Outpatient Clinical Intern at Institute for Health – Massachusetts

Program/Department: Promise

Position Type: Intern Role, UNPAID

Location: Boston, Mattapan

Reports to: Director of Promise

About IHR: The Institute for Health and Recovery (IHR) is a statewide service, research, policy, program development and capacity building agency. IHR designs its services based on an understanding of the impact of trauma. IHR’s CARF accredited treatment programs provide holistic interventions for hard-to-reach and high-risk individuals and families. IHR’s mission, since our founding in 1990, has been to develop and support a comprehensive continuum of care for families, individuals, youth, and pregnant and parenting people affected by alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, violence/trauma, mental health challenges and other health issues, while advancing principles of health equity and social justice. Our work is focused on addressing and eradicating inequities in our health care, economic, and justice systems, especially as they disproportionately affect women and people of color. We are committed to providing services and creating communities that mitigate the effects of substance use, mental illness, and trauma.

Summary Statement: The Outpatient Clinical Intern will provide home-and clinic-based behavioral health counseling to individuals, including pregnant and parenting women affected by alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, violence/trauma, mental health challenges and other health issues. Promise seeks a committed Master’s-level, first or second year interns for social work, mental health counseling, or related fields.

Strong candidates will have a demonstrated commitment to working with individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds, and who are faced with a variety of clinical and socioeconomic needs. Creativity, responsibility, empathy, perseverance, and excellent written and oral communication skills are important qualities for effective interns at Promise.

Essential Functions:

• Provide trauma-informed, family-centered home-and community-based treatment to 4-8 individuals and their families impacted by substance use and mental health needs.
• Plan and cofacilitate virtual and personal group therapy sessions.
• Assess strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences and complete comprehensive bio-psycho-social assessments.
• Develop individualized service and treatment plans addressing current functioning, substance use, mental health symptoms, trauma, relapse prevention, and recovery support.
• Support clients to identify and access community services, natural support, and other resources
• Collaborate and coordinate care with other service providers and natural supports involved with the client, including attending meetings, as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date clinical and billing records and reports
• Meet weekly with supervisor for clinical and administrative supervision
• Use cloud-based systems for communication with IHR’s site office, including shared calendars, timesheets, and supervisor check-ins.
• Attend weekly team meetings and monthly agency staff meetings.
• Assessing Client Needs
  1. Interviewing clients and performing assessments under the supervision of professional staff to determine client needs, including psychiatric, social, emotional, educational, and vocational needs;
  2. Thorough records collection and coordination with relevant collateral providers.
  3. Developing and maintaining competency in assessing and meeting the needs of every IHR client.
  4. Providing crisis intervention to clients as needed under the supervision of professional staff.
• Developing and Implementing Service Plans
  1. Developing clinical treatment and service plans under the supervision of professional staff;
  2. Implementing treatment plans through individual and family counseling sessions utilizing a range of evidence-based interventions.
  3. Familiarizing with relevant community service providers and the range of government benefits that may be available to clients and their families, and counseling clients on accessing these benefits and services;
  4. Making referrals, finding placements, and assisting with logistics and enrollment to help clients and their families access needed services and benefits;
  5. Maintaining regular contact with programs providing services to clients, monitoring service quality and client engagement;
  6. Evaluating client progress towards treatment goals, and counseling clients to help ensure that goals are met.
• Communication, Presentation and Documentation
  1. Building and maintaining strong relationships of trust with clients.
  2. Maintaining regular contact with clients
  3. Thoroughly documenting all work and all information gathered;
  4. Performing other tasks and duties consistent with the experience and expertise of a clinical intern, as directed by the supervising clinician or by IHR’s managing director or executive director.

Clinical interns must perform all duties under the supervision of an experienced, licensed, professional clinician in accordance with applicable law, ethical rules, and the performance standards.

Clinical interns must act in accordance with the code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers and IHR. Interns will receive a minimum of one hour per week of supervision from a licensed member of the professional clinical staff, in addition to weekly group supervision and monthly training opportunities.

• Enrollment in an accredited master’s level clinical program and independent practice insurance as required by the educational institution.
• Previous clinical experience or interest in working with people who have substance use disorders or co-occurring disorders.
• Previous experience or interest in facilitating psychoeducational or support groups.
• Familiarity with community-based resources especially in the Greater Boston area.
• Experience with home-based services, community outreach, and case management.
• Exceptional time management skills, with ability to manage caseload and schedule.
• Strong organizational and record-keeping skills, particularly with maintaining Electronic Health Records and communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to work independently and as a team.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse cultural groups.
• Bi-lingual/bi-cultural candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Car ownership, or reliable transportation, with a valid driver’s license and insurance
• Willingness to submit to a background check
• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.

Competencies:

• Clear and effective communication
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work effectively in teams
• Self-motivated and independent
• Problem-solving skills
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Commitment to ongoing development and learning
• Dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position include talking, hearing, sitting, standing, walking, lifting, and using hands for activities such as grasping, handling, and reaching. These physical and mental demands are essential for the successful execution of job responsibilities. Reasonable accommodation will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.

IHR seeks to create welcoming, inclusive and accessible environments for our staff and the people we serve. We welcome and celebrate the diverse social identities of our staff. We recognize the importance of having staff who reflect the identities of the diverse communities that we serve, and we make efforts to hire from within these communities. We are proud to offer an inclusive, recovery friendly, and supportive work environment, and we welcome, and value lived experience of recovery.