Behavioral Health Advocate - FT

Position Purpose:

The Behavioral Health Advocate will actively work within MRH and with the community, to foster safety and support for the client, family, and significant others, using client empowerment, and agency/ community resources through whole person-centered health, trauma-specialized and culturally sensitive approaches. Responsible for direct and/or indirect advocacy across the care continuum with emphasis on safety for those experiencing trauma, medical/physical diagnoses, behavioral health crisis, and supporting those with Substance Use and Mental Health diagnosis through diverse peer and advocacy services. The position will work with persons of all races, ages, cultures, and lived experiences including global majority, LGBQTIA2TS .

Essential Functions and Basic Duties
Position Specific Performance Expectations:

• Maintains client privacy and confidentiality within the system of advocacy and performs mandatory reporting requirements.

• Provide onsite intervention for patients experiencing behavioral health and/or substance abuse crises.
• Complete thorough Psychosocial Assessments
• Conduct mental health risk assessments related to PTSD, suicidal ideation, interpersonal/sexual trauma, substance use/self medication, Anxiety and Depression etc.
• Develop short-term person-centered stabilization/safety plans
• Provide follow up contact as developed in the stabilization or safety plan
• Facilitate connection to resources (identify goals and barriers to care; secure or navigate insurance; refer to longer-term community mental health/substance abuse treatment providers)
• Build and maintain positive relationships with community resources and providers to facilitate appropriate referral services
• Consult with staff team and community providers regarding guest mental health and substance use/recovery issues (with necessary releases)
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation
• Utilize verbal de-escalation skills to resolve heightened emotional situations or triage as needed
• As opportunities arise, facilitate/co-facilitate group sessions

Training:

• Coordinate and/or facilitate occasional training for staff and volunteers related to mental health, substance use, de-escalation, trauma informed care and peer support

Other:

• Set and hold professional boundaries and agency policies
• Participate in staff meetings and trainings
• Support organizational special events
• Take turns as On-Call Mental Health Crisis responder
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Maintains client privacy and confidentiality within the system of advocacy and performs mandatory reporting requirements
• Ability to quickly develop rapport with individuals to resolve crisis situations

• Ability to assess individual’s potential for dangerousness to self, others and/or grave disability
• Familiarity with differential diagnosis between substance abuse and psychiatric emergencies
• Working knowledge of community and hospital resources
• Familiarity/working knowledge of the DSM-IV TR or most recent version of the DSM
• Ability to appropriately and immediately document interactions with patients and potential patients
• Ability to work in Electronic Health Record systems
• Ability to perform duties required by CPI training to provide verbal de-escalation and physical and mechanical restrains if necessary
• Working knowledge of Windows based computer applications to include Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and Interne access

• Interpersonal and communication skills to develop and maintain effective working relationships with all internal and external customers

• Ability to organize and prioritize workload in a sometimes hectic environment, with frequent interruptions

Organization Wide Performance Expectations:

• Demonstrates commitment to performing according to the CHOICE values of MRH and representing the organization in a positive and professional manner.
• Maintains patient confidentiality at all times.
• Upholds regulatory requirements to ensure continual compliance with departmental, hospital, state and federal regulations and policies.
• Follows all policies and procedures to ensure a safe environment for patients, public and staff.
• Completes annual education, training, in-service, and licensure/certification requirements; attends departmental and organizational staff meetings or reads meeting minutes.
• Reports to work on time and as scheduled; completes work within designated timeframes.
• Establishes and maintains effective verbal and written communication and good working relationships with all patients, staff and vendors through trauma-informed and culturally sensitive communications at all times.
• Utilizes initiative; strives to maintain steady level of productivity; self-motivated; manages activity and time.
• Actively participates in departmental and facility performance improvement and continuous quality initiatives.

Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:

• Must be at least 21 years of age (21 for driving positions)
• Must be able to legally work in the United States
• Must be able to pass a background check
• Must be able to pass a drug screen and breath alcohol test (if applicable)
• Must complete employee health meeting
• Peer Support Specialist/Recovery Coach Certification within 1 year of hire
• Must possess a clean driving record and pass a Motor Vehicle Records Check and meet insurability
  Guidelines (if applicable) – see below
  o Must be 21 years of age of older
  o Must possess a valid driver’s license
  o Must not have three (3) or more violations in three years
  o Must not have any of the following violations, regardless of the time period:
  ▪ Homicide involving a vehicle
  ▪ Using a vehicle to elude an officer
  ▪ Hit and run
  ▪ Manslaughter with a vehicle
  ▪ Felony with a vehicle
  ▪ False report to police department
  ▪ Permitting an unlicensed driver to drive
  o Any two or more preventable accidents in 3 years – a preventable accident is any traffic accident
  which results in property damage and/or personal injury, regardless of who was injured, what
  property was damaged, to what extent, or where it occurred, in which the driver in question failed to
  exercise every reasonable precaution or action to avoid the accident. Driving to avoid preventable
  accidents is defensive driving. The fact that the driver was not charged with a traffic violation by law
  enforcement is not a part of our definition.
  o Any driver convicted of any of the following within the last five years:
  ▪ Any alcohol or drug related offense including, but not limited to, driving while under the
  influence of alcohol or drugs.
  o Experience with IT systems and reports preferred
  
  o Due to nature of position, and training requirements applicant must be at least one year (6 months from
  close relation) from and medically cleared, from any behavioral health inpatient treatment to include M.5,
  M1, M8 holds and suicide attempts. Substance use must be at least 2 years in recovery, sober.

Education/Licensure/Certification:

o Advocate training of 45 hours required within 60 days of hire.
o ASIST, CPI, and Peer Support training within 6 months of hire

Required:

Associate degree level of education or equivalent, with experience working in a Human Services field, such as Social Work, Substance Abuse, Rehabilitation, Case Management, Community Outreach, Recovery, Family Court and Crisis Support, among others

Preferred: Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling or other mental health related field

Experience:

o Bilingual (Spanish) or other foreign language is preferred, but not required Special Skill Requirements
o Core values consistent with a patient-and-family-centered approach to care
o Experience with trauma-informed and culturally sensitive models of care
o Experience in Substance Use Recovery or behavioral health crisis work
o Possess the tact necessary to deal effectively with clients, children and significant others, including written, verbal and nonverbal communication methods
o Demonstrates a positive attitude and respectful, professional customer service
o Acknowledges patient’s rights on confidentiality issues, maintains patient confidentiality at all times, and follows HIPAA guidelines and regulations
o Proactively acts as patient advocate, responding with empathy and respect to resolve concerns, and recognizes opportunities for improvement to meeting client concerns
o Proactively continues to educate self on providing quality advocacy and improving professional skills

Position Classification:  non-exempt 

Compensation Range:  $18.60 to $26.04

Benefits:  Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, Paid Time Off

Salary : $19 - $26