Community Integration Specialist

General Statement of Duties:

The Community Integration Specialist takes primary responsibility to provide Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (PRS) through social recreation outings and community integration activities for Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) clients. This advocate seeks to work both individually and with clients of the CMHS team in various community settings, prioritizing clients in the HRCSB supervised residential program. The role of the Community Integration Specialist is to support clients in achieving and maintaining meaningful work, education and/or volunteering in the community.

Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services are evidence-based, collaborative, person directed, and individualized. These services promote recovery, full community integration, and improved quality of life for persons who have been diagnosed with behavioral health diagnoses. These services should be delivered in a person-centered, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, culturally competent, and equitable manner. PRS focuses on skill and resource development related to independent living and increasing the individual’s ability to manage their challenges to more fully participate in community opportunities related to functional, social, educational, and vocational goals.

Primary interventions used include side by side skills training, demonstration, practice/role-plays, feedback, active listening, problem solving and ongoing prompting and cueing. The advocate works alongside clients to identify strengths, build skills, and connect to meaningful work and learning opportunities in the community.

Supervision will be provided by the Residential Site Coordinator through regular individual and team supervision.

This work requires that confidentiality be maintained in accordance with Board policy and other (private health information) PHI standards of practice (HIPAA).

This position is classified non-exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop regular social and recreational programming linking clients to events, activities and places in the community.
• Coordinate and support clients in participating in community events and activities through communication, schedules, and promotional materials.

• Provide ongoing assessment and personalized psychoeducational interventions which identify factors that affect client vocational readiness and promote adaptive change. Provides long-term support of client progress through symptom stabilization, engagement in vocational services such as the department of disability and rehabilitation services (DARS), and employment.
• Provides support, education, and service coordination to clients’ community support systems including families, natural supports, educators, and employers within parameters of client release of information.
• Provide one-on-one and group support during outings.

• Collaborate with clients to identify and pursue social, recreational and community activities related to clients’ interests.
• Monitor engagement outcomes and collaborate with clients to address challenges and celebrate successes.
• Support clients in developing social skills appropriate for community engagement.
• Assist clients in financial planning needed to afford community activities and events.

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date client records in compliance with agency requirements and confidentiality regulations. Complete documentation same day per the agency expectation.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and clients based on courtesy, compassion and respect.
• Intervene promptly during psychiatric and physical crisis to address mental health issues, disruptive behavior or physical distress. Mandt, CPR, First Aid and Trauma Informed Care training are provided.
• Seek training that fosters professional growth.
• Assume other duties as assigned, consistent with established organizational policies and procedures.

Required knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Working knowledge of mental illness, trauma, and treatment principles.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including ability to empathize, demonstrate respect, communicate warmly and honestly, reflect feelings, confront constructively and allow clients to assume responsibility for themselves.
• Ability to work effectively with clients and service providers.
• Ability to intervene effectively during psychiatric crisis or medical emergencies.
• Knowledge of and adherence to basic ethics appropriate for a helping relationship.
• Ability to write concisely and clearly.
• Sound clinical and situational judgment.
• Ability to function independently as well as work as part of a team.
• Basic computer literacy and word processing skills, including Microsoft Office, Windows, and electronic medical record.

Minimum Education and Experience:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in human services or a related specialty with at least one year of experience working with individuals with SMI; or any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to seek the QMHP-T. QMHP preferred.

Additional requirements

Possession of a valid and current driver’s license, and acceptable driving record. Mandt training, CPR and First Aid Certification, Trauma Informed Care training and Medication Administration training required within first three months of hire. Continued employment is contingent on the employee becoming certified as a QMHP or QMHP-T within three months of hire.

Other Information:

Equipment: Telephone, vehicle, PC, word processing program, electronic health record, kitchen appliances, cleaning materials.

Work Environment: Community settings and offices with lighting levels, temperature ranges, air quality, and ventilation and noise levels as provided in each setting.

Work Location: Market Street residential facility 477 E. Market St., and HRCSB Main Building 1241 N. Main St., Harrisonburg, VA 22801 and other community settings.

Work Hazards: Minimal hazards associated with general day-to-day activities; occasional hazards associated with problem behaviors. Essential abilities to perform job duties including bending, crouching, and stooping, reaching, sitting, standing, and walking.

Work Schedule: General schedule is Monday through Friday and hours between 8am and 5pm, with some evenings and weekend hours. Regular and reliable attendance is required.

[RB1]Recommend changing to “General schedule is Monday through Friday and hours between 8am and 5pm, with some evenings and weekend hours.

Starting Salary:$43,527 – $48,045 annually

Actual starting salary will be commensurate with the selected candidates’ education, experience, and qualifications.