Access Recovery Specialist - Memorial Health

Provides daily case management responsibility for mentally ill and/or acutely distressed individuals. Ensures continuity of care for high-risk persons suffering from mental illness through direct clinical intervention, supportive counseling, monitoring, and advocacy functions.

Adheres to the Memorial Health System (MHS) Code of Conduct, the MHS Ethics and Corporate Compliance Plan, MBH policies and procedures, as well as performance standards established by the governing board/administration and accrediting bodies.

Embodies the Memorial Health System Performance Excellence Standards of Safety, Courtesy, Quality, and Efficiency that support our mission, vision and values.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required (psychology, social work or counseling degree preferred).

Licensure/Certification/Registry:

• Must have valid IL Driver’s License, reliable transportation, clean driving record, and proof of automobile insurance.
• Must have or obtain CPR, First Aid, and Personal Safety certifications within 45 days from date of hire.
• Must have or obtain IM+CANS certification within 30 days of hire.
  

Experience:

• Experience working with persons with severe and persistent mental illness is required.
• Prior experience in group home setting or crisis intervention services is preferred.

Other Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Must have excellent organizational, writing, and problem-solving skills, and assertiveness.

1. Direct Clinical Services

• Provide 5 billable hours per week in the Crisis and Residential Programs
• Ensures completion of face-to-face admission procedure involving review of program requirements, resident's rights, room assignment, admission assessment of role functioning, belonging/medication check-in.
• Provides crisis stabilization through individual and group treatment.
• Implements crisis or pre-crisis intervention procedures with potentially suicidal, homicidal, or severely disabled clients. Make appropriate referrals to consulting psychiatrists or inpatient psychiatric facilities to prevent further destabilization.
• Refers to, and works closely with, appropriate community resources to assure linkage of the client to appropriate coordination resources and delivery of appropriate services.
• Provides practical assistance to clients to improve their ability to cope within the community within the least restrictive setting possible (for example, assistance may be needed with transportation, budgeting, locating housing, and/or identifying vocational training opportunities).
• Supports and encourage participation in programs and activities emphasizing community integration.
• Supports program expectations, rules, and procedures, working cooperatively with case managers, therapists, family members, guardians, and other service providers.
• Supports residents in taking medications as prescribed and in following other medical directions. Monitors compliance and document, as required.
• Meets billable hours standards established for program.
• Complete concurrent documentation at time of service with clients.

2. Implementation of Crisis/Residential Practices and Activities

• Assist in providing individual rehabilitation skill training in activities of daily living including; budgeting, meal preparation, housekeeping, personal hygiene, medication management, and other areas as needed to promote independence in daily living.
• Monitor facility maintenance including safety, housekeeping, and sanitation. Report and/or correct any problems observed.
• Follow appropriate sanitary practices in food storage, meal preparation, and clean-up.
• Maintain adequate housekeeping standards at all times.

3. Client Information System

• Establishes appropriate professional files, including: log entries, admission paperwork, medication monitoring record, progress notes, treatment objectives, clients' consent to current treatment.
• Completes required clinical and administrative forms. Collects necessary information for billing and fee collection.
• Provides necessary client information to other agencies or health care providers to coordinate services to identified clients.

4. Training Activities/Professional Growth

• Supervisor and employee mutually identify professional goals that will enhance job related skills.
• Meet with supervisor to complete mandatory monthly clinical supervision as required by the IL Department of Human Services.
• Participates in ongoing agency meetings, committees, and special projects to enhance professional expertise.
• Completes all mandatory education requirements by specified deadlines.
• Participates in required staff meetings and in-service meetings to keep abreast of agency policy and administrative procedures, meet requirements for continuing education, and upgrade professional knowledge.

5. Consultation/Networking

• Engages in appropriate team work functions (such as mutual support, clarification of office responsibilities and procedures) according to best professional judgment and agency policy to provide a professional working environment and effective service delivery.
• Develops cooperative relationships outside the agency with family, physicians, public officials or interested agencies to provide for the development of mental health services in the community.
• Shares relevant client data with other parties sharing responsibility for treatment.

6. Embodies the Memorial Health System Performance Excellence Standards of Safety, Courtesy, Quality, and Efficiency that support our mission, vision and values:

• SAFETY: Prevent Harm - I put safety first in everything I do.  I take action to ensure the safety of others.
• COURTESY: Serve Others - I treat others with dignity and respect.  I project a professional image and positive attitude.
• QUALITY: Improve Outcomes - I continually advance my knowledge, skills and performance.  I work with others to achieve superior results.
• EFFICIENCY: Reduce Waste - I use time and resources wisely.  I prevent defects and delays.

7. Job Relationships

• Communicates directly with supervisor for clinical supervision, crisis intervention, clarification of program procedures and policies.
• Adheres to MHS/MBH Behavioral Standards.

8. Performs other related work as required or requested.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.