Senior Residential Assistant

POSITION TITLE:              SENIOR RESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT

RESPONSIBLE TO:            Residential Services Coordinator or Designee

FLSA STATUS:                    Non-Exempt

POSITION GOALS: 

Under the direction of the Residential Services Coordinator or Designee, assists with the supervision of staff, scheduling, and trains Residential Assistants.

Serves as a positive mentor in a residential setting for adults with mental illnesses, who are in recover, needing assistance with daily living skill and to help them transition to more independent levels of care. Works as part of a team, maintains effective, positive interpersonal communication and basic problem-solving skills, uses effective oral written and communication skills. Manages MHK’s group living milieu providing safety, support and advocacy for residents. Participates with clinical supervision to meet MHK’s mission to assist people with mental health and related challenges to achieve optimum recovery and function in the community.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Assists the Residential Services Coordinator or Designee with overseeing the daily operations and supervision of Residential Assistants, staff scheduling, and provides training to Residential Assistants.

Mentoring. Serves as a caring and understanding mentor assisting residents with daily living skills to maintain tenancy in the community, e.g., paying rent; getting along with peers; basic problem solving; asking for assistance.   Maintains a safe, clean, healthy, positive residential milieu, where residents are respected, welcomed, and encouraged as part of recovery.

ADL. Teach residents activities of daily living skills, such as cooking, personal grooming, and interpersonal relationship communication skills.

Safety. Respond to emergency situations according to MHK policies. Report any incident immediately to supervisor and complete incident report according to MHK policy. 

Outings. Plan and provide social, recreational, educational, and/or vocational activities that are appropriate and aligned with the residents’ interests.

Operations. Assist with on-going household operations such as shopping, chore planning, residential maintenance, and related safety, health and sanitation measures.  Monitor and report any plumbing, electrical, safety or carpentry problems; and arrange for repairs and upkeep as indicated.

Recovery. Empowers consumers with the recovery model process of change through improvement of their health and wellness, to live a self-directed life, and to strive to reach their full potential. Approaches consumers with dignity and respect and encourages consumers to develop their strength, needs, abilities and preferences, in a nonlinear process that is based on growth, occasional setbacks, and learning from experience

Service Planning. Assist residents in the attainment of mutual service plan goals and objectives and communicates with the resident’s case manager.

Clinical Documentation. Documents in English in consumer’s records including:

• Progress notes related to service plan.
• Summaries, service plans, and required forms. 
• Documents in clinical records according to MHK policy, including timely entry, and accurate portrayal of services.

Resident Supervision. Provide care and supervision of residents which may include:

• Knowing whereabouts of residents at all times.
• Reinforcing appropriate behavior on or off the premises.
• Handling crisis situations.
• Document in clinical and report to supervisor when a resident is behaving in a manner inconsistent with the resident’s baseline behavior.

Medication Monitoring. As appropriate to the level of care, observes residents’ self-administration of medication, and documents medication adherence according to MHK policy.

Clinical Supervision. Participates in clinical supervision with a MHK mental health professional and monitored by the qualified mental health professional discussing clinical issues including the following:

• Recovery from mental illness toward independent levels of care.
• Behavioral changes with residents.
• Appropriate interactions with residents.
• How to facilitate situations with the household milieu. 
• Appropriateness of the service and service effectiveness as reflected by the person served meeting his or her individual goals.
• Ethical/legal aspects including boundaries. 
• Clinical documentation issues identified through ongoing compliance review.
• Cultural competency issues.
• Model fidelity, when implementing evidence-based practices; e.g., recovery; person-centered planning; effective communication; therapeutic milieu; etc.
• Training needed.

Program Description. Adheres to MHK’s community housing program description and playbook, including service philosophy, services offered, resident handbook and ethics.

Performs other duties as assigned Management/Supervisory staff.

QUALIFICATIONS

Expectations: 

To assist people with psychiatric disabilities ranging from transitional issues such as anxiety and depression, to life-long, serious mental illness; e.g., schizophrenia; bi-polar disorders; and behaviors that may involve psychosis (i.e., hearing voices; visual hallucinations; delusions, etc.).                                                         

To facilitate stressful situations and emotional conflicts with persons served and other stakeholders as part of your job.

Education & Experience:

Minimum Qualifications:  High school diploma or equivalent for some MHK case management contracts. Other contracts require a bachelor’s degree.

Preferred Qualifications:  Graduation from an accredited four year college/university with a bachelor’s degree or higher and 12 semester hour credits in: psychology, sociology, social work, social science, nursing, counseling, criminal justice, human services, social welfare or other related behavioral health science. One and a half (1 ½) years specialized training in case management, human services, or related field. Computer literate. Shall have or be working towards competencies in providing services for dually diagnosed individuals.

Professional/Personal Skills:  Ability to serve as a positive mentor for adults with mental illness needing assistance with daily living skills and community acceptance. Desirable characteristics include tolerance in crisis or stressful situations; able to work as part of a team, good interpersonal and problem-solving skills; flexibility; good oral written and communication skills.