Mental Health Advocate

Full-time – 37.5 hours per week

Tuesday and Wednesday - 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

Thursday and Friday - 9:00 am to 5:30 pm

Saturday – 10am to 5:00 pm

Grade 13

Job Summary:

Assists with para-professional administrative, casework activities and Medicaid Billing for the Mental Health Transitional Living Apartment Treatment Program. Provides service coordination and crisis supports to high risk severely mentally ill (SMI) program participants in need of rehabilitative services. Carries out all duties according to agency and program policies and procedures and NYS Office of Mental Health regulations.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Assists with the day-to-day activities, operation and upkeep of the MHTL Apartment Treatment Program; provides visits to MHTL Apartment Treatment consumers as required per program schedule: 2-7 visits per week.
• Provides guidance and advisement to consumers in their daily activities; ensures a safe, home-like atmosphere for all consumers within apartment units and common areas.
• Evaluates and documents consumers' mental, behavioral, and emotional health during each visit for the Resident Record.
• Ensures adequate food supply (minimum 3-day supply).
• Provides education and assistance to consumers as needed in daily housekeeping activities, apartment cleaning and upkeep, meal planning/preparation and budgeting.
• Provides emergency supportive and trauma informed crisis counseling to consumers in distress.
• Completes required documentation, paperwork, and Resident Records in a timely manner.
• Develops and implements individual Quarterly Individualized Action Plans incorporating activities of daily living and provides assistance in related personal progress, maintains a caseload as a Primary Advocate.
• Provides guidance and advisement in the core Medicaid Reimbursable Services; teaches and monitors daily living skills, facilitates education groups as scheduled.
• Provides and ensures medical, dental, social, recreational and transportation services for consumers.
• Supports consumers in attaining their goals by providing advocacy, linkages and education to necessary community services and resources.
• Advocates for consumer needs with treatment providers and community resources when the consumer is unable to do so themselves.
• Maintains a good working relationship with treatment providers, healthcare providers, social service agencies, and the criminal justice system to ensure proper documentation and supervision is provided.
• Ensures prompt and accurate data input into Precision Care and Initial Contact/ Intake and daily service data into agency database, CAPTAIN.
• Oversees consumer medication administration and weekly med bar fills; completes controlled med counts, and documentation; ensures refills; follows physicians’ orders.
• Provides satisfactory exchange of information at shift change.
• Assists in household upkeep and maintenance, conducts double staffed room searches as directed by supervisory staff.
• Follows petty cash procedures, assists with client finances including PNA and collection of room and board.
• Attends staff meetings; attends required training for skill enhancement.
• Teaches and assists with fire safety skills.
• Plans and initiates constructive leisure time activities.
• Instills positive socialization and coping skills through role modeling.
• Provide first aid in emergencies situations, completes NYS OMH/Justice Center and agency Incident Reports as needed.
• Adheres to all policies and procedures as outlined in the Program Policy and Procedure Manual.
• Shares 24 hour on call coverage according to schedule.

Job Requirements:

• Must have knowledge of and the ability to relate to the mentally ill population, implement principles of normalization, philosophies, and techniques of programming.
• Must be willing to actively participate in activities with clients.
• Must use good judgment in dealing with all situations and circumstances which arise.
• Must exhibit professionalism and flexibility.
• Must be creative in program planning, demonstrate resourcefulness, initiative, and objectivity.
• Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision and be able to handle stressful situations in a calm and professional manner.
• Must also be able to work within a team to ensure consumers receive the best quality of life possible.
• Must possess good communication skills and be able to follow complex oral and written directions.
• Must have the ability to relate to consumers in a warm and non-judgmental manner and be a good role model to consumers and staff.
• Must possess a valid New York State Driver's License with good driving record and have access to a reliable vehicle for travel and transporting clients.
• Must have acceptable physical and mental health to carry out the responsibilities of the position including the ability to climb stairs and lift at least 25 lbs. regularly.
• Must attend required training and staff meetings as requested.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a Human Services related field or;
• Associate’s degree in behavioral sciences/Human Services and 3 year’s experience in a mental health related setting; or
• High School Diploma or equivalent and 5 year’s experience in a mental health related setting.

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Oswego County Opportunities, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, creed, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.