Client Advocate - Peer Support; Orangeburg

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people's lives? Join our team at the Office of Mental Health where we are dedicated to providing compassionate and accessible care to our community. We are seeking a Client Advocate I for our Peer Support Program who is motivated to help individuals and families navigate life's challenges and achieve long-term wellness. If you want to use your skills to build a healthier, more resilient community, we encourage you to apply.

This position is located at Orangeburg Area Mental Health Center 2319 St. Matthews Road, Orangeburg, SC 29118.

Position will be under direct supervision of the Program Coordinator II for the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Services Program. This is a single fixed point of responsibility for treatments, rehabilitation, and support needs for patients with mental illness.

• Provide direct services through coaching, mentoring and consultation to the patient to promote recovery, self-advocacy and self-direction. Promote wellness management strategies, including delivering manualized interventions, Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) or Illness Management and Recovery.
• Assist patients in developing Psychiatric Advanced Directives. Model recovery values, attitudes, beliefs and personal action to encourage wellness and resilience.
• Assist patients in developing Psychiatric Advanced Directives. Models' recovery values, attitudes, beliefs, and personal action to encourage wellness and resilience.
• Maintain medical records documentation standards with QA, DMH and CARF policies and procedures. Document services collaboratively with the patient as appropriate.
• Provide consultation to Treatment Team members to assist in understanding recovery and the role of the CPSS, promoting a culture in which patients' points of view and preferences are recognized, understood, respected, and integrated into treatment.
• Serve as an active member of the OMH treatment teams, which includes facilitating the IPOC process for patients assigned to them. Regularly participate in the daily team meetings and treatment planning meetings. Ensure at least a monthly staffing of each patient that they serve.
• Will provide patients with satisfaction surveys to measure the patient's own perception of care, access to service, and improve the quality of treatment.
• Will adhere to policies and procedures according to Corporate Compliance, Fire and Safety, and CARF. Shall comply with South Carolina Department of Mental health Compliance Plan and all legal responsibilities and requirements in performing their job duties.
• Complete all annual required trainings to include Safety, MAPS, Affairs, and clinical trainings. Maintain CPSS certification. Demonstrate adherence to CARF standards, and OMH and Center policies and Procedures.

• A high school diploma and relevant human services or social services experience. A bachelor's degree may be substituted for the required experience.
• Lived an experience and a personal recovery story specific to primary mental illness.
• Bilingual abilities in English and Spanish (or another language) are a plus.
• Ability to lift 5 lbs. and operate a state vehicle, able to stand, walk, reach, pull, bend, climb stairs, move from one area to another.
• Position is considered essential and may be called back during crisis/disasters/emergencies.

• Will be required to take MAPS Training face to face every 2 years and every year through the SCEIS training portal.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment. Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children.  for additional information.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available
• Retirement benefit choices*
  • State Retirement Plan
  • State Optional Retirement Program

* Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.