ACT Assistant Team Leader

SUMMARY OF POSITION FUNCTION :

Establishes, administers, and directs the Assertive Community Treatment team, a self-contained clinical team which assumes responsibility for directly providing needed treatment, rehabilitation and support services to identified clients with severe and persistent mental illness; supervises and evaluates the multidisciplinary team in conjunction with appropriate psychiatric support to ensure service excellence and courteous, helpful, and respectful services to program clients; and functions as a practicing clinician on the team.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

Knowledge and demonstration of agency core values in day-to-day activities and ACT Fidelity.

Assist in directing the day-to-day clinical operations of the ACT team including scheduling staff work hours to assure appropriate coverage for day, evening, weekend and holiday shifts and on-call hours; lead the daily organizational staff meetings and treatment planning meetings; continuously evaluate the status of clients and do appropriate planning and coordination of treatment activities to ensure immediate attention to their changing needs.

Assist in directing and coordinating the client admission process and treatment, rehabilitation, and support services of the program in coordination with the psychiatrist. Schedule the admission interview, develop and coordinate the initial assessment and initial treatment plan; assign the most appropriate staff to the individual; and provides clinical supervision of the development of the comprehensive assessment and the treatment plan for each client.

Assist in direct and coordinate, for each client, the comprehensive assessment of psychiatric history (e.g., onset, course and effect of illness, past treatment and responses, and risk behaviors). Mental status, and diagnosis, physical health and dental health; use of drugs or alcohol; education and employment, social development and functioning; activities of daily living (e.g., self-care, living situation, nutrition, money management) self assessment and family structure and relationships.

Participate in staff recruitment, interviewing, hiring, training, work assignments and orientation and performance supervision according to work rules, regulations, and policies; develop and implement staff orientation, training and evaluation of work performance.

Assist in the supervision of medical records management, assuring maintenance of the medical record in compliance with OMH regulations, corporation policies, Medicaid, and other third-party payment requirements. Train staff on medical record requirements; regularly review client assessments, treatment plans, and progress notes written by the staff; and supervise individual staff for medical records mastery.

Carry out and document quality-assurance activities and review of use of program services.

Assist in the development and maintaining program policies and procedures and revise as necessary.

Assure fidelity to the ACT model.

Initiate and maintain relationships, in coordination with other staff, with law enforcement and other health and human services agencies, and with informal community resources (i.e., landlords, employers).

Conduct clinical assessments and provide direct clinical treatment, rehabilitation, and support services to clients.

Perform on-call duty for crisis intervention and for staff supervision and consultation.

Perform coverage duties for Erie County ACT as requested by the team leader and our executive leadership team. This includes but is not limited to supervision, county meetings, ACT monthly meetings, staff recruitment / training, consulting with team leaders on high-risk cases and any additional duties as assigned.

Track, monitor and ensure all required documentation and team training is completed within regulatory and company policy timeframes .

Assist in the oversight and supervision of day-to-day operations and team functionality by the direction of the team leader and executive leadership staff.

Retrain staff that may be struggling with compliance issues.

Participant with internal auditing, as well as the development and implementation of workflows.

Attend community-based treatment meetings which include discharge planning, SPOA, clinical team meetings, ACT intakes, etc.

Frequent or occasional driving of personal vehicle for purpose of transporting clients in the community and / or site visits (client or work related)

Note : This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as needed to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

SKILLS / COMPETENCIES :

Strong clinical skills and experience providing treatment to persons with severe and persistent mental illness.

Excellent interpersonal skills including ability to effectively communicate, negotiate, persuade and instruct

Exceptional judgment and decision-making skills

Demonstrate a clear understanding of the characteristics and problems of adults with severe and persistent mental illness and be knowledgeable and the ACT model

Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of effective supervisory and program management practices and principles.

Excellent written and oral skills communicating in English

Development and implementation of programs.

Must be proficient in the use of computers and all Microsoft Office Products i.e. Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook , etc.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS :

Master’s degree in nursing, Social Work, Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Mental Health Counseling or Psychology, or is a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner.

Must possess a vailed NYS professional licensure to practice as a social worker or mental health counselor (LMSW, LCSW, LMHC).

EXPERIENCE :

Minimum of five (5) years of experience, of which at least two (1) are in a supervisory position, experience in health, behavioral health or human services, which assures sufficient knowledge and experience applicable to this position.

Experience with a multidisciplinary mobile team would be helpful.

OTHER :

• Must possess a valid Driver’s License with a satisfactory driving record and possess a personal vehicle for job requirements.