Resident Advocate

About Specialized Treatment Facility
The mission of Specialized Treatment Facility (STF) is to promote and strengthen the mental health and the education of up to 48 adolescent males and females who are experiencing behavioral difficulties in their homes, schools, and communities. Employees are charged with the responsibility of furthering STF’s mission by exhibiting the core values that are at its heart: Teamwork, Respect, Compassion, Integrity, and Safety.

Specialized Treatment Facility employs milieu therapy as the foundation for the treatment of its residents. Milieu therapy is a planned treatment environment in which everyday events and interactions are therapeutically designed for the purpose of enhancing social skills and building confidence. This therapy uses common structures familiar to all children, such as daily routines, consistent rules and activities.
 
Summary of the Job

• The Youth Services Worker I (Resident Advocate) provides support to Resident Living as well as advocates for and investigates complaints and concerns submitted by residents.
• The Resident Advocate assists adolescents who have been diagnosed with a mental disorder.
• The Resident Advocate plays a very important role in our program and anyone that fills this role needs to understand and believe in our mission.
• The Resident Advocate works very closely with our residents in the program and their goal is to see them through a successful stay with us.
• The Resident Advocate strives to provide a high level of customer service to our residents at all times by investigating complaints and concerns within the proper channels to substantiate or refute claims while maintaining professional boundaries and being unbiased.
• The goal of the Resident Advocate is to ensure the security and safety of the residents in all aspects of care, carry out program guidelines and schedules, handle crisis situations, and assist residents as needed.
• The Resident Advocate is immediately supervised by the Resident Living Director and reports to the Program Director in regards to resident advocacy.

• Collaborates with healthcare professionals to plan treatment for adolescents served. Maintains certifications in crisis management techniques, such as Mandt and Ukeru, CPR and first aid.
• They maintain a valid driver license and liability insurance to be a driver of a state vehicle.
• This position is also the Resident Advocate to act as representative of individuals receiving services whose rights are alleged to have been violated.
• As Resident Advocate, you will retrieve, process, follow up, and resolve resident requests and complaints.
• You will ensure listed resident rights are adhered to and protected; track resident requests/complaints, including resolutions in a database; create and provide resident request/complaint summary and trend reports to required management groups, including Human Rights Advocacy Committee (HRAC); act as STF’s liaison with Disability Rights Mississippi; and make daily advocate rounds.
• When warranted by the nature of a grievance, provide information to and/or collaborate with other administrative, clinical and/or investigative staff to resolve an issue.
• Will serve as the recording secretary for the HRAC, which includes coordinating quarterly meetings, organizing reports, recording minutes, and completing and submitting report to designated Department of Mental Health staff.
• When supporting Resident Living, you will provide for the needs of residents, maintaining the confidentiality, professionalism, and policies of the program when working with residents; log and document appropriate information by the end of each shift; perform necessary program operations, including assisting Resident Living staff with breaks, transport of residents, supervision of residents, but primarily attending to resident advocacy related tasks in a timely manner.
• Coordinate with other departments within program, as needed.
• All STF employees are responsible for reading, understanding, and adhering to all policies, protocols, and memorandums. Universal Precautions and Infection Control policies must be adhered to by all STF employees.

• Requires a high school diploma or high school equivalency.
• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, criminal justice, or related field preferred.
• 0-3 years of experience working in a residential program with adolescents with mental health and behavioral issues preferred.