Mental Health Consultant (SUB CONTRACT)

About Us:

The Bizzell-Group:  New Haven Job Corps is a career training center dedicated to empowering young adults through education, hands-on experience, and personal development. Our program provides a supportive environment where students can gain the skills, certifications, and confidence needed to pursue rewarding careers. With a focus on both academic achievement and practical training, we partner with local employers and community organizations to ensure our graduates are prepared to meet the demands of today’s workforce.  

Scope of work

The emphasis of the Mental Health and Wellness Program must be on prevention, early detection, identification of mental health problems, and helping students overcome barriers to employability. The program utilizes an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) approach, which includes short-term counseling with an employability focus, referral to center support groups, and crisis intervention. Activities also include mental health promotion, prevention and education for students and staff, consultation to staff, annual trainings, and disability and TEAP program support. The CMHC is part of the Health and Wellness team and collaborates closely with the Health and Wellness Manager, Counseling Manager, TEAP specialist, Disability Coordinator, and Center Physician.

Breakdown of Center Mental Health Consultant Responsibilities:

Assessment:

· Provide assessments and recommendations for Job Corps applicants. This will include involvement in the applicant file review process and Reasonable Accommodation Committee meetings. The consultant will provide support to the Disability Coordinator to ensure students with mental health disabilities are accurately reflected in the data system with accommodations, when appropriate.

· Review of Social Intake Form (SIF) or intake assessment performed by counseling staff of students who indicate mental health history, current mental health problems, or who request to see the center mental health consultant (must be done within one week of student arrival).

· Complete mental health assessments/intakes, evaluation, and/or case management with recommendations of referred students. Consultant will review the referral and heath records prior to the student intake interview. After the interview, the consultant will document findings, including a working DSM diagnosis, barriers to employability, and determined treatment needs. If the student needs assistance, then a written management plan will be developed, and elements of the plan will be shared with appropriate staff.

· Determine when a Medical Separation with Reinstatement Rights (MSWRs) or medical separation is appropriate and recommended for students with mental health conditions.

Mental Health Promotion and Education

1. Minimum of a 1-hour presentation on the Mental Health and Wellness Program and basic skills in how to identify and respond to a mental health crisis for all new students during the Career Preparation Period with an emphasis on employability.

a) Presentations must explain the Mental-Health and Wellness Program, what services are available, and how to make a self-referral.

b) Students will learn basic skills in identifying and responding to a mental health crisis.

2. At least one annual center-wide mental health promotion and education activity.

3. Documented monthly clinical consultation meetings with Center Director (CD) to discuss the status of the mental health program. (PRH Chapter 5.1, R35). The center consultant may serve as a technical advisor and assist the CD and senior staff with identifying center trends.

4. Coordination with management staff, wellness manager, and other departments/programs on center to develop integrated promotion and education services for staff and students.

Treatment to include:

1. Short-term counseling with mental-health checks as needed. The focus of these sessions should be on retention and behaviors that represent employability barriers. This may also include preparing case management plans that identify specific expectations of staff and the student, with the focus on employability skills.

2. Collaboration with TEAP specialist for short-term counseling of students with cooccurring conditions of mental-health issues and substance use.

3. Collaboration with center physician and Health-and-Wellness staff on psychotropic medication monitoring of stable students, with the advice of consulting psychiatrist, if appropriate.

4. Collaboration with counseling staff in developing and/or leading psychoeducational skill-building groups to promote wellness (e.g., relaxation training, anger management, mood regulation, assertiveness skills, handling relationships, sleep hygiene, etc.); These counseling services are to be provided by the career counselors, residential living staff, and other appropriate staff with the guidance and support of the CMHC.

5. Information exchange through regular case conferences between the Center Mental Health Consultant, counselors, and other appropriate staff based on individual student needs.

6. Crisis intervention, as needed. In the event of a mental health emergency, the Center Mental-Health Consultant or the Center Physician must conduct a mental health evaluation as soon as possible, and when necessary, refer the student for psychiatric care. If the Center Physician or Center Mental-Health Consultant is not available, the student must be referred immediately to the emergency room of the nearest medical facility. Students who are a danger to themselves or others must be supervised continuously until the disposition of their cases is resolved, which should be as soon as possible. If there is a life-threatening situation, 911 or the emergency response team should be called.

7. Referral to off-center mental-health professionals or agencies for ongoing treatment and/or specialized services.

8. A written referral/feedback system must be established and documented in the student-health record. The maintenance, confidentiality, and safeguarding of all necessary mental health records will be assured.

Ongoing Education, Support and Building Job Corps Community:

· Participate in monthly Regional Office Teleconferences with the Regional Mental Health Specialist.

· Make an effort to attend the annual National Health and Wellness Conference when applicable.

Staff Development:

1. Advise the Health and Wellness Manager/Director and the Center Director on all mental health training needs and matters. Support the case management process to ensure effective delivery of health care services throughout the Center.

2. Work with staff on Center to ensure the coordination and integration of the mental health program with other programs and activities such as academics, trade, counseling, residential, and recreation.

3. Enrich the mental health support program by integrating strategies from Bizzell’s Behavior Health Advancement Resource Center (BHARC) into staff training and development.

4. Assist with developing an effective Wellness class and program to support students’ health and wellness throughout their Job Corps journey.

5. Consult with the Health and Wellness staff, counselors, advisors, instructors, and other appropriate staff concerning the ongoing mental health problems of students.

6. Staff development on using basic mental health principles and techniques to include coping with problems related to alcohol and drug use, sexuality, aggressive behavior and poor communication.

7. Assist with program development for the purpose of meeting the life cycle of students in constructive ways; for example, involvement with the Center disciplinary program, the maximum benefits program; the intergroup relations program, and TEAP and TUPP program.

8. Participate in Interdisciplinary Team meetings to facilitate and assist with disability initiative and accommodation process.

Health Records: The CMHC acknowledges that student health records belong to and are the sole property of the Long Beach Job Corps Center and each shall comply fully with Federal HIPAA and state records laws. The CMHC will document all services rendered in the students’ health records. Pursuant to its contract with the US Department of Labor, the Long Beach Job Corps Center is obligated to provide training services and a health and wellness program to students. Therefore, the Center Operator hereby engages the subcontractor, and the subcontractor hereby agrees to perform the CMHC services related to the foregoing health and wellness program

Period of Performance

The period of performance for this project will be fill in anticipated POP. Be sure to start new option years with the start of your new Contract Year.

· Base Period Years 1 & 2:

· Option Year 1:

· Option Year 2:

· Option Year 3:

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

· Active unrestricted license to practice as an independent practitioner in the state of CT

· Clinical/Counseling Psychologist or Clinical Social Worker.

· Minimum of 1 year experience independently evaluating and treating clients.

Primary Duties:

Provides mental health services/consultation/training.