United States.

Veterans' Preference

Applicants are eligible to use Veterans' Preference when applying with Marion County in accordance with ORS 408.225, 408.230, and 408.235 and OAR 105-040-0010 and 105-040-0015. Preference will be awarded only if the applicant meets the minimum requirements of the position and attaches the required documentation at the time of application.

Documents Required for Veterans' Preference

One of the following: - Member Copy 4 of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214 or 215); - Letter from the US Department of Veterans Affairs indicating receipt of a non-service connected pension; - Certification that discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions will take place not later than 120 days after the submission of the certificate. In addition to one of the above documents, Disabled Veterans must also submit one of the following: - A copy of their Veterans disability preference letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs; - Certification that medical separation from active duty under honorable conditions will take place not later than 120 days after the submission of the certificate. You can request copies of your military service record through the National Archives website at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/

Benefits

Marion County offers a generous benefits package to regular employees working 50% or more of the regularly scheduled work week and their eligible dependents. Temporary employees and part-time regular employees working less than 50% of the regularly scheduled work week are not eligible for benefits.