Summary
This member of the multidisciplinary team has responsibility to carry our rehabilitation and support functions and assist in treatment; provides substance abuse services, education, support, and consultation to families; and provide crisis intervention under the clinical supervision of staff with professional degrees.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Be a member of the individual treatment team for an assigned number of clients.
Participate in the client-centered comprehensive assessment of psychiatric history (e.g., onset, course and effect of illness, past treatment and responses, and risk behaviors), mental status, and diagnosis; physical health and dental health; use of drugs or alcohol; education and employment; social development and functioning; activities of daily living (e.g., self care, living situation, nutrition, money management); and family structure and relationships.
Consult with community agencies and families to maintain coordination in the treatment process.
Document client progress to maintain a permanent record of client activity according to established methods and procedures.
Participate in daily staff organization meetings and treatment planning review meetings.
Participate in providing treatment and dual diagnosis services.
Psychiatric Treatment and Dual Diagnosis Substance Abuse Services
Assist in the provision of ongoing assessment of clients’ mental illness symptoms and clients’ response to treatment. Make appropriate changes in treatment plans to ensure immediate and appropriate interventions are provided in response to changes in mental status or behavior which put clients at risk (e.g., suicidal).
Assist in the provision of direct clinical services to clients on an individual, group, and family basis in the office and in community settings to teach behavioral symptoms-management techniques to alleviate and manage symptoms not reduced by medications and to promote personal growth and development by assisting clients to adapt to and cope with internal and external stresses.
Assist in the provision of individual and group treatment the office and in community settings in a stage-based treatment model that is non-confrontational, considers interaction of mental illness and substance abuse, and has client-determined goals.
Participate in the provision of rehabilitation services.
Structuring Time and Employment
Provide work-related supportive services, such as assistance with grooming and personal hygiene, securing of appropriate clothing, wake-up calls, transportation.
Perform job coaching, problem-solving, and support on and off the job site.
Activities of Daily Living Services
Provide ongoing assessment, problem solving, side-by-side services, skill training, supervision (e.g., prompts, assignments, monitoring, encouragement), and environmental adaptations to assist clients with activities of daily living.
Assist clients to find and maintain a safe and affordable place to live---apartment hunting, finding a room-mate, landlord negotiations, cleaning, furnishing and decorating, and procuring necessities (e.g., phone, furnishing, liens).
Assist and support clients to carry out personal hygiene and grooming tasks.
Provide nutrition education and assistance with meal planning, grocery shopping, and food preparations.
Assist and support clients to perform household activities, including house cleaning and laundry.
Ensure that clients have adequate financial support (e.g., help to gain employment or apply for entitlements).
Teach money-management skills (e.g., budgeting and bill paying) and assist client in accessing financial services (e.g., professional financial counseling, emergency loan sources).
Help clients to access reliable transportation (e.g., obtain drivers license and car, arrange for cabs, access bus line, find rides).
Assist and support clients to have and effectively use a personal primary care physician, dentist, and other medical specialist as required.
Social and Interpersonal Relations and Leisure Time
Plans, structure, and prompt social and leisure-time activities on evening, weekends and holidays.
Provide side-by-side support and coaching to help clients socialize (e.g., going with a client to a basketball game, coaching and supporting a client before he or she goes to a family reunion).
Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities to structure clients’ time, increase social experiences, and provide opportunities to practice social skills and receive feedback and support.
Support
Provide practical help and supports, advocacy, coordination, side-by-side individual support, problem solving, direct assistance, training, and supervision to help clients obtain the necessities of daily living including medical and dental health care; legal and advocacy services; financial support such as entitlements (e.g., SSI, SSDI, and veterans’ benefits) or housing subsides (e.g., HUD, Section 8); supported housing (e.g., adult foster care, paid roommates, meals brought in for those who need it); money-management services (e.g., payees’) and transportation.
Education, Experience, and Knowledge Required
The paraprofessional mental health worker may have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than behavioral sciences or have a high school diploma, and has work experience with adults with severe and persistent mental illness or with individuals with similar human-services need. May have related training (e.g., certified occupational therapy assistant, home health care aide) or work experience (e.g., teaching) and life experience. Must have strong commitment to the right and ability of each person with a severe and persistent mental illness to live in normal community residences; work in market jobs; and have access to helpful, adequate, competent, and continuous supports and services. Skills and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with persons with severe and persistent mental illness and respect for clients rights and personal preferences in treatment are essential. Must have a valid driver’s license for the state of Georgia.
