Mental Health Social Practitioner

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Member Support & Advocacy
• Perform member engagement, social design, relationship development, continuous assessment and therapeutic intervention and management of transitional environments with the Fountain House membership
• Support and develop a therapeutic community based on Social Practice and the International Standards for Clubhouse Programs
• Utilize the community to design positive interventions to deal with common barriers such as social isolation, poor self-esteem, anxiety, symptom management, and poverty
• Create access to environments outside of Fountain House not traditionally therapeutically oriented, to build general skills, a sense of confidence, and to support members’ self-efficacy. This includes the provision of on-site support in employment, education, and housing environments outside of Fountain House
• Develop relationships with Fountain House members and the community that can be leveraged to provide support for positive change and risk-taking, combat social isolation and increase meaningful connections, and introduce members to new opportunities
• Engineer various environments and social interactions to create therapeutic results and develop an accessible positive community
• Observe and assess experiences with members in a variety of naturalistic environments in order to create specific interventions for individuals’ rehabilitation
• Provide daily advocacy and engagement with Clubhouse members to help gain self-worth, purpose of confidence, while offering guidance for appropriate problem-solving techniques
• Provide counsel for members, individually and in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, and making changes
• Training Support & Entitlements
• Provide training support (vocational training) for transitional employment opportunities and maintain strong relationships with employers for job opportunity developments
• Support and fill-in for members in their Transitional Employment (TE) opportunities, if/when needed
• Aid members with entitlements and benefits; food stamps, SSI/SSDI, Medicaid/Medicare and ticket to Work/ACE/Access VR, Supplemental Need Trusts, & ADA accommodations
• Facilitate supported housing applications (2010E), Single Point of Access applications and work to find appropriate housing; assist members with physical moves into housing units
• Advocate for members well-being, safety, and livelihood with supports around clinical, legal, housing, appointments, medications, and independent living opportunities
• Acquire proficiency in skills and tasks of the (unit) you are assigned. This may include safety protocols, health guidelines, inventory lists, how to guides, etc.
• Complete all documentation including but not limited to progress notes and reach out documentation on time
• Maintain compliance with all government agency requirements, company policies and procedures
• Periodic overnight travel to High Point Farm, work some holidays including Thanksgiving, some weekend and evening hours
• Flexibility with staying late or arriving early, if necessary, to fulfill unit or member needs, and interchangeability with other staff on the unit
• Maintain confidentiality of records relating to members’ progress
• Perform related duties as assigned by supervisor

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Undergraduate degree or an equivalent combination of training and experience required
• Graduate degree or equivalent preferred
• 1-3+ years’ experience working with individuals with serious mental illness and or/hands on experience working in a community setting preferred
• 1-2 years coaching and counseling experience preferred
• 1-2 years of vocational rehabilitation, training or employment specialist experience preferred
• Ability to effectively manage and handle member concerns and behaviors
• Proven experience with mental health crisis management by supporting and counseling members under emotional distress

Required and Preferred Education, Experience, and Credentials

• Undergraduate degree or an equivalent combination of training and experience required
• Graduate degree or equivalent preferred
• 1-2 years’ experience working with individuals with serious mental illness and or/hands on experience working in a community setting preferred

Physical Requirements

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and meet all physical requirements satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.