Summary:

The person in this position provides basic supervision to mentally ill persons in a group home setting. Monitors and assists in the daily living activities of residents. Monitors and makes written documentation of residents’ behavior. Reports all appropriate information of residents’ daily interactions to group home manager. Helps with the overall daily care of residents including cooking, shopping, personal grooming and hygiene, and housekeeping. Provides direct services to clients of the Center's Supportive Residential Facilities.

Education Requirement:

Graduate of an approved LPN program. 

Experience Requirement:

• Experience working in a mental health or crisis setting.

• Previous experience working in a crisis setting is preferred. 

Licensure/Certification Requirement:

• Licensed Practical Nurse to work in the state of TN.
• Current BLS certification required. 

Key Job Responsibilities:

1. To assess the needs and problems of individual clients.
2. To participate in the development of treatment and housing plans for clients.
3. To provide individual and group psychosocial training.
4. To make recommendations regarding a client’s treatment and housing.
5. To evaluate the progress of clients in treatment and housing.
6. To complete a mental status exam that includes the ongoing nursing evaluation of a client’s current condition.
7. To evaluate the effectiveness of medication in managing the symptoms of the client.
8. To evaluate the medication for adverse effects, adverse reactions, drug-drug interactions, drug 2 food interactions and drug-disease interactions.
9. Based on the evaluation performed and with the purpose of optimizing the pharmacotherapy, referral to the prescribing professional as to the proper drug selection, dosage adjustment and treatment and treatment of adverse effects, adverse reactions and/or interactions.
10. Immediately alert the prescribing professional to any of the following findings: serious adverse
11. Supervise residents in the self-administration of medication.
12. To administer medications to clients not able to perform medication self-administration according to prescription and/or label instructions.
13. To administer intramuscular medicines.
14. To complete documentation and record keeping as soon as possible following medication administration.
15. To educate the client about their mental illness, how their medications act to control their illness/disease state, the importance of complying with the medication and coping with the adverse effects, adverse reactions and interactions which may accompany the medication.
16. To educate the client and/or family regarding key components of their care to maintain compliance and stabilization.
17. To communicate with the prescribing professional, members of the mental health treatment team, and other health care providers including the Primary Care Physician in an effort to coordinate efficient and effective care for the clients.

18. To monitor the frequency with which the individual client needs to see the prescribing professional and to schedule the client accordingly.
19. To make referrals to other agencies and/or other staff.
20. To participate in discharge planning.
21. To complete documentation within required Center time frames.
22. To chart information.
23. To participate in planning treatment, housing, and recovery focused activities of the housing facility and its residents.
24. To observe and monitor resident behavior, provide supervision to all residents.
25. Observe, monitor and assist when needed in recreational and leisure activities provided for residents.
26. Assist manager in monitoring and maintain food and other household supplies, equipment and appliances. This includes shopping, cleaning and maintaining inventory.
27. Monitoring and maintaining household cleanliness, ensuring proper meal planning and preparation with residents assigning and monitoring household chores of residents.
28. Assist house manager in assuring that house meets all regulatory standards.
29. Backup and assist house manager in planning and conducting any recreational activities provided for the residents.
30. Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to work effectively in a crisis service delivery setting dealing with individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis. 
• Ability to use mature judgment in problem resolution and to formulate appropriate crisis intervention strategies for Center clients. 
• Must have knowledge of management and organization, and knowledge of the professional disciplines. 

Supervision Provided by this Job:

Physical Demands/Conditions:

Prolonged standing and walking; lifting, turning patients and equipment. Heavy Work - Exerting up to 150 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 75 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 30 pounds of force constantly to move objects.   (May be further defined as "with or without assistance.").