Vocational rehabilitation Counselor/Mental Health Service

Narmeen H.Iftikhar

**-** **** ****** * floor Jackson Heights NY 11370. Cell: 917-***-**** **************@*******.***

OBJECTIVE: To obtain and secure a position as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with 10 years of experience.

Areas of expertise includes: mental health, social services, psychiatric rehab and co-occurring diagnosis.

EDUCATION:

Hofstra University Hempstead, NY

MS.ED in Rehab Counseling/ mental health May, 2009

Certification: CRC

VESID Case Manager Garden City, NY

Internship Sept. 2008- June 2009

Maintained caseload with supervisor’s assistance

Consisting of substance abuse and MRDD consumers and other

Disabilities, attended CAMS training, gained experience in

Community resources, mental health, knowledge of VESID system,

Psycho-social & substance abuse. VESID case notes, writing statuses,

SED procedures and policies, transition services, designating diagnosis,

Psych testing and assessments. Knowledge of ADA and The rehab act of 1973.

St. John’s University Jamaica, NY

Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education May, 2001

EMPLOYMENT:

4/8/2013-Present Elmhurst Hospital Psychiatry, f/t:35 hours

ACT Team /Rehabilitation Counselor.

• Performing psychosocial assessments.

• Responsible for maintaining update case records.

• Communicating and collaborating with an inter-disciplinary as well as with outside providers.

• Facilitating referrals to appropriate sources.

• Conduct individual counseling sessions.

• Conduct field visits to ensure client’s progress and compliance with the treatment.

• Assist clients in pursuing treatment plan goals and specifically voc/ed goals.

• Benefit counseling.

• Assessing clients for vocational /educational services.

• Assist clients to explore substance abuse and mental health related stressors via counseling.

• Connecting/ referring client with disability appropriate resources and services

• Assessing community base resources helpful to client.

• Keep in touch with new vocational job placement trends.

• Attend continuing education trainings and home study for self -advancement.

• Consult with medical staff in regards with client’s psychotropic medication.

• Provide weekly AOT reports to OMH.

• Participate in staff trainings provided by OMH/FIT institute.

• Keep an ongoing case note record of visits and case contacts.

4/18/2011-3/30/13 Service Coordinator/ Vocational Specialist.

Pathways to Housing, ACT Team. f/t :35 hours

• Collaborate with client in the formulation of a comprehensive service plan.

• Provide outreach, case management, assistance with applying SSI, entitlements, clinical case work

counseling.

• Assist consumers with their monthly budget.

• Facilitate vocational/educational assessment for all clients in the program.

• Provide individual vocational counseling and support.

• Assist clients to prepare for competitive employment, explore academic programs and volunteer

opportunities, conduct job search online.

• Explore community base and in house employment assistance for consumer.

• Work with consumers to discuss current barriers to achieve competitive employment/education.

• Conduct home visits and hospital visits.

• Perform related work as assign.

• Keep current client contact and case notes in Foot Hold.

07/10- 4/13/2011 Supervisor, f/t :235hours

Mental Health Association of New York City

Major duties and responsibilities:

As a Supervisor of the Fast Track Programs (Bronx & MPC), my responsibilities were as follows’

• I was responsible for the administrative and direct supervisory oversight of the Bronx ACE, MPC ACE

programs, and VESID with the ultimate goals of assisting seriously and persistent mentally ill individuals to make the

transition to community based employment.

Reported to the Director of Adult Services. Ensured the ACE programs met contractual

•

requirements, submitted LOS and other required monthly forms on time

Hired and supervised all direct service employees for the ACE program.

•

Introduced new approaches to service delivery in the ACE program based on state of the art

•

psychiatric rehabilitation practices and informed psychiatric rehabilitation values and principles.

Developed, implemented and maintained administrative reporting systems that effectively

•

measure program outcomes, to ensure contractual compliance and monitor program quality.

Ensured compliance with the Mental Health Association’s policies and procedures. Other

•

duties as assigned by the Director of Adult Services.

03/02 – 07/10 Family and Children’s Association Case Planner, Hempstead, NY f/t : 35 hours.

Maintained focus on prevention of at risk youth and children and families. Perform ongoing

•

assessment & psychosocial in order to plan services

Coordinate treatment plans through the provision of services

•

Working with various agencies e.g., chemical addiction, Early Intervention, mental health,

•

illegal aliens, CPS, PINS, probation etc.

Keep day-to-day activities log on each family

•

Perform semi-monthly on site home visits to assess and evaluate family needs

•

Provide referrals for additional services including parenting skills. Write and send FASP,

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case notes to Nassau County DSS. Evaluate family’s needs Provide casework counseling and

attended meetings on client’s behalf.

10/05 – 09/09 Interfaith Nutrition Network Roosevelt, NY

Per Diem Support

Provided daily shelter functions, log of guest activities, safety for all occupants

SKILLS: Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and Internet

LANGUAGES: English, Spanish, Urdu and Hindi

VOLUNTEER: Inner City Games counselor at St. John’s University

REFERENCES: Upon request.

Contact this candidate