Parent Support Specialist - Not Certified

Description

Description

Northpointe is a Community Mental Health (CMH) organization providing services to individuals with serious mental illness, emotional disturbance, substance abuse disorders, and intellectual/developmental disabilities across Iron, Dickinson, and Menominee counties in the UP of Michigan. Northpointe itself was established in 1995 but has roots as a CMH dating back to 1964. Our presence can be found through remote emergency services, in school and home-based programs, and in clinical and residential home settings.

 Job Purpose 

The Parent Support Partner is the parent or primary caregiver of a child with serious emotional disturbance or intellectual/developmental disabilities who serves as support to other parents/families as part of the treatment process to be empowered, confident and have skills that will enable them to assist their child to improve in functioning. The trained parent support partner provides education, training and support and augments the assessment and mental health treatment process. The parent support partner provides these services to the parents and their family. The parent support partner is provided with regular supervision and team consultation by the treating professionals. 

 Job Duties and Responsibilities 

A review of this description has excluded the marginal functions of the position that incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee

occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by the supervisors. 

Essential Duties

• Participates in the person-centered planning process.
• Acts as an advocate for individuals with community agencies and organizations.
• Documents contacts in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Participates in team meetings, available training, and other agency related meetings as requested.
• Shares observations and concerns with assigned supervisor.
• Provides supportive services to individual on an individual or family basis, primarily in community settings.
• Teaches symptom-management techniques designed to promote personal growth and development to assist individuals in coping with internal and external stresses.
• Assists individuals with developing Plan for Difficult times and/or obtaining a DPOA or Advance Directive.
• Assists individuals in completing applications for obtaining housing assistance, food stamps, SSI, SSDI, utility assistance, Medicaid, or available benefits or entitlements.
• Assists and supports individuals to promote self-determination and decision-making.
• Provides essential expertise and consultation to the care management and outpatient services to promote a culture which an individual’s point of view and preferences are recognized, understood, respected, and integrated into treatment, and community activities.
• Promotes socialization, community inclusion and leisure time activities for individuals.

Requirements

Requirements

• This position will actively support the mission, vision, and values of the agency.
• The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 Education, Certifications, and/or Experience 

• Life experience with disabilities and mental health services.
• Must have successfully attained a high school diploma or GED; or currently working to obtain GED or high school diploma if at least 18 years of age.
• Valid driver’s license preferred.
• Parent/Peer Mentor Certification within one year.

Knowledge and Skills

• Must be knowledgeable and committed to maintaining confidentiality.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to resolve problems in routine situations.

Competencies

• Strong team skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a treatment team.
• Proficiency in microcomputer software necessary to perform job functions.
• Demonstrate commitment to quality service recipient care.
• Demonstrate use of effective intervention techniques necessary to avoid injury to self or others.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of person-centered planning.
• Demonstrate use of safety techniques.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of disabilities.
• Demonstrate the skills necessary to establish supportive relationships with persons with disabilities.
• Overall commitment to the quality of care, as well as customer service.

Working Conditions

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

Physical Demands

• The employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls and talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job includes close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The noise level in the work environment is quiet to moderate.
• The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals and blood-borne pathogens.
• The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in outside weather conditions and is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles.
• Work hours necessary to meet individual and family needs, which include a variety of hours.

Required Training

Training requirements established by licensing agencies, accreditation bodies, MDHHS, and NorthCare Network shall be followed upon hire, annually, and as necessary.