Family Partner - Acute Services
Pittsfield, MA
Varies
Varies
Positions offered are Part-Time, Weekdays, 3 PM to 7 PM. Also Part-Time, Saturday and Sunday, 8 AM to 8 PM!
General Description
Accompany crisis clinicians during crisis evaluations and provide one-on-one support to parents/caregivers of youth who have mental health needs. The Family Partner will work collaboratively with crisis clinicians, the family, community, school and other providers as part of a team.
Essential Job Functions
- Work under the direction of a Master’s level crisis clinician
- Accompany crisis clinicians during crisis evaluations in a variety of settings (including but not limited to, client homes, schools, other community based locations, and emergency departments)
- Promote productive partnership between parents/caregivers and professionals
- Provide information, support and advocacy to parents/caregivers
- Help the family navigate through the support service system
- Help the family understand all possible options and make informed decisions
- Provide brief interventions for crisis management, behavior management and safety issues
Direct Care:
- Coordinate and collaborate with providers in the treatment team regarding the treatment plan and strategies for intervention; attend all treatment team meetings, provide input on goals of treatment and update’s on the youth’s progress
- Deliver services in accordance with the treatment plan developed collaboratively by the providers and parent/caregiver in addition to the youth whenever possible
- Engage the parent/caregiver in activities in the home and community that address goals of the youth’s treatment plan
- Assist the caregiver in meeting the needs of the youth by performing one or more of the following; educating, supporting, coaching, modeling and/or guiding the caregiver
- Develop and maintain policies and procedures relating to all components of consumer peer support services
- Deliver services in the parent/caregiver’s home and community
Administrative:
- Complete all paperwork in a timely manner
- Participate in all relevant staff meetings, supervision and required trainings
- Update supervisor on collateral contacts on a regular basis
- Complete all tasks assigned which impact the organized function of the program
Other Responsibilities
- Provide atmosphere conducive to enhancing mental health and recovery in keeping with human rights consumers
- Represent the agency in a professional manner at all times
- Report any incident regarding accidents, injuries and unusual events to program director
Flexibly respond to program scheduling needs of the parent/caregiver and youth
Qualifications
- Experience as a caregiver of a youth with special needs, preferably a youth with mental health needs (experience as a foster parent or adoptive parent is desirable)
- Experience in navigating any of the child and family-serving systems and teaching family members who are involved with the child and family serving systems
- Bachelor’s degree in a human services field from an accredited university and one year of experience working with the target population preferred
- An associate’s degree in a human service field from an accredited school and one year of experience working with children/adolescents/transition age youth may be substituted
- A high school diploma or GED and a minimum of two years of experience with the target population or navigating child and family serving systems may be substituted
Skills
- Excellent oral and presentation skills
- Leadership talent and the ability to delegate effectively
- Working knowledge of computers
- Knowledge of community resources
Other Requirements
- Able to respond to program scheduling needs on a flexible basis
- Support and maintain the principles and policies of The Brien Center
- Maintain ethical and professional standards
- Represent the agency in a professional manner in all community and caregiver contacts
- Demonstrate commitment to the agency’s mission and community mental health principles
- Valid US driver’s license
- Use of personally insured automobile
- Driver’s License check (RMV)
- Criminal Offender Record Information check (CORI)
- Meets all credentialing requirements
Working Conditions
- Works in office; temperature regulated
- Outreach to home and other community locations
Physical Conditions
- Manual and visual dexterity; correctable
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions