Rehabilitation Specialist

COMPANY OVERVIEW:

At Volunteers of America Chesapeake, we provide services in MD, DC, VA and the Carolinas, we are an affiliate under the Volunteers of America National Organization. As a whole, Volunteers of America is more than a non-profit organization. We are a ministry of service that includes more than 16,000 employees nationwide and more than 70,000 volunteers working together to help individuals who need our help the most. We firmly believe that our employees drive the success of the organization. With success in mind as the ultimate goal, we strive to create and provide an environment that offers challenging, stimulating and financially rewarding opportunities. Our tag line is Helping Americas most vulnerable.

FUNCTION:

Under the Program Director’s clinical supervision, the Rehabilitation Specialist is responsible for monitoring client progress, scheduling medical appointments, and providing clinical support services. The Rehabilitation Specialist is also responsible for participating in assessing individuals for service needs and the development and implementation of the individual’s rehabilitation service plan.

PRINCIPLE ACTIVITIES:

• Assists in the development of effective Individualized Residential Rehabilitation Plans for persons with chronic mental illness in compliance with state and agency policies and procedures under the direction of the Rehabilitation Director.
• Serves as a liaison and consultant to residential providers, mental health professionals, medical staff, community agency workers, family, care providers, and others involved in program planning, conflict resolution, and on-going clinical support, as directed.
• Evaluates client performances and makes recommendations for referrals.
• Participates in service delivery to promote client progress. Coordinates services with other community agencies and participates as required in joint planning, assessment, and service delivery.
• Monitors overall client progress and prepares reports as directed. Communicates progress summary to appropriate staff and with client consent, other persons involved in client’s treatment program.
• Provides crisis intervention services as necessary.
• Works with advisory groups and human service planning agencies to develop and improve service and integration opportunities for persons with chronic mental illness.
• Establishes and monitors client records as required by regulating agencies.
• Participates in the fee determination and billing processes and in the collection of fees.
• Conducts and attends in-house, program, staff, and training meetings as required.
• As directed, serves as a liaison to clients temporarily being served by inpatient facilities or detention centers and when appropriate, participates in the development of after care plans.
• Implements VOAC Policies and Procedures and assures program compliance with state regulations.
• Participates in the development of discharge plans and provides follow-along services as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned. Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

EFFECT ON END RESULTS:

• Clients eligible for services will be evaluated and enrolled into service as appropriate.
• Clients will receive entitlements and benefits for which they are eligible.
• Rehabilitative services will be provided which address client needs and increase/restore independent living skills as defined in the client’s individualized treatment plan.
• Service delivery will be coordinated and provided in compliance with program policy and procedure and state regulation.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Preferred – Master’s Degree in rehabilitation counseling, psychiatric rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation (Status as a mental health professional or registered or certified Creative Arts Therapist; Rehabilitation Counselor with a Master’s Degree in rehabilitation counseling, psychiatric rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation or certification by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification; or a therapeutic recreation specialist who has a Master’s Degree in therapeutic recreation or is registered as a therapeutic recreation specialist by the National Therapeutic Recreation Society is preferred.)
• A Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health, or a related field or licensure as a Registered Nurse and two years of working in a mental health and/or social services field is required. (A combination of post-high school education and experience working in mental health and/or social services, which totals three years, may be substituted for the Bachelor’s Degree or RN licensure.)
• CPRP Certified psychiatric rehabilitation professional.
• The position requires the ability to provide individualized services to persons who are mentally ill. Experience with treatment planning and writing, client assessment, rehabilitative services, the monitoring of service delivery, and clinical documentation is preferred.
• Driving and/or transporting clients is a responsibility of the position.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• The ability to safely operate a motor vehicle to transport oneself, consumers, and program supplies as necessary.
• The physical ability to travel to assigned locations, stand, stoop, bend, reach, pull, push, lift, grasp, climb, talk, see, hear and perform basic and light home maintenance activities, and operate office equipment.
• Move and lift light objects up to 30 pounds such as mail, supplies, files, and equipment.
• Operating office equipment requiring continuous or repetitive hand/arm movements.
• The ability to remain in a sitting position for extended periods of time.