Family Partner - Acute Services

Pittsfield, MA

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