Niobrara County School Based Mental Health Aide

Responsibilities

Mental Health Aide / Case Manager (School Based)

Location: Niobrara County - Lusk, WY

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Mileage reimbursement for work related traveling activities, work cellphone provided, position starts at 30 hours/week, benefits available.

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

 

In partnership with the Wyoming Department of Education, Niobrara County School District, and the Wyoming Behavioral Institute Outpatient & Telehealth Clinic tele-therapeutic services will be offered to students and their families. The WBI Outpatient & Telehealth Clinic provides intensive and targeted clinical therapeutic services to improve the continuum of care to students and to provide access to mental/behavioral healthcare services to the underserved.

 

IMPORTANT: The Mental Health Aide serves as first contact with students and their families and is responsible for assisting students and their families (in the school district setting) with the initial consult and enrollment for telehealth services.  This role provides in-person mental health aide/support and case management services physically within the Niobrara School District facilities (Lusk, Wyoming).  Position REQUIRES the incumbent to be physically available to school district facilities in the Niobrara County School District and requires location in Lusk or commute to Lusk on a regular basis, as well as occasional travel to other locations within Wyoming, such as WBI in Casper. 

 

This position secures student insurance and other payment information, participates as a member of the treatment team, and assists with scheduling and coordinating other needs from intake to discharge. The Mental Health Aide works within the school setting (offices in the school district location),and must be able to be present in the school district setting in person to effectively collaborate with teachers, school staff, and school administration to coordinate services and schedule therapy sessions during the school day and during school vacations. The Mental Health Aide is responsible for providing accurate and timely communication, compiles data and reports in order to comply with grant requirements, completes documentation, engages in problem-solving and makes recommendations to referral sources as well as the treatment team. Occasional travel outside of the home district is necessary.  Other duties as assigned.

 

WORKING CONDITIONS:  

 

Duties require sitting, standing, walking regularly. Requires reaching overhead occasionally and lifting occasionally up to 25 lbs. Position requires that the individual be in good physical and mental health sufficient to support behavioral health patients of all ages. Mental Health Aide must be able to maintain the ability to provide and support services through telehealth, including the need to speak and hear via teleconference. The mental health aide works in the school setting and will follow professional standards for providing services within the school setting, including passing a rigorous criminal background check. Hours may be irregular including evenings, duties variable. May be occasional occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens or other potentially infectious materials.

 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES REQUIRED:  

 

Must be 21 years of age. Associate’s degree (or higher) in mental health/behavioral health, Social Sciences, Social Work, or related field is preferred. Experience and willingness to provide services in school settings and through telehealth is required. Willingness to become certified as a Certified Mental Health Worker, if applicable.  Two (2) years of experience in patient care and mental and behavioral health care or equivalent is preferred; demonstrated ability to successfully organize and enter data, complete reporting, organize patient files, communicate effectively through teleservices, and meet licensing, accreditation, and grant standards. Must have knowledge of developmental tasks of children, adolescents, adults, and families and apply knowledge in assessment and planning of care. Experience in Case Management is helpful.

 

PERSONAL TRAITS, QUALITIES & APPTITUDES:

 

Demonstrates personal traits/behavior consistent with the values of Wyoming Behavioral Institute. Must be self-directed/self-motivated; must have good communication and interpersonal skills; must be flexible; must have good critical thinking/decision making skills and must have good understanding of systems and change processes. Must be able to: (1) perform a variety of duties often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure; (2) accept responsibility for direction, control and planning of activity; (3) make evaluations and decisions based on measurable or verifiable criteria; (4) work independently and manage conflict/difficulties as they arise; (5) recognize the rights and responsibilities of patient confidentiality; (6) convey empathy and compassion to those experiencing pain, physical or emotional distress, and/or grief; (7) relate to others in a manner which creates a sense of teamwork and cooperation; (8) communicate effectively with people from every socioeconomic, cultural, and educational background; (9) exhibit flexibility and cope effectively in an ever changing, fast-paced health care environment; (10) perform effectively when confronted with emergency, critical, unusual and/or dangerous situations; (11) demonstrate the quality work ethic of doing the right thing the right way; and (12) maintain a customer focus and strive to satisfy the customer's perceived needs.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

Essential Functions:

• Meet in-person or through telehealth connection with referred students and their families to explain services and complete enrollment process.
• Assess students and their families for need for food, clothing, transportation, etc. and assist them in enrolling/accessing services/programs to meet their needs.
• Participate as a member of the Learning Collaborative.
• Actively participate in weekly treatment team meetings.
• Schedule and coordinate services between Mental Health Professional and student/family.
• Ensure accurate and timely data entry for reporting purposes.
• Formulate patient file system and organization.
• Assist in discharge planning, support, and referrals.
• Communicate on a regular and timely basis with relevant members of the treatment team and family members as appropriate.

 

Other Functions:

 

Interventions

• Provide support services specific to student eligibility, need, enrollment, and discharge.
• Relate to students in an age-appropriate manner.
• Complete monthly data collection with students/families.
• Coordinate all scheduling of services for students.
• Manage organization, scheduling, and relationships with different schools, school personnel, community supports, and other social services.      

Data Collection/Entry/Organization

• Complete data entry for trending report purposes in multiple record/tracking platforms.
• Identify and communicate data driven trends in the referral and discharge process.
• Ensure the collection and entry of data as it pertains to student eligibility, grant requirements, and family needs.
• Review & report on data and processes to outpatient team, grant support staff, school staff, and mental health worker.
• Maintain communication as needed with county and state agencies.
• Uphold necessary documentation of all case management services and quality of care issues.
• Support physician/psychiatrist with documentation assistance and needs.
• Assist Utilization Review team with reviews and documentation for reviews.

Therapeutic Environment

• Contribute to the effective functioning of the assigned programs and facility-wide activities and services.
• Report unsafe conditions to appropriate personnel.
• Assure student's rights are upheld.
• Ensure tele-therapy space meets privacy standards and ensure safety of students.
• Serve as support during therapy sessions, when need arises.

 

Provider and/or Supervision of Care

• Collaborate effectively with school, family, and mental health worker in making decisions regarding each student's need for care.
• Intervene effectively in unusual and complex student/family situations while maintaining appropriate professional standards and therapeutic boundaries.
• Provide accurate safety support in crisis situations and participates in debriefing after crisis situations.
• Update and coordinate tele-services to meet the needs of students and their families.
• Communicate effectively with students, families, health care team members, school personnel, and community providers regarding student status and progress.
• Ensure enrollment and/or referrals are completed according to grant guidelines and in a timely manner.
• Provide liaison and referral services to community agencies and appear in court when requested or subpoenaed.
• Comply with required standards for medical/legal reporting situations (i.e., child abuse, dependent adult abuse, psychiatric commitment).
• Represent the facility at legal hearings as requested.
• Ensure that documentation meets policies, procedures, standards, and laws.

 

Qualifications

Must be 21 years of age. Associate’s degree (or higher) in mental health/behavioral health, Social Sciences, Social Work, or related field is preferred. Experience and willingness to provide services in school settings and through telehealth is required. Willingness to become certified as a Certified Mental Health Worker, if applicable.  Two (2) years of experience in patient care and mental and behavioral health care or equivalent is preferred; demonstrated ability to successfully organize and enter data, complete reporting, organize patient files, communicate effectively through teleservices, and meet licensing, accreditation, and grant standards. Must have knowledge of developmental tasks of children, adolescents, adults, and families and apply knowledge in assessment and planning of care. Experience in Case Management is helpful.