Kandi Leonhart

LifeWorks NW's Horizon and Hazelwood provide mental health residential treatment to men who are experiencing severe and persistent mental illness and behavioral problems.

The Mental Health Associate provides services to men in a residential setting who are experiencing severe and persistent mental illness and behavioral problems by providing skills training, case management, and other services as outlined in a treatment plan. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Meets standards for documentation and accuracy of work, client care, quality/customer service, attendance/punctuality and teamwork as defined in the Performance Evaluation.
• Continually increases level of cultural sensitivity, awareness, and competency. Actively participates in a minimum of four hours of training related to cultural effectiveness in working with diverse populations.
• Administers oral medications, following physician's prescriptions and hospital procedures ? Provides skills training, case management, and other services as outlined on a treatment plan.
• Coordinates services with other staff and external organizations such as government agencies, social services providers, and healthcare providers.
• Assesses client's needs, limitations, and potential, using observation, review of hospital records, and consultation with parents and/or hospital personnel. Observes and interviews clients and confers with other professionals to evaluate the clients' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
• Establishes and enforces rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among clients, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement. Monitors clients in order to detect unusual behavior and reports observations to professional staff.
• Encourages clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, and help them to develop insight into themselves and their relationships.
• Counsels clients individually and in groups on concerns, such as unsatisfactory relationships, divorce and separation, child rearing, home management, financial difficulties and overcoming dependencies, mental or physical illness, and to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems. Guides clients in the development of skills and strategies for dealing with their problems.
• Organizes, supervises, and encourages client participation in social, educational, and recreational activities. Provides, finds, or arranges for job and/or school training.
• Provides crisis intervention to clients experiencing difficulties.
• Participates in regular individual and team meetings with supervisor provide written and verbal reports to supervisor regarding cases. Attends informational and clinical meetings which may include all-agency meetings, team meetings, consultation meetings with psychiatrist, staffings, intra-agency trainings, etc.
• Prepares meals and snacks for and/or with residents ? Serves as back-up for other staff when needed.
• Checks e-mail/voice mail daily/throughout the day when working responding to contacts within
• May administer first aid only if certified, according to prescribed proceduresmanagement services in compliance with confidentiality requirements.

The QMHA provides care that responds to the physical and psychological needs of members served. The QMHA provides direct and indirect services according to individual servic

• Provides safe, effective, and efficient implementation of direct care in accordance with established policies, procedures, and standards of care
• Complies with Medicaid standards in the provision of care including following a treatment plan to provide skills training, activity therapies, and psychiatric support
• Documents interventions according to program and Medicaid standards at intervals established by program leadership
• Provides crisis intervention
• Gathers and summarizes clinical data for use in assessments
• Participates in treatment team meetings
• Establishes, maintains, and co-facilitates a therapeutic relationship with members served; acts as a role model by maintaining a hopeful and positive attitude and problem solving and coping with mental illness
• Attends and participates in community meetings and groups
• Facilitates groups within scope of practice
• Charts and observes client behavior
• Documents client activities of daily living, response to interventions, and significant behavior changes as appropriate
• Admits and discharges members served as assigned; including completing associated documentation
• Assists members served with hygienic care
• Provides client monitoring including, but not limited to, rounds, seclusion and restraint supervision and smoke breaks
• Assists in client outings, which may include driving
• Practices body substance precautions at all times
• Administers medications to all facility members per LMP orders
• Practices seven rights of medication administration
• Accurately documents medication administration in member’s record
• Utilizes universal precautions in handling of members’ medications
• Completes vital signs and accurately documents in member’s record
• Accurately tracks medication supplies during shift (completes controlled medication count, audits medication administration record for accuracy)
• Communicates with LMP and nursing coordinator any concerns or needs regarding medication administration for members.

Overall milieu management at a 20 bed co-ed facility.

Medication Administration.

Accompanying clients to appointments.

Skills training groups.

Documentation.

Following Dr's orders.

Auditing MAR.

Ordering and checking in medications.

Yearly in-service training.

Crisis intervention.

Scheduling.