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Chittenden County ACT Team Nurse

Program: Pathways Housing First Program

Job Title: Nurse (Part Time; 7 – 10 hours per week)

Area Served:  Chittenden County, potential for expanded hours statewide Vermont

The Company: Pathways Vermont is a dynamic nonprofit agency which believes in transforming the lives of individuals experiencing mental health and other life challenges and permanently ending homelessness.  

The Role: Pathways Vermont’s Housing First Program provides a broad spectrum of community-based supportive services to individuals who have a history of persistent mental health challenges and have experienced chronic homelessness. Our team provides services designed to promote stability, recovery, community reintegration, and wellness in accordance with principles of Housing First, harm-reduction, and trauma-informed care.

As a part-time specialist on our interdisciplinary Housing First Team, the nurse provides a mixture of direct service and consultation to program clients around medical and healthcare-related needs and has primary responsibilities of assisting clients in medication management/administration, performing basic medical procedures in the field, and interfacing with our staff and Medical Director around client care.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Collaborate with team members to coordinate/provide client health services
  • Provide general mental health and life skills support to Housing First clientele
  • Pick up and distribute medications and controlled substances for identified clients
  • Implement and maintain Medication Administration Records
  • Administer injectable medications as necessary
  • Monitor client vital signs, glucose, side effects of medications, etc. and report findings as required
  • Provide continuous client education re: mental illness, medication, and health issues
  • Engage identified clients in medical services, on site and in the community
  • Provide health related in-service training and education for staff
  • Work independently and collaboratively with community partners to support clients in accessing public health initiatives and resources
  • Serve as a health and wellness resource to clients, families, staff and significant others
  • Participate in facilitating crisis interventions, referrals and hospitalizations as appropriate
  • Work with team and client in developing an effective plan for services
  • Document all services provided in compliance with regulations
  • Perform related work as assigned
  • Regular attendance is a requirement of the position

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Occasional exposure to outside environmental conditions for community-based meetings.
  • Often meeting with persons in the community and/or visiting different businesses
  • Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction at times when collecting paperwork, assisting with applications, etc.
  • Extensive reading responsibilities
  • Ability to ascend and descend stairs occasionally required (in instances when apartments, businesses and/or meeting places do not have an elevator)
  • Regular operation of a computer and other office machinery including frequent typing.
  • Grasping. Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm such as stapling, completing hand-written forms, etc.
  • Frequent talking and listening in participation of exchanging ideas through spoken word and occasional receipt and giving of detailed information through oral communication at normal speaking levels.
  • Occasionally lifting and carrying up to 30 pounds, occasionally exerting up to 20 pounds of force and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently (opening doors at meeting places/businesses, etc.)
  • The worker is required to have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Licensure by Vermont Board of Nursing required (LPN or RN, pay commensurate with credential)
  • Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners encouraged to apply
  • Valid driver’s license, a reliable personal vehicle available for work purposes and current automobile insurance required
  • Patience, creativity, flexibility, compassion, and sensitivity to persons with disabilities and other minority populations
  • A good understanding of the issues facing persons with a mental health challenge  or substance use issue, particularly as related to meeting basic needs of food, clothing, shelter and advocacy
  • Excellent communication, writing, and computer skills
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, sound knowledge of supportive counselling skills and the ability to form relationships with marginalized individuals
  • Sound judgment and good problem solving skills including assessing risk factors.
  • Ability to meet program expectations with regard to documenting interventions
  • Excellent independent problem solving skills and demonstrated ability to intuitively approach challenging situations
  • Prior experience working in a mental health and/or harm reduction agency, preferably in community services preferred

It is the policy of Pathways Vermont that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment in employment without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, veteran status, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identification, or disability.  Pathways Vermont is committed to a diverse workplace that reflects the communities we serve, and is particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of people including people with military experience, individuals with disabilities, and people of color. To apply, send cover letter and resume to [email protected]

To learn more about our mission and programs, please visit www.pathwaysvermont.org.