Job Description

Posting number: 190714

Department: Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

Division: Orangeburg Area Mental Health Center

Job classification: Client Advocate I

Posting type: Open

Categories: Counseling

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people's lives? Join our team at the Office of Mental Health where we are dedicated to providing compassionate and accessible care to our community. We are seeking a Client Advocate I / Peer Support for our Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Program who is motivated to help individuals and families navigate life's challenges and achieve long-term wellness. If you want to use your skills to build a healthier, more resilient community, we encourage you to apply.

This position is located at the SC Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (SDBHDD) - Office of Mental Health, Orangeburg Area Mental Health Center 2319 St. Matthews Road Orangeburg SC 29118.

As the Client Advocate, working under direct supervision, you will serve on the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team and provide evidenced-based services in an intensive non-residential treatment and rehabilitative services in accordance with the fidelity model. This is a single fixed point of responsibility for treatment, rehabilitation, and support needs for patients with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) who require higher levels of community care and have not been well supported in lower level of care options.

Responsibilities for the Client Advocate:

• Provide direct services through coaching mentoring and consultation to the patient to promote recovery, self-advocacy and self-direction. Promote wellness management strategies, which include delivering manualized interventions, Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) or Illness Management and Recovery. Assist patients in developing Psychiatric Advanced Directives. Model recovery values, attitudes, beliefs and personal action to encourage wellness and resilience.
• Maintain medical records documentation standards with QA, OMH and CARF policies and procedures. Document services collaboratively with the patient as appropriate.
• Provide consultation to ACT Team members to assist in understanding recovery and the role of the CPSS, promoting a culture in which patients' points of view and preferences are recognized, understood, respected, and integrated into treatment.
• Serve as an active member of the ACT team, which includes facilitating the IPOC process for patients assigned to them. Regularly participates in the daily team meetings and treatment planning meetings. Ensure at least a monthly staffing of each patient that they serve.
• Provide patients with satisfaction surveys to measure the patient's own perception of care, access to service, and improve the quality of treatment.
• Adhere to policies and procedures according to Corporate Compliance, Fire and Safety, and CARF. Comply with the SCBHDD-Office of Mental Health Compliance Plan and all legal responsibilities and requirements in performing your job duties. Complete all annual required trainings to include Safety, MAPS, Cultural Affairs, and clinical trainings. Maintains CPSS certification. Demonstrate adherence to CARF standards, and SCBHDD-OMH and Center policies and procedures.

Examples of duties

• A high school diploma and relevant human services or social services experience. A bachelor's degree may be substituted for the required experience.
• Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and self-identify as a person diagnoses with mental health illness.
• Demonstrate at least two (2) years of sustained recovery without relapse.
• Completion of 100 hours of unsupervised, paid or volunteer work providing support services to individuals diagnoses with mental illness, substance use or co-occurring disorder.
• Have a personal recovery story specific to primary mental illness.

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to lift 5lbs and operate a state vehicle.
• Obtain and maintain PSS Certification.

Qualifications

• Bilingual abilities in English and Spanish (or another language) are a plus.

Supplemental information

Post hire, employees must:

• Ability to communicate orally and inwriting.
• Be able use problem-solving and decision-making skills effectively.
• Be knowledge able of agency and community resources and have the ability to link individuals with resources.
• Be able to effectively teach individuals how to take responsibility for recovery without relapsing.
• Have the ability to effectively advocate for patient needs
• Be able to effectively collaborate with treatment team.
• Be able to demonstrate sustained recovery.
• Position is considered essential and may be called back during crises/disasters/emergencies.
• Position will be part of the Assertive Community Treatment Team.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.
• Ability to provide services are delivered in the community and patient's homes.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
• Retirement benefit choices *
  • State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
  • State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)

*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.