Come join our awesome team as a Behavioral Health Specialist at the Senior Community Care of Michigan. We are offering great benefits and positive work environments!

Senior Community Care of Michigan PACE is part of Volunteers of America National Services which serves as the Housing and Healthcare affiliate of the Volunteers of America parent organization.

Job Highlights:

• 403(b) Retirement Plan;
• Career scholarships;
• Quality training, continuing career education and leadership programs;
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Holiday & Sick Days)

About the job:

Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM

Pay: $26.00-$30.00

The Behavioral Health Specialist Organizes and implements mental health services to Senior Community Care of Michigan participants and families as a part of the Social Work team. Conducts assessments of participant mental health and cognitive functioning and develops appropriate treatment plans. Provides both acute and chronic therapeutic interventions in formats appropriate to clinical populations served, including individual and group therapy. The Behavioral Health Specialist works closely with an interdisciplinary team (IDT) to provide support and optimize functioning and quality of life for participants in the program. The BHS may provide interventions in a variety of settings including the day center, participant homes, assisted living or nursing facilities.

Required Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Education: Master’s Degree from an accredited school of social work required
• Must have current full licensure (LMSW) in the state of Michigan, and be legally authorized to work.
• A minimum of one year’s experience working with frail or elderly population required.

• Must have a valid driver’s license and have means of transportation.
• Must have medical clearance for communicable diseases and up-to-date immunizations before having direct participant contact.

• Comprehension and ability to provide psychosocial assessment, individual, family and group counseling.
• Ability to multi-task and manage a caseload of diverse individuals

Preferred Skills:

• Previous experience in a behavioral health setting or community-based program preferred, experience with multi-disciplinary teams in healthcare settings a plus.

Essentials:

• Upon referral from the IDT or Social Work, performs in-person initial assessments of Senior Community Care participants to obtain a complete psychosocial history, which may include descriptions of cognitive status, social supports, family dynamics, mental health and substance dependency. Coordinates with the IDT and Care Teams to develop a comprehensive treatment place of care for each participant. Reassess as needed to determine progress and need for adjustment to plan of care.

• Carries a caseload of participants for routine counseling sessions, as indicated by initial BH assessment. Provide brief therapeutic interventions for participants experience acute mental health concerns in their home or SCCM day center.

• Identifies possible or actual participant/family crises, providing crisis intervention and emotional support, and creating and facilitating effective plans for resolution.

• Provides ongoing support, counsel, and education to participants and family regarding a variety of issues, including but not limited to: mental health disorders, the aging process, dementia, grief and loss, end of life, caregiver stress, difficult family dynamics and changing roles, PACE model and PACE health services.

• Presents requests to Interdisciplinary Team for recommended services to support participants with mental health needs and referrals. Supports Social Workers with coordination of care for psychiatry.

• Provides behavioral health expertise and case consultation. Attends and actively participates in a variety of organizational meetings related to participant care, including but not limited to: Care Teams, Care Planning, EOL, in-services.

• Acts as a resource to other team members and day center staff regarding topics such as dementia, difficult behaviors, and difficult personalities.

About Senior Community Care of Michigan:

Senior Community Care of Michigan - PACE is part of Volunteers of America National Services which serves as the Housing and Healthcare affiliate of the Volunteers of America parent organization.

PACE is a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. Our team members include clinical professionals, housekeepers, maintenance associates, and culinary employees among others. Unlike some clinical environments, PACE centers offer employees flexible work schedules, with most positions only requiring occasional weekends. Team members have an opportunity to get to know their patients and build meaningful relationships.

Our Senior Community Care of Lansing, MI, values our staff and residents at the highest level. In the capital city of Michigan, staff call a vibrant, diverse, and bustling city their home. Our PACE program allows for more standard working hours than is usual with elder care careers, and we foster a work-life balance by offering employees paid-time off benefits as part of our comprehensive benefits package, as well as creating moments of appreciation in the workplace throughout the year. Come join us at SCCMI, and see why VOANS has been voted by employees as a Great Place To Work the past 4 years running.

In our 2022 Great Place to Work survey, employees said their work has a special meaning: this is not “just a job”.

Join us, and apply today!