The Restoration Center (RC) Community Intervention Specialist (CIS) promotes the full integration and functioning of Persons Served (PS) needed to live successfully in the community by providing frontline, community-based care, crisis response, and rehabilitation support for individuals experiencing mental health conditions and/or substance use related challenges. The CIS also serves as a bridge connecting Persons Served by the Restoration Center and community partners, emergency services, and first responders.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:
• Ensures a trauma-informed environment that promotes safety and recovery. 
• Answers telephones and direct calls to proper party. Assist with and check phone messages. Maintain phone listings. 
• De-escalates active conflicts, manage emergency situations, and provide immediate on-the-ground 
support. 
• Connects clients or community members to housing, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, and victim services. 
• Promotes engagement, trauma informed and person served service delivery, strengths based, person first language, for all PS. 
• In close partnership with clinical leadership, designs and implements community-based, trauma-informed strategies to prevent violence and disruptive behavior. 
• Facilitates warm hand-offs to the Living Room and/or Sober Support areas by working closely with directors/managers/supervisors in addition to the front-line staff. 
• Collaborates around tracking client flow through the Restoration Center to increase accessibility; and problem-solves barriers to engagement and connection. 
• Communicates effectively with program staff, supervisors, clinicians, and emergency personnel as needed to ensure coordinated and seamless care. 
• Supports incident response efforts by gathering information, notifying appropriate parties, and completing required documentation. 
• Serves as a bridge between the public, local organizations, and legal or law enforcement agencies. 
• Maintains necessary documentation and records. 
• Actively participates in supervision and staff meetings. 
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Knowledge and Skills:
• Must possess excellent customer service skills. 
• Ability to develop and maintain satisfactory working relationships with employees and providers. 
• Superb interpersonal skills, enthusiasm, and commitment to clients. 
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment that is benefited by the independent successes of all staff members. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to develop effective documentation. 
• Demonstrated understanding of and competence in serving culturally, ethnically, and socially diverse populations. 
• Understanding of social determinants of health and commitment to crisis intervention in the context of whole-person care. 
• Understanding trauma, co-occurring disorders, mental health disorders, and substance use disorders strongly preferred.

Established in 1977, Vinfen is a nonprofit, health and human services organization and a leading provider of community-based services to individuals with mental health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and behavioral health challenges. Our services and advocacy promote the recovery, resiliency, habilitation, and self-determination of the people we serve. Vinfen's 3,500 dedicated employees are experienced, highly-trained professionals who provide a full range of supportive living, health, educational, and clinical services in over 550 sites throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. For more information about Vinfen, please visit www.vinfen.org/careers.

Our comprehensive and generous benefits package includes (for eligible employees):

• A fully funded 401(a), employer-sponsored retirement plan that requires no employee contribution as well as an employee-funded 403(b) plan
• First-rate Medical, Dental and Vision plans that are open all employees scheduled to work 30 hours per week or more. Plus, we offer a generous employer contribution toward the cost of medical insurance!
• Employer-paid Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Long-Term Disability Insurance (no cost to you!)
• Employer-paid Short-Term Disability Insurance for employees who qualify
• Flexible Spending Reimbursement Accounts (Health and Dependent care)
• Voluntary Term Life, Whole Life, Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Generous paid time off (Employees scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week).

My Job. My Community. My Vinfen.

Vinfen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Typical Requirements:
• 1-2 years’ experience in human services, preferably working in a behavioral health (mental health and/or substance use) community-based outpatient or an acute or diversionary behavioral health setting.

• Personal lived experience of mental health or substance use condition is strongly preferred.

• Applicants with linguistic, social, cultural, ethnic, racial demographics reflective of the community served strongly preferred.

Preferred /Required Education:
Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, criminal justice, or another related field is preferred. A high school diploma or equivalent is required. In some cases, experience may be substituted for academic training.

Driving Requirements:
May be called on to drive for Vinfen using either a Vinfen van or personal vehicle. A valid driver's license must be presented at the time of employment. Incumbents must be at least 21 years of age, have maintained a valid US driver's license for at least six months, and must be able to pass a driver's screening background check. If driving, must maintain a safe driving record, which is subject to annual checks. If using a personal vehicle, must possess and maintain adequate insurance.

Physical Effort:
Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, climb as this is a very physically active position.

Must be able to lift at least 25 pounds using proper lifting techniques or the use of a two-person lift.

Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment such as a calculator, copier, and printer.

Ability to sit, reach, climb stairs, and maneuver through narrow spaces or hallways. 
Ability to assist clients with tasks of daily living.

Ability to speak, hear, and communicate with clients, staff, and external representatives.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. 

Required Certifications/Trainings:
CPR within 2 weeks of hire
First Aid within 2 weeks of hire
CPAA required within 6 months of hire