Vocational Counselor II/III - Prevention Services Specialist - Emerson Street
Mental Health Center of Denver

EMPLOYMENT VALUE PROPOSITION: WellPower provides you with the support you need to help you develop a career in helping others succeed. We innovate, adapt, and leverage the diverse perspectives of the people on our team and the people we serve in everything we do.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY & INCLUSIVENESS: WellPower values and is strengthened by diversity. We are committed to ending bias and discrimination in our community and ensuring equity within all aspects of our organization. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, transfer, or promotion opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

COMMITMENT TO PAY EQUITY: WellPower is committed to fair and equitable hiring with salaries based on relevant factors, such as work experience, education, and certification/licensure (rather than wage history). Toward the principle of equal pay for equal work, we post and hire within defined hiring salary ranges. We ask all applicants to carefully review the hiring salary range for each posted job opportunity, as we will not hire outside the predetermined range.

BENEFITS STATEMENT: All full-time, benefits eligible employees will be eligible for WellPower's benefits plan. For a full description of benefit offerings, please visit: https://WellPower.org/workplace-of-choice/.

Tuberculosis (TB) screening, testing - TB screening and testing, is required and must be completed prior to hire ( i.e., preplacement), and maintained during employment

Starting Salary:

Vocational Counselor II (Bachelors) - $26.04/hr

Vocational Counselor III (Masters) - $27.04/hr

POSITION SUMMARY:

Emerson St. for Teens and Young Adults is an innovative, strengths-based, trauma-informed outpatient setting that pairs both clinical therapeutic services and psychiatric rehabilitation (education and employment support). We are a multidisciplinary team that assists youth ages 15-26 in working toward goals that support mental health and overall well-being.

This Prevention Services Specialist position is responsible for planning and running well-being programming (groups and outings) both at Emerson St. as well as in the community that is inclusive, engaging, and meaningful for young people ages 15 to 26. Types of groups/outings in the past include cooking, art, video games, karaoke, movie marathons, board games, henna, sex education, financial literacy, museums, rec centers, mini golf, community pools, theater performances, etc. Prevention services at Emerson St. help young people to develop positive relationships with peers and adults and to engage independently in healthy life skills. Prevention programming is a foundational component of the services offered at Emerson St., both as a standalone service as well as to enrich engagement in and increase benefit from clinical services.

This position is community-based with some in-office work, as well as some opportunity to work from home.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Provides groups at Emerson St. and in the community to promote overall well-being for youth. Topics include creative expression, life-skills (like cooking, financial literacy, and other "adulting" tasks), social engagement, physical health, and more. Groups should be responsive to youth requests, interests, and preferences, and take into consideration youth voice and choice. This position also helps to plan and run Emerson St. community events like our annual Community Jam and Winter Retreat events. Most groups are offered during regular business hours; some evening and weekend group facilitation is required on occasion.

Responsible for planning and securing necessary materials for groups at Emerson St. and in the community, including purchasing items/cooking ingredients and tickets for admission for community outings. Responsible for keeping track of receipts of all purchases and coordinating with Emerson St. management to ensure purchases are approved and within amount budgeted. Also organizes and catalogues prevention materials including art supplies, outing items, musical instruments, cooking items and ingredients, etc.

Responsible for recruitment for group participation, creating materials like flyers and social media posts to advertise and build awareness of groups, and for managing the prevention caseload in the electronic health record.

Documents prevention services in the electronic medical record and meets WellPower expectations for service hours and timely documentation.

Fosters and maintains partnerships with organizations, businesses, and entities in the community for ongoing and one-off prevention programming. Potential for researching grant opportunities to expand prevention programming. Collaboration with Emerson St. volunteers as needed.

Uses Emerson St. van to transport youth to events in the community; helps with duties related to van regular maintenance such as re-filling gas and oil changes.

Participates in team meetings and supervisory sessions as required.

Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION:

Minimum Bachelor's degree in psychology, social/human services, psychiatric rehabilitation, education or similar field.

EXPERIENCE:

• Experience working with teens and young adults strongly preferred.
• Experience with running groups strongly preferred.
• Some experience in mental health, social services, or human services preferred.
• Experience with psychiatric rehabilitation (supported employment or supported education) would be an asset.
• Must be able to commute throughout the metro area; valid driver's license required, and access to a vehicle preferred, with clean driving record.
• Ability to transport people we serve is required, either in a WellPower fleet vehicle, or in one's own vehicle. If driving people we serve in one's own vehicle, ability to obtain and carry Business Use coverage on your auto policy (additional cost is reimbursed).

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:

• Strong group work skills including setting boundaries, building rapport, and managing group dynamics.
• Strong work ethic and takes initiative to complete tasks.
• Passion for working with teens and young adults.
• Recognizes the importance of prevention level services (especially groups) for mental health outcomes.
• Proficiency and knowledge of computer technology and resources.
• Knowledge of, or ability to build knowledge of, local community partners/organizations/businesses for outings including museums, performing arts centers, recreation centers, etc.
• Strong communication skills to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Good time-management for timely documentation in the electronic medical record.
• Ability to build rapport and support young people with serious mental health challenges and trauma through trauma-informed and person-centered work
• Knowledge of, or ability to build knowledge of, Psychiatric Rehabilitation philosophy and principles
• Must have a clear understanding of HIPAA, confidentiality, personal boundaries and be self-assured in a variety of situations.
• Ability to assess crisis situations and intervene appropriately. Can de-escalate and remain calm.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including some evening and weekends on occasion.
• Ability to drive PWS, either in WellPower fleet vehicle or in one's own vehicle.
• Must understand people from all walks of life and be able to communicate effectively with them.
• Energetic, with a positive attitude and ability to think creatively.

MACHINES AND EQUIPMENT TO BE USED: WellPower fleet vehicle/own vehicle, computers, calculators, fax machines, copiers, telephone and a variety of other office/clerical equipment.

PHYSICAL REQIUREMENTS: Ability to sit, stand, bend and reach, drive, operate standard office equipment such as phone, computer, facsimile, copier/printer, and other business machines. Occasional lifting up to 40 lbs.

WORKING CONDITIONS: Will require occasional evening and weekend hours.

This job has expired.