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Housing First Modified ACT Team Nurse

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.

 

The Company: Pathways Vermont is a dynamic nonprofit agency that ends homelessness and provides alternative mental health services.  Pathways believes housing is a basic human right and practices housing first – immediate access to housing without preconditions.  Client choice, harm reduction, non-coercion, flexibility and person-centered housing plans are core elements of our practice.  Pathways offers a great benefit package including dental and health insurance, generous paid-time-off and paid holidays.

 

The Role: As a specialist on the Housing First ACT team, the nurse provides a combination of direct service and consultation to program clients around medical and healthcare-related needs and has primary responsibilities of assisting clients in medication management or assistance, performing basic medical procedures in the field, and interfacing with our clinical, non-clinical staff and Medical Director around client care. 

 

Service Area: Chittenden, Franklin, Addison counties

Supervised by: Nurse Team Lead

 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

    • Engage in rapport building with participants and provide service from a “choice” perspective as well as participant-centered, harm reduction, and strengths based approaches
  • 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
  • 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 health, harm reduction, medication, and health issues
  • Engage identified clients in medical services, on site and in the community
    • Make referrals and support care coordination with community health, mental health and substance use resources including primary care, methadone clinics, personal care services, areas on aging, etc.
  • 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:

  • Physical demands of standard direct-service nursing role
  • 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 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.
  • Frequent exposure to loud noises and persons experiencing distress
  • Frequent exposure to outside environmental conditions (all seasons) in community outreach and visits

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Licensure by Vermont Board of Nursing required (LPN or RN, pay commensurate with credential)
  • Familiarity with persons experiencing mental health issues, utilizing substances and having experienced incarceration preferred 
  • 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 counseling 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
  • Personal experience of incarceration or supervision by the Department of Corrections preferred
  • Lived experience with mental health and/or other life challenges will be considered an asset 

 

Compensation: 

  • Full Time, 35-40 hours per week
  • LPN: $22 – $28/hour
  • RN: $28 – $34/hour
  • $1000 Sign on Bonus

 

Benefits:

  • Medical, dental and vision insurance
  • Long Term Disability/Life Insurance
  • Paid Time Off (accrual of 210 hours per year to start)
  • All-Staff days off 
  • 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Longevity Recognition Rewards

 

To apply, please submit resume and cover letter to [email protected]