Mental Health Counselor II

• For 50 years, Buckelew Programs has been committed to the mission of providing mental health and addiction services that promote recovery, resilience and hope. The agency provides numerous essential community services throughout Marin, Sonoma and Napa counties ranging from supported housing and job training for people with mental illness to outpatient psychotherapy and other support for children, adults and families, as well as residential detoxification services, and a regional suicide prevention program and crisis hotline. The Mental Health Counselor II is responsible for providing support to clients in the Client Choice Hospital Prevention program, a short-term, residential, crisis facility, so that they may live independently in the community or within a Buckelew housing environment. You will provide daily independent living assistance and counseling to clients in a manner that facilitates recovery and independence and work directly with clients as part of a team supporting client recovery and independence. This is a great opportunity to gain valuable crisis experience, work with a fantastic team in a beautiful setting, and truly make a difference in others' lives!

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Administrative

• Work as part of team, providing prompt communication to all members.
• In some program environments, may be responsible for maintaining agency billing standards as outlined by supervisor.
• Maintain accurate, timely and complete assigned documentation standards including client notations, mileage reports, etc.
• Conduct and facilitate group support meetings and house meetings as required by program site.

Client Responsibilities

• Teach, assist and support clients in all aspects of activities of daily living that is helpful yet responsive to their readiness to take on increased responsibility.
• Observe, monitor and report general tone and mood of clients. Ensure agency safety protocols are implemented and adhered too. Assist clients in practicing and implementing appropriate safety protocols. Act as positive role model.
• Assist clients with shopping, meal planning and cooking daily; teaching skills as necessary.
• Provide medication prompts and reminders and assure that medications are refilled in a timely manner. Provide medication assistance, proper storage of medications, and monitor client medication adherence as directed by specific program site.
• Provide transportation in personal and agency vehicles as directed. Teach use of public transportation system. Assist clients to maintain all medical appointments.

Maintenance Responsibilities

• Perform general housekeeping tasks (vacuuming, dishwashing, dusting, etc.) as needed. Perform basic maintenance tasks (light bulbs, smoke detectors, loose screws, air filters, etc.). Report all major repairs needed to supervisor.
• Ensure adequate household supplies; obtain and transport supplies as needed and directed.

Program Quality and Compliance

• Assure all services provided meet the highest standards of care. Ensure that services are delivered in a manner that facilitates progress toward identifiable client goals while maintaining a reasonable degree of client satisfaction.
• Ensure that all legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements applicable to the program are adhered to and/or delivered, including compliance with program certifications as required (e.g., CARF, MediCal Regulations, HUD, etc.) and all licensing requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: Must meet one of the following three levels of combined education and experience.

• BA/BS + 4 years experience in mental health setting as a specialist in the fields of physical restoration, social adjustment or vocational adjustment or
• AA + 6 years experience in a mental health setting as a specialist in the fields of physical restoration, social adjustment or vocational adjustment or
• Graduate education (up to 2 years of graduate professional education may be substituted for the experience of a year for year basis).

Professional: Must be fluent in English; bilingual English/Spanish preferred. Ability to work in an independent, organized, calm and reassuring manner using good boundaries and good judgment; to be reliable, dependable and flexible; and to accept supervision, suggestions and feedback. Must have interest in working with persons with a behavioral health disability. Ability to work within all the rules, regulations, and policies that govern agency compliance. Organized, responsible, professional, able to work on many projects simultaneously, to be flexible, empathic and able to relate to clients, other professionals, and the general community. Intermediate level skills in MS Office (including Excel, Word and Outlook). Must be a positive team player. Must have and maintain a valid California driver’s license with an insurable driving record and insured personal car to use on the job. Must be able to pass Livescan fingerprinting background check (for some programs).

Physical Requirements: Physically capable of the following intermittent activities: listening, talking, seeing, stretching, bending, kneeling, twisting, squatting, reaching above and below the shoulder, pushing, pulling, grasping and lifting up to 30 pounds in weight. Physically capable of the following extended activities: driving, writing, standing, typing, and sitting.

BENEFITS: Employer-paid medical, dental and vision insurance, life and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts for medical, dependent care and transit costs, retirement savings plan, employee assistance plan, paid meal breaks and up to 6 weeks of paid time off. AA/EOE

Schedule: Day shifts, working Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, 7:30am to 3:30pm.

Full-time, 32 hours per week.