Direct Care Worker

Position Summary:

Responsible for insuring that patients receive all appropriate services, as well as performance of other work related duties as assigned.

Essential Job Functions:

• Maintains and demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of therapeutic community concepts and treatment principles.
• Participates as member of the treatment team by being responsible for implementing the therapeutic community milieu including:
  • Modeling and mentoring recovery behaviors,
  • supporting the culture of the TC,
  • supporting conflict resolution,
  • ensuring that therapeutic community structure and activities are implemented according to guidelines,
  • understanding and implementing sanction and reward systems;
  • understanding and implementing the mechanisms of addressing and reporting client behavior that presents opportunities for learning and behavior change
  • maintaining awareness of dynamics occurring in the milieu by active presence and participation in client scheduled activities and when clients are not involved in scheduled activities
• Maintains and demonstrates a basic understanding of co-occurring disorders, including knowledge required to monitor mental health status and changes in symptoms.
• Monitors and observes clients, ensures their safety and well-being, and provides motivational enhancement and educational support and guidance to assist them in meeting therapeutic goals.
• Facilitates didactic (educational) groups and understands concepts taught.
• Transports clients to appointments, activities and other offsite locations.
• Conducts routine and random urine and breath drug analysis, contraband searches and other activities designed to ensure the integrity of the TC, and documents findings.
• Conducts routine and random walk-throughs of facilities and grounds to observe for contraband or other indicators that might impact the therapeutic milieu.
• Conducts crisis management and de-escalation techniques.
• Observes, monitors and documents client medication management according to policy and procedures.
• Completes intake screenings and admission forms and other documentation as assigned.
• Completes required documentation, including progress notes, behavioral observations, staff logs, incident reports and other documentation appropriately and within stated timeframes; enters data into electronic database.
• Reports and/or documents client observations and contributes to treatment decisions concerning therapy, discipline, privileges and so forth.
• Participates in group and individual supervision sessions, client staffings and other meetings as directed.
• Participates in mandatory training; remains current with new or revised policies, procedures and responsibilities.
• Serves as member of Quality Improvement Team and conducts assigned quality improvement activities.
• Other duties and activities as assigned.

Essential Qualifications:

Ability to understand and implement Therapeutic Community Concepts

Ability to understand and address needs of clients with Co-occurring Disorders

Basic computer literacy including data entry.

Certifications/Licenses:

Education:

High School Diploma or GED preferred