Summit House, a psychiatric rehabilitation program informed by the Fountain House Model, is seeking to hire a full-time general advocate to encourage recovery and community engagement for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. Summit House gives members a place to learn skills, try new things and to increase social supports in a supportive environment. Staff and members (called clients in other settings) work side by side to prepare meals and snacks, complete clean up, environmental and maintenance tasks, gardening, landscaping, clerical support, social recreation activities and community integration opportunities for members of Summit House. Interventions used include skills training, staff demonstration, practice/role-plays, and feedback, as well as ongoing prompting and cueing. Role modeling of appropriate social and coping behaviors is an important aspect of the position.
The general advocate’s position primary responsibilities may include menu planning, ordering food, cooking, cleaning, gardening, clerical support, community integration activities, and social recreation activities and leading groups.
Group topics are at the discretion of the general advocate and the needs and wants of the members. Group focus may be psychoeducation, recreational, social or other areas focused on wellbeing and community integration. Some groups are member led.
Each general advocate will have primary responsibility for a specific caseload of members and documentation required by Virginia Medicaid regulations and DBHDS requirements. Documentation will include daily notes, treatment plans, quarterlies and discharges.
The right candidate will be passionate about working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness to enhance their recovery and growth towards independence in the community. The ability to work both independently and as a team member is essential, as well as being able to offer person-centered and trauma-informed treatment approaches in the therapeutic milieu.
At a minimum, qualified candidates must be able to register as a QMHP-T (Qualified Mental Health Professional-Trainee). QMHP status preferred. Basic computer literacy and word processing skills required.
This position requires some physical work including pushing/pulling an wheelchair with occupant, walking, standing, kneeling, crouching, and lifting to execute job duties, as well as using kitchen and cleaning equipment.