Mental Health Relapse Counselor

**Business Unit**:Discovery Health**Function**:Case Management**Date**:19-Apr-2023**Key Purpose**:
To holistically review the needs of mental health users, to offer coaching and coordinate their care in the most appropriate setting, liaising with internal and external stakeholders.

**Guiding principles**:

- A commitment to culturally sensitive, human rights based, person-centred approaches;
- The inclusion of mental health across all levels of care, from promotion to rehabilitation, and across the lifespan;
- Focuses on community, family (including significant others) and individuals;
- Located in international guidelines, the framework of the _Mental Health Care Act No. 17 of 2002 _and other core South African legislation and mental health policies

**Key objectives and responsibilities**:

- Providing preventative, developmental counselling services and interventions;
- Screening and identification of mental health challenges;
- Containment of presenting difficulties, i.e. the alleviation of distress;
- Support to assist in the restoration of a previous/more adaptive level of functioning;
- Psycho-education and mental health promotion;
- Promotion of primary psychosocial wellbeing;
- Working with interdisciplinary professional teams; and
- Referral to appropriate professionals or other appropriate resources according to the guidelines of good practice in the health professions

**Key tasks**:

- Complete x number of calls a day
- Conduct screening for depression
- Enroll on mental health relapse prevention programme
- To document all member interactions as well as to ensure that all records are accurate and up-to-date
- Monitor patient progress through ongoing patient interaction and follow-up calls
- Counselling and education on self-management tools

**Competencies**:
The following competencies are required to be successful in the role:

- Compassion: Genuinely cares about people; is concerned about their work and non-work problems; is available and ready to help; is sympathetic to the plight of others not as fortunate’ demonstrates real empathy with the joys and pains of others.
- Customer Focus: Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customer; gets first-hand customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services; acts with customers in mind; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect.
- Internal Savvy: related well to all kinds of people -up, down and sideways. Inside and outside the organization, builds appropriate rapport, builds constructive and effective relationship; uses diplomacy and tact; can defuse even high-tense situations comfortably.
- Dealing with Paradox: Can act in ways that seem contradictory; is very flexible and adaptable when facing tough call; can combine seeing opposites like being compassionately tough, stand up for self without trampling others, set strong but flexible standards, can act differently depending upon the situation, is seen as balanced despite the conflicting demands of the situation.

**Qualifications and Experience**:
The following requirements are Essential:

- Matric
- Bachelor of Social Work or Registered nursing degree or Honours degree in Psychology Valid SANC registration
- Relevant membership with South African Nursing Council (SANC) or South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP) or Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) where required
- MS Office Suite
- 3 years counselling experience
- 2 years face to face or telephonic mental health counselling experience
- EMPLOYMENT EQUITY
The Company’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.