Mental Health Counselor I - Mon Yough (White Oak, PA)

$34,403 - $52,146/Yr

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - White Oak, PA

Full-time - Entry Level

White Oak, PA

Hospitals

About the position

UPMC is hiring a full-time Mental Health Counselor I to support Western Behavioral Health at Mon Yough in White Oak, PA. The incumbent is primarily responsible for the provision and coordination of counseling and casework services within the MH Residential Programs. This role involves educating and assisting individuals with daily living, financial, socialization, mobility, and survival skills. The Mental Health Counselor I will be supporting the Long Run Road Personal Care Home, an 18-bed facility focusing on an adult population dealing with mental illness. The ideal candidate will be supportive and helpful to residents, proficient in administering medications, and reliable in covering their shifts, including evenings, weekends, and holidays when needed. This position is now eligible for a sign-on bonus of $3,500 with a 2-year work commitment, making it an excellent opportunity for those looking to begin their career in mental health.

Responsibilities

• May be requested to work at other sites to ensure that consumer and program needs are met.
• An orientation binder will be available at each site. Employees are responsible for familiarizing themselves with this information and completing the sign-off sheet.
• Must be able to work independently, under stress and change while performing multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Cannot impose personal beliefs and practice.
• Must remain calm, cooperative and supportive while on duty, especially in emergency and unsettling situations.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with all MYCS consumers, striving to exceed their expectations for service, quality and delivery.
• Meets with assigned consumers at least once weekly to discuss progress; address set-backs and assists consumers with identifying their treatment needs.
• Assists consumers with identifying and implementing long and short-term goals; communicates goal progress to consumer on a weekly basis and provides feedback when needed.
• Provides education and guidance to assist consumers with making life choices.
• Uses crisis intervention techniques to effectively de-escalate consumer behavior and avoid potentially dangerous situations.
• Assesses and documents consumer's functioning level and updates this at least semi-annually.
• Develops goal and service plans based on the Skill Assessment and input from the consumer.
• Writes thorough, informative, and complete shift progress notes and bi-monthly progress reports.
• Completes all medication documentation, including pill counts, in a timely manner and provides follow-up as needed.
• Must be cooperative and remain flexible in work schedule adjustments to meet the needs of program operations for all 365 days in the year.
• Must be able to stay awake throughout your shift as well as not leave residents unattended until a staff person arrives to relieve you of duty.
• Must provide quality services at all times to residents regardless of medical, psychiatric behavioral issues.
• Assists residents with scheduling and attending medical and dental appointments, assuring that appropriate documentation is maintained and filed.
• Determines the need for and service delivery of emergency care, utilizing appropriate and available methods of payment; and education regarding healthcare and illness, including the benefits of education and medication.
• Assists consumers with applying for appropriate financial assistance, developing a budget, establishing checking/savings accounts, and preparing tax forms, rebates, etc.
• Educates and assists consumers with daily living skills such as menu planning, meal preparation, household chores, laundry, and personal hygiene.
• Assesses, educates, and assists consumers with public transportation, which includes accompanying them on the bus when necessary.
• Provides orientation to the local community with location of pharmacies, grocery stores, recreational facilities, hospitals, doctors, and dentists.
• Educates consumers on emergency procedures such as fire safety, natural disasters, loss of utilities, violence, and abuse.
• Teaches and encourages the development of social skills through role-plays and participation in recreational activities.
• Communicates with treatment team members and keeps members informed of consumer's progress.
• Attends AURD, treatment team and all other scheduled meetings as deemed appropriate.
• Attends all monthly CRR staff meetings.
• Provides internal and external liaison to appropriate service providers in accordance with the consumer's service plan.

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent with (1) year related experience.
• Driving is an essential job responsibility; therefore, must possess a valid PA driver's license and grant MYCS authorization to initiate a Driver History Review including the state Motor Vehicle Driving Record (MVR).
• MVR must meet the required agency standards. Incumbent must be accepted by agency insurance.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification is required.
• Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC) certification is required.
• Act 34 clearance is required.
• OAPSA clearance is required.

Benefits

• Sign-on bonus of $3,500 with a 2-year work commitment.