Clinical Recovery Counselor/Benefits Specialist

CLINICAL RECOVERY COUNSELOR/ BENEFITS SPECIALISTJob Scope: Actively contribute as a clinician on a team providing intensive, recovery oriented services to persons living with serious mental illness. Effectively engages consumers in treatment planning that fosters hopefulness and motivates change. Provides group and individual skills training that targets areas of functional impairment and promotes independence through the development and use of natural community supports. Provides individual, group, and family treatment that targets improvement in functional impairments. Specific team assignments will be determined based on clinician expertise, experience, interest and credentials. Benefits Specialist provides benefits assistance to persons with disabilities through outreach, education efforts, assistance obtaining and maintaining benefits. The benefits specialist will also act as a resource to agency staff regarding benefits and entitlement programs. Clinical Responsibilities

• Lead/co-lead on-site groups within the psychosocial rehabilitation program (PSR) targeting acquisition of skills that support and/or sustain client recovery
• Provide care coordination and a full range of direct services including referrals of additional services and consult with other providers for a caseload of adult clients living with serious mental illnesses (primary clients)
• Complete or participate in completing timely integrated assessments and treatment plans for primary clients as needed but at least every 6 months.
• Actively participate in team consultation, operations and planning meetings
• Promote family, partner or significant other participation in care whenever possible and clinically appropriate
• Work cooperatively with other Center units/staff to maintain smooth continuity of care when cases are shared
• Provide initial mental health assessments that identify service needs and recommend options for care
• Provide individual, group, and family therapy services
• Provide a full range of direct services to persons with disabilities requesting information, assistance and advocacy with access to benefits and entitlements
• Provide benefits and entitlement education through community based outreach and training
• Assist clients in accessing benefits and resources

Administrative and Performance Requirements

• Meet with Supervisor for clinical and administrative supervision, to receive and offer feedback and for performance evaluation
• Meet or exceed productivity target
• Meet agency standards for timely billing by completing all direct service documentation within the week the service are provided.
• Complete required assessments, treatment plans, and other documentation in an accurate, compliant and timely manner
• Participate in orientations, all staff trainings, and training and development seminars
• Interpret and communicate, at the service delivery level, Center policies and procedures
• Submit, in a timely and accurate fashion, schedules timesheets, mileage and other reports required by the Center’s policies and procedures
• Implement evidenced based practices to ensure use of effective and efficient treatment that best address client needs
• Become familiar with utilization of outside resources as needed to provide comprehensive services to clients
• Understand the different funding sources available to the population served and the requirements for billing each of the funding sources
• Seek and participate in on-going trainings to assure current knowledge of benefits programs and application processes

Core Competencies

• Complete comprehensive behavioral health evaluations and assessments
• Provide treatment/care planning and coordination
• Provide treatment/care services
• Provide referral and transition services including linkage and discharge planning.

Special Competencies

• Demonstrated knowledge of adult mental illness and treatment modalities including Skills groups, Illness education, recovery stages of change and WRAP (wellness recovery action planning)
• Demonstrate knowledge of adult developmental and phase of life issues, and adult psychopathology.

Clinical Competencies

• Has ability to effectively engage clients in care.
• Has ability to diagnose mental health disorders
• Has a working knowledge of benefits for adults with disabilities

Education and Experience

• Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university in social work, psychology, counseling, or related discipline.
• 1-2 years supervised experience working with individuals who are living with serious mental illnesses
• Basic computer proficiency, knowledge of Word and internet skills
• Must demonstrate knowledge in areas of diagnostic assessment, long and short term treatment, family systems theory, group treatment, recovery stages of change, and WRAP (wellness, recovery, action, planning).
• Must demonstrate knowledge in the areas of benefits and resources for adults with disabilities.

Schedule

• Full- Time, Exempt/Non-Exempt Depending on Education Level, 37.5 hours per week
• Must be prepared to work a flexible schedule in response to needs of the agency, program and target population served, including regular evening and/or Saturday hours.