Mental Health Residential Specialist - Crisis Stabilization

OVERVIEW Provides direct care involving, crisis intervention and stabilization and/or referral of individuals in psychiatric/behavioral crisis in a licensed mental health facility operating on a 24/7 basis providing highly intensive mental health services and temporary residential care. Work is performed under regular supervision and is guided by well-established and specific agency policies and procedures, quality assurance, professional practices and including ethical standards related to client interactions, state and federal licensure and accreditation regulations and guidelines.

Duties and Responsibilities

Develops and conducts group skills restoration sessions. Provides intensive case coordination services including referral and application assistance to programs and services. Assesses service needs to develop individualized service plans Processes program participant intakes, performs initial assessments, prepares admission documentation, provides orientation to the facility, and screening for contraband. Assists program participants with the self-administration of prescribed medications. Inputs assessment and other data into the electronic records system. Enforces program policies and health and safety regulations with program participants. Provides crisis intervention and deescalates hostile incidents. Processes discharges and coordinates follow-up care and services with other agency programs. Performs supportive and administrative tasks to include cooking meals, kitchen clean up, picking up supplies and medications, assisting with daily facility clean up.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES Considerable knowledge of group and individual skills restoration principles, practices and techniques including crisis intervention and stabilization methods, considerable knowledge of the medical providers, social services and other agencies and community organizations providing services to the individual population; considerable knowledge of individual manage­ment guidelines for Virginia. Considerable knowledge of the operation of electronic medical records and associated documentation; ability to establish and maintain rapport with the individual population; ability to conduct effective interviews, observe, assess and record individual behaviors and functioning; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff of other private and public agencies and organizations; ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing; ability to operate a vehicle; ability to function calmly in stressful situa­tions; ability to prepare and maintain detailed records and prepare related reports.

TYPICAL EDUCATION, TRAINING AND WORK EXPERIENCE Bachelor's Degree in the Behavioral Sciences and considerable work experience in providing behavioral health services to the mentally ill, emotionally disturbed and substance abusive populations including crisis intervention.