Residential Specialist

Mental Health Connecticut (MHC) is a statewide not for profit provider agency that partners with individuals, their families, and the surrounding communities to create environments that support long-term health and wellness. We measure success by our ability to help individuals obtain a safe home, achieve whole health, realize a meaningful purpose, and develop connections in the community. MHC envisions a future where wellbeing is rooted in respect for the condition of being human. Our dedication to this mission is evident through our focus on community education, advocacy, and direct service.

MHC has an immediate full-time opening for a Residential Specialist for our Mental Health Waiver (MHW) program for a 37.50 hour work-week. Typical work week will consist of 4 weekdays and 1 weekend day between 8 am - 6 pm (flex for participant needs). The Residential Specialist (RS) documents and delivers Recovery Assistant (RA) and Community Support Program (CSP) services for the Mental Health Waiver program to persons in recovery in the activities outlined in their recovery plans. The Mental Health Waiver program provides the mental health and substance abuse rehabilitation services and supports necessary to assist the individual in achieving and maintaining the highest degree of independent functioning. The service utilizes a team approach to provide intensive, rehabilitative community support, crisis intervention, individual psycho-education, and skill building for activities of daily living. RA and CSP service includes a comprehensive array of rehabilitation services, most of which are provided in non-office settings. Services are focused on skill building with a goal of maximizing independence to assist the participant in learning skills applicable to his/her living environment. Services and interventions are highly individualized and tailored to the needs and preferences of the individual.

Salary: $18.52 per hour. MHC offers a competitive benefits package which includes:

• Medical and Dental (Cost share split 90/10 for individual and 80/20 for family)
• Voluntary Vision
• Company paid Life and Long Term Disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 403(b) Retirement Plan (company match is dollar for every dollar contributed, up to 6%)
• Generous paid time off policy

The Residential Specialist responsibilities include:

• Implements the treatment plan. Staff routinely use skills lists, skill-builder toolkits, and curricula to guide skill-building interventions.
• Documentation, using both Electronic Health Record software and DMHAS databases, such as, but not limited to Sandata, of services provided using language and details required for billing purposes by the program and MHC.
• Teaching, coaching and assisting with daily living and self-care skills such as the use of transportation, nutrition, meal planning and preparation, housekeeping and basic household tasks, dressing, personal grooming and hygiene, management of financial resources, shopping, use of leisure time, interpersonal communication, personal safety, basic first aid, and problem solving.
• Facilitating other skill development activities directed at reducing disability, restoring participants functioning and achieving independent participation in social, interpersonal, family, or community activities and full community re-integration and independence as identified in the Waiver Recovery Plan. Teach and engage the individual in the appropriate use and of natural community supports (e.g., social clubs, faith-based supports) and routine medical/dental services.
• Teaching of recovery skills in order to prevent relapse such as symptom recognition, coping with symptoms, emotional management, relaxation skills, self-administration and appropriate use of medications, and preparation of illnesses related advance directives.
• Assist individual with appropriate dress and basic hygiene functions, supportive assistance and supervision of the individual, and short-term relief in the home for an individual who is unable to care for himself/herself when the primary caregiver is absent or in need of relief.
• Development of self-advocacy skills for the purpose of accessing natural supports, self-help, and other advocacy resources. Communicate on how to develop healthy habits (e.g., health diet, exercise, and behaviors designed to alleviate stress), and the importance of personal commitments, and adherence to scheduled appointments/meetings (e.g., clinical, vocational, educational, and judicial/court). Health and wellness education.
• Education, support, and consultation to family members (and significant others) of the participant, provided these activities are directed exclusively toward the rehabilitation treatment of the participant.
• Participation in Waiver Recovery Plan development and quarterly Recovery Plan update meetings, if requested by the DMHAS Support Coordinator.
• Group treatment, involving not more than four persons receiving care, focusing on teaching and assisting of ADL skills.
• Maintain a productivity rate of at least 90% of billable hours.
• Engages with persons in recovery to assure they participate in programs and activities.
• Ensures the safety of participants in their residence through proper supervision of the site including being aware of necessary treatment issues.
• Acts as a liaison with the participants’ therapists, referral sources and community agencies.
• Willing and able to drive a personally owned vehicle locally and within the state. May be required to transport individuals in personal vehicle.

Experience/Education:

• Minimum of a High School Diploma or GED required.
• Degree, license, and/or certification strongly preferred i.e. Recovery Assistant certificate.
• Prior work experience with case management work in community mental health/human services preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Valid CT driver's license, auto registration, and insurance.

Mental Health Connecticut, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, religion, citizenship, national origin/ancestry, physical/mental disabilities, military status or any other basis prohibited by law. EOE, M/F/D/V.