MAJOR DUTIES: This position is responsible for conducting psychiatric assessments; assessing physical health needs; making appropriate referrals to community physicians; and providing management and administration of medication. In fulfilling these duties, the incumbent performs the following duties:

1. Provide service coordination for clients including participation with the individual treatment teams (ITT);

2. Participate in and conduct parts of the client-centered comprehensive assessment of psychiatric history (e.g., onset, course and effect of illness, past treatment and responses, and risk behaviors), mental status, and diagnosis; physical health and dental health; use of drugs or alcohol; education and employment; social development and functioning; activities of daily living (e.g., self-care, living situation, nutrition, money management); and family structure and relationships;

4. Document client progress in a permanent record of client activity according to established methods and procedures;

5. Participate in staff meetings and treatment planning review meetings;

6. Take the lead role or participate in providing medication administration and medical services;

7. Organize and manage the system of getting medication to clients and integrating medication administration into clients’ individual treatment plans;

8. Manage pharmaceuticals and medical supplies;

9. Coordinate, schedule, and administer medical assessments of client physical health, making appropriate referrals to community physicians for further assessment and treatment, and coordinate psychiatric treatment with medical treatment;

10. Provide ongoing assessment of clients’ mental illness symptoms and clients’ response to treatment. Make appropriate changes in treatment plans to ensure immediate and appropriate interventions are provided in response to changes in mental status or behavior which put clients at risk;

11. Provide symptom education to enable clients to identify their mental illness symptoms;

12. Provide direct clinical services to clients on an individual, group, or family basis in the office and in community settings to teach behavioral symptom-management techniques to alleviate and manage symptoms not reduced by medication and to promote personal growth and development by assisting clients to adapt to and cope with internal and external stresses;

13. Provide individual treatment in the office and community settings in a stage-based treatment model that is non-confrontational, considers interactions of mental illness and substance abuse, and has client-determined goals;

14. In coordination with the other registered nurses on the team, assist and support clients to have and effectively use a personal primary care physician, dentist, and other medical specialists as required;

15. Must have a strong commitment to the right and ability of each person with a severe and persistent mental illness to live in normal community residences; work in market jobs; and have access to helpful, adequate, competent, and continuous supports and services. Skills and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses and respect for client rights and personal preferences in treatment are essential;

16. In coordination with Chief Clinical Officer, provide training to Lifeline employees regarding specific subject areas related to expertise;

17. Support and implement agency policies and procedures.

18. Other duties as assigned.