POSITION SUMMARY

Social Practice is a specialized form of therapy that uses a community-based approach of assisting individuals in their mental health recovery to:

• Learn new skills,
• Hone their talents
• Build dignity
• Develop a sense of belonging, and
• Make progress towards their goals

The Mental Health Social Practitioner (MHSP) is responsible for making sure the elements of social practice, as described above, are carried out to benefit members. In addition, the MHSP role will support related unit-specific goals (culinary, home and garden, wellness, etc.), while adhering to the International Standards for Clubhouse Programs.

Fountain House practices the International Standards for Clubhouse Programs - a Clubhouse is a place that offers respect and an opportunity to its members - as the definition for the Clubhouse Model of Rehabilitation and agreed upon by the worldwide Clubhouse community. The principles expressed in these Standards are at the heart of the Clubhouse community's success in helping people with mental illness stay out of hospitals while achieving social, financial, educational, and vocational goals. The Standards also serve as a "bill of rights" for members and a code of ethics for staff, board, and administrators.

Shift: 9AM- 5PM. Monday - Friday with some flexibility as needed.

Salary: $29.12 per hour (nonexempt)

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Member Support & Advocacy

• Perform member engagement, social design, relationship development, continuous assessment and therapeutic intervention and management of transitional environments with the Fountain House membership.
• Support and develop a therapeutic community based on Social Practice and the International Standards for Clubhouse Programs.
• Utilize the community to design positive interventions to deal with common barriers such as social isolation, poor self-esteem, anxiety, symptom management, and poverty.
• Create access to environments outside of Fountain House not traditionally therapeutically oriented, to build general skills, a sense of confidence, and to support members' self-efficacy. This includes the provision of on-site support in employment, education, and housing environments outside of Fountain House.
• Develop relationships with Fountain House members and the community that can be leveraged to provide support for positive change and risk-taking, combat social isolation and increase meaningful connections, and introduce members to new opportunities.
• Engineer various environments and social interactions to create therapeutic results and develop an accessible positive community.
• Observe and assess experiences with members in a variety of naturalistic environments in order to create specific interventions for individuals' rehabilitation.
• Provide daily advocacy and engagement with Clubhouse members to help gain self-worth, purpose of confidence, while offering guidance for appropriate problem-solving techniques.
• Provide counsel for members, individually and in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, and making changes.

Training Support & Entitlements

• Provide training support (vocational training) for transitional employment opportunities and maintain strong relationships with employers for job opportunity developments.
• Support and fill-in for members in their Transitional Employment (TE) opportunities, if/when needed
• Assist members with entitlements and benefits; food stamps, SSI/SSDI, Medicaid/Medicare and ticket to Work/ACE/Access VR, Supplemental Need Trusts, & ADA accommodations.
• Facilitates supported housing applications (2010E), Single Point of Access applications and work to find appropriate housing; assist members with physical moves into housing units.
• Advocates for members well-being, safety, and livelihood with supports around clinical, legal, housing, appointments, medications, and independent living opportunities.
• Complete all documentation including but not limited to progress notes and reach out documentation on time.
• Maintain compliance with all government agency requirements, company policies s
• Acquire proficiency in skills and tasks of the (unit) you are assigned. This may include safety protocols, health guidelines, inventory lists, how to guides, etc.
• and procedures.
• Periodic overnight travel and to work some holidays including Thanksgiving, some weekend and evening hours, as needed.
• Flexibility with staying late or arriving early, if necessary, to fulfill unit or member needs, and interchangeability with other staff on the unit.
• Maintain confidentiality of records relating to members' progress.
• Perform related duties as assigned by supervisor.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• 1-3+ years' experience working with individuals with serious mental illness and or/hands on experience working in a community setting preferred.
• 1-2 years coaching and counseling experience preferred.
• 1-2 years of vocational rehabilitation, training or employment specialist experience preferred.
• Ability to effectively manage and handle member concerns and behaviors.
• Proven experience with mental health crisis management by supporting and counseling members under emotional distress.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND CREDENTIALS

• Undergraduate degree or an equivalent combination of training and experience required.
• Graduate degree or equivalent preferred.
• Driver's License and the ability to drive a van preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and meet all physical requirements satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Mission

To create the community innovation and social change needed for people most impacted by mental illness to lead connected and healthy lives.

Vision

Transforming the way the world sees and treats people most impacted by mental illness.

Values

We believe that every person is capable of great things, deserves just and equitable treatment, and the right to self -determination and community.