Mental Health Activity Aide - Saginaw and New Lothrup

Mental Health Activity Aide - Part Time

Under direct supervision of Mental Health Supervisor (Skill Building), assists consumers with developmental disabilities to develop skills and reach the goals identified in their person-centered plan. Provides physical assistance with personal care as needed. Is responsible for ensuring that services are provided in a safe and welcoming manner using a culture of gentleness. This position will be knowledgeable about and actively support culturally competent recovery-based practices; person centered planning as a shared decision-making process with the individual, who defines his/her life goals and is assisted in developing a unique path toward those goals; and a trauma informed culture of safety to aid consumer in the recovery process.

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Accompanies and supervises consumers in building based and community inclusion activities as assigned.
• Assists with feeding consumers meals or snacks and cleaning up. Assists consumers in meeting their daily needs. Physically assist consumers when necessary. Teaches them healthy habits, assists them in toileting and changes soiled clothing when necessary. Attends other meetings as required.
• Participates in staff meeting in developing plans and projects for individual consumers and discussing any issues to consumer's progress. Follows consumer treatment plans.
• Assists consumers to develop skills and reach the goals identified in their person-centered plan.
• Implements the curriculum for the assigned classroom and develops a monthly calendar for the assigned classroom.
• Plan and implement meaningful activities that promote skill development in the building and out into the community through the person-centered process, this includes creating and organizing community engagement activities.
• Teaches, guides, and oversees consumers in individual or group activities. Monitors individual performance and behavior.
• Is responsible for the supervision of assigned consumers at all times.
• Confers with other staff/agency representatives to provide feedback on consumer progress, participation, and daily health and safety needs.
• Collects and reports data on attendance, behavior, skill development, services provided and unusual incidents; writes notes/reports based on observations; confers with professional and supervisory staff on consumer progress and makes recommendations for additional services or revised interventions as needed.
• Ensures consumers rights are respected and treats them in a way that enhances self-esteem and instills confidence in living skills and engaging with their community.
• Dispenses prescribed medications in keeping with clearly defined instructions and prescription physician orders.
• Responsible for coordinating medications at program. This includes administering medications, sending out communication to homes about medications, and preparing medications for outings.
• Reviewing documentation to ensure the progress notes are supporting the consumer's goals within the IPOS.
• Assists with training the new staff starting at day program.
• Offers consumer choice and activities and interacts in a respectful and welcoming manner.
• Reacts productively to change and handles other essential tasks as assigned.
• May drive vans for community inclusion sites and community outings. Assists consumers on and off the van as directed.
• Engaging with parents/guardians/Adult Foster Care (AFC) Homes when a consumer is ill or needs to be picked up.
• Adheres to core values and operating principles of Saginaw County Community Mental Health Authority (SCCMHA) at all times.

Incidental duties and responsibilities include:

• Attends meetings, in-service training, or workshops to sustain competency in duties.
• Reacts productively to change and handles other essential duties as assigned.
• May assist in transport of consumers to assigned designations when required to ensure health and safety.
• May attend Individual Plan of Service (IPOS) meetings when management is not available.
• May assist with the huddles at the end of each staff meeting.

Reporting relationships:

• Reports to: Mental Health Supervisor (Skill Building)
• Supervises: None

Working conditions/environment:

• Works in a classroom setting as well as on community inclusion sites with adults with developmental disabilities. Provides personal care to consumers as needed (such as with toileting accidents. Will have exposure to communicable diseases and bodily fluids.

Qualifications:

• Education: High School diploma or equivalent.
• Experience: None required. Prefer experience working in mental health setting, nursing home, or related area.
• Licenses and Certifications: Must have a valid Michigan Chauffeur's license and maintain an excellent driving record.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Understands the concept of person-centered planning and supports consumer choice.
• Knowledge of traffic laws and ability to pass chauffer drivers' test.
• Ability to serve the public in a pleasant, courteous manner, to communicate with individuals effectively and deal with irate individuals.
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy and understand individuals from all social, economic, intellectual, and cultural backgrounds.

Physical/Mental Requirements:

• Hearing acuity to converse in person and on telephone.
• Visual acuity to observe consumers and read reports.
• Manual dexterity to write and handle equipment.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, push wheelchairs, and lift shear weight up to 100 pounds.
• Mental capacity to follow instructions, use judgment, manage, and schedule time and make sound decisions.
• Strong interpersonal skills to interact with leadership, employees, consumers, and the general public.
• Physically able to transfer consumers in and out of a wheelchair.