Wellness Specialist

About the role

As a Wellness Specialist, you will join an evidence‑based program and a dynamic team to learn and refine clinical and engagement skills while helping people make progress on their unique recovery journeys. The work is sometimes challenging and always rewarding through engagement with persons served and coworkers as you all learn, grow, and thrive. You will be a member of the multi‑disciplinary Community Support Services team in the RIST 2 department, providing resource development, skill development, and direct support to assist individuals with serious mental illness enrolled in CSS to fully integrate into the community of their choice. The position is located in Fords, NJ (Middlesex County).

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain a wellness and recovery‑oriented environment by using person‑first language, respectful documentation, person‑centered planning, and evidence‑based practices.
• Promote a culture of compliance with internal and external policies, regulations, laws, and high ethical and professional standards.
• Contribute to the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Needs Assessment on an ongoing basis.
• Participate with licensed staff in the development, implementation, monitoring, and updating of the individualized rehabilitation plan/Individual Recovery Plan (IRP).
• Perform therapeutic rehabilitative skill development as outlined in the CSS Regulations.
• Offer services appropriate to meet the person’s served needs as identified in the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Needs Assessment (CRNA) and included in each individual’s IRP.
• Perform crisis intervention as indicated.
• Coordinate and manage services in conjunction with the team.
• Provide supportive counseling, medication education, mental health education, and early crisis intervention.
• Engage people receiving services in the treatment process.
• Utilize Illness Management and Recovery, WRAP, and other relevant health and wellness curricula to ensure overall wellness is a key focus in the individual’s recovery plan.
• Perform evidence‑based practices appropriate for implementing community support services, which may include Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral and Educational Strategies, Trauma‑Informed Care, Career Services, Permanent Supportive Housing, IMR, and WRAP.
• Deliver mental health education, community living skill training, and supportive counseling in the home and other natural environments to the person served and significant others.
• Provide 24‑hour on‑call coverage on a rotating schedule.
• Offer technical assistance and education to team members in the area of recovery and wellness; work with the team to develop materials and strategies for teaching wellness strategies including Wellness Recovery Action Plans, instilling hope, promoting choice and empowerment, and spirituality.
• Serve as a resource for all team members to ensure health literacy principles are translated into services and supports offered for all persons served, especially those at risk for metabolic syndrome.
• Consult with other service providers and resource people regarding the assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation needs of the people receiving services.
• Complete chart documentation for assigned individuals according to CSS regulations.

Requirements

• Associate degree in one of the helping professions (social work, human services, counseling, psychiatric rehabilitation, psychology, or criminal justice) from an accredited college or university, plus a minimum of two years of experience in a community‑based behavioral healthcare setting.
• Certification as a psychiatric rehabilitation practitioner may be substituted for one year of experience.
• Staff in this role cannot supervise others and must work under the supervision of a licensed physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, advanced practice