Family Intervention Specialist (VSP)

Position Summary:

The Family Intervention Specialist serves as a member of the Prevention team of WestCare Tennessee and works to ensure the delivery of quality services to the individuals served in the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant (SSPGF). This role provides community workshops, individual service plans, assessments, and health and wellness checks (whole health activities) to eligible veterans and their families in suicide prevention, awareness, and community resource linkage. The Family Intervention Specialist position will have designated counties to serve from the following ten counties list: Greene, Hamblen, Cocke, Jefferson, Sevier, Knox, Morgan, Roane, Loudon, and Cumberland counties.

Essential Job Functions:

• Support program alignment with the Veterans Affairs (VA) National Strategy for Preventing Veteran Suicide (2018)
• Assist and support case management activities after referral sent by Case Manager with eligible veteran and/or family.
• Assist eligible veterans with accessing VA benefits.
• Refer and coordinate with the VA to help streamline care and services for eligible veterans.
• Schedule appointments with eligible veterans and/or family to complete a Personal Health Inventory and Safety Plan documentation.
• Review recovery treatment plan and assessments.
• Schedule and lead group therapy sessions for veterans and families per month in designated service area.
• Schedule and lead additional group sessions for veterans and families in art, music, dance or other types of therapeutic activities in designated county service area.
• Schedule and lead workshops covering topics such as Financial Education, Gun Safety, Veteran Training, Moving Forward, My Recovery Plan, Anger and Irritability Management Sills (AIMS), Parenting for veterans, etc. for veterans and families in designated service area.
• Schedule recreational activities for eligible veterans and their families once or twice per month in designated service area in coordination with coworkers.
• Develop and maintain community service directory for veterans and their families in designated service area and share with coworkers.
• Maintain and input notes in WestCare Tennessee tracking systems from compiled paperwork and activities from eligible veterans and/or their families.
• Attend necessary monthly integrated staff team meetings in coordinating the care and services for each enrolled veteran and their families.
• Maintain strong professional relationships with veteran organizations and other community agencies to receive referrals and utilize office space for meetings and group activities.
• Submit weekly workplan/report on activities to Project Director and program Research Assistant on group therapy, group, workshops, and recreational activities.
• Work closely with Project Director, Research Assistant and WestCare Foundation Evaluation team regarding the collection of data and reporting of program outcomes.
• Attend in-person and virtual program conferences and meetings, community meetings, and events as deemed necessary.
• Submit completed trainings and professional development trainings to the program Research Assistant for tracking purposes.

Essential Qualifications:

Certifications/Licenses:

• Previous military employment preferred.
• Valid driver's license is required.

Education:

• Graduation from an accredited two-year Community College or a four-year College/University with a degree in Communication, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology, or related human services field to the position is preferred.
• Current and/or previous experience in a veteran service-related field of at least 3-5 years will be considered in lieu of a degree.
• High School Diploma or equivalent is required.

Experience and Competencies:

• Basic knowledge of veteran services, behavioral health, social services, judicial system, law enforcement or related industry.
• Experience in developing and facilitation of workshops.
• Excellent communication skills including public speaking and group facilitation/training.
• Some experience with performing outreach and marketing.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion.
• Ability to work well in a team environment.
• Ability to adhere to the highest standard of ethical conduct and confidentiality.
• Professional appearance and demeanor.
• Must be culturally/linguistically sensitive to populations served.
• Research and evaluate data.
• Experience with using data tracking systems.
• Ability to work in different program systems in providing day to day operations.
• Ability to stay highly organized and maintain time management.
• Ability to utilize a computer and software that includes Microsoft 365.

Working Conditions:

• Work is primarily performed in an office or indoor setting.
• Some outdoor activities and travel will be required.
• Some travel will be required to trainings and conferences.
• Regular and prompt attendance is required throughout employment.

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or

without accommodation:

Physical Demands:

• Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to fifty pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and hand, and proper utilization by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files).
• Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, the public, and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or promptly.
• Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.
• Requires seeing: Clarity of vision including proper eyewear at 20 inches or less and at distance.
• The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues. However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

Mental Demands:

• Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.
• Requires the ability to work and cooperate with co-workers, managers, and the public at all levels in order to exchange ideas, information, instructions, and opinions.