MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST

JOB DESCRIPTION Mental Health Specialist

ORGANIZATION

Founded in 1902, Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services’ mission is to guide children and families Home to experience God’s love visit www.LMCH.org by following the teachings of Christ. Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home provides residential treatment services to children and adolescents. For information, please

POSITION

Mental Health Specialists (MHS) deliver direct care services under the supervision of a Therapist or a Mental Health Professional who is responsible for each resident’s Active Treatment Plan. Mental Health Specialists have one of the most direct and influential roles in our residents’ progress in treatment.

Mental Health Specialists report directly to their unit’s Supervisor regarding shift scheduling, training, daily activity schedules, house maintenance, and all the other tasks related to the direct care of residents.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensure the provision of compassionate, culturally sensitive services.
• Ensure all house or unit residents are present and on time for all clinical activities. Any absence from a clinical activity must be preapproved by the Therapist responsible for a resident’s Active Treatment Plan. (This is a primary responsibility and will be measured by the agency’s QA process.)
• Create a culture of care which discourages the use of protective holds and escorts. (This is primary responsibility and will be measured by the agency’s QA process.)
• With the assistance of the Therapist, create a living environment which residents evaluate positively. (This is a primary responsibility and will be measured by the agency’s QA process.)
• Ensure agency’s Behavioral Management Plan is implemented with fidelity.
• Actively participate in treatment team meetings and communicate fully regarding the delivery of treatment services to the house or unit residents, each resident’s progress and condition on the unit or house, and the impact of program operations on treatment.
• Implement with fidelity all personalized interventions indicated in each resident’s Active Treatment Plan.
• Maintain the structure, cleanliness and organization of the house or unit.
• Implement the agency’s milieu model with fidelity.
• Provide life skill training to residents as a routine matter in the course of daily living in the house or unit.
• Interact positively with residents, their family members, fellow staff members and all other stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must have empathy for others and practice the Golden Rule in relationships with residents and their families, with fellow staff member and with others.
• Must be an eager learner and willing to try new methods.
• Must have a fundamental love for children and a desire to be an agent for change in their lives.
• Must be actively pursuing a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in a mental health-related field (including, but not limited to sociology, criminal justice, nursing, marriage and family counseling, rehabilitation counseling, psychological counseling and other professional counseling); or
• Have earned a Bachelor’s degree and is a student pursuing a graduate degree in a mental health-related field and have completed at least two courses in that identified field; or
• Have a high school degree or a GED and have two years’ experience providing direct services in a mental health, physical health, social services, educational or correctional setting.
• Must possess a strong sense of personal authority, maturity and integrity for a positive, influential role with children.
• Must be able to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, in a diverse range of audiences and settings.
• Must be skilled in conflict resolution and mediation.
• Must have strong verbal and social skills for use with residents and staff.
• Must be committed to the protection of confidential information, records and reports.
• Must have a strong work ethic and be willing to commit to significant job responsibilities.
• Must be flexible in ability to function in demanding position.

EMPLOYMENT PROVISIONS

Time on Duty: To be arranged so as best to accomplish the work to be done.

Salary: As provided for in the Annual Budget.

Benefits: As stated in Personnel Policies and Procedures and determined by the

Board of Directors.

DISCLAIMER

The foregoing description is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.