Mental Health Counselor

Summary:

The Therapist develops, coordinates, and facilitates all direct social services to patients and their families assigned and performs duties as directed by their manager. The Therapist will work in an acute care setting that includes partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient services.

Job Duties & Responsibilities:

Per program description, this job may include duties of cognitive behavioral therapies in addition to social services.

Provide social services to patients and their families/significant others

• Provide therapeutic treatment services to the individual, group, family and/or significant others.
• May provide individual treatment sessions with patients as indicated per the program and patient needs.
• Provide crisis intervention services as needed and assess for safety daily.
• Interact with patients, family members, significant others and referents with respect and dignity.
• Participate in psychoeducational support sessions with patient/family/significant others.
• Provide case management and therapeutic interventions to all assigned patients.
• Serve as patient advocate when a patient has a grievance, following the System policy and procedure.
• Adhere to materials provided to ensure clinical effectiveness and consistency. Manage patient/family expectations related to services provided. Initiate and maintain contact with referring providers, school, if applicable, and care team for patients.
• Implement goals and interventions as specific on the Care Plan, within the therapeutic component of the patient’s program.
• Ensure goals are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely).
• Ensure goals and interventions are patient specific and individualized according to patient diagnoses.
• Document progress according to the treatment plan.

Complete all documentation within required time

• Complete admissions documentation.
• Social Services Admission Assessment.
• Suicide Risk Assessment and collaboration with treatment team according to identified guidelines.
• Complete a safety plan (at Provider discretion for patients age 12 and under).
• Initial treatment goals and interventions on the Care Plan.
• Obtain necessary consent for release of records to access information that will assist in providing treatment or facilitating discharge, including coordination with referents and other mental health treatment providers.
• Complete ongoing treatment documentation, as required, according to program guidelines.
• Write clear, concise, collaborative, and obtainable treatment goals in the Treatment Plan.
• Document patient’s treatment status in medical record daily.
• Complete therapeutic documentation for group treatments including a description of the group and information about the patient’s engagement and participation. Update the Care Plan goals and interventions.
• Document contact notes for each conversation with outpatient provider, school, or parent.
• Summarize the patient’s progress and decision making from multidisciplinary team meetings in the master treatment plan each time the patient is officially staffed.
• For Inpatient and Residential only: Assist with coordinator of treatment director’s hold as needed and according to program policy and guidelines.
• Communicate the process to the team members.
• Document the necessary information in a thorough, detailed, and timely manner.
• Assist the physician with the necessary documentation.

Complete discharge documentation as required and on time

• Document the initial discharge plan in the medical record.
• Document discharge summary. Identify patient’s presenting problem, progress, current status and treatment recommendations.
• Contact outpatient provider(s), school and other stakeholders to discuss aftercare to ensure proper handoff.
• Report and document suspected cases of physical, sexual abuse and/or neglect according to the law in the state of employment and according to System policy and procedure.
• Implement understanding of the System policies and procedures.
• Implement understanding of the Mandatory Reporting in the state of employment.

Provide leadership and guidance in the implementation of clinical interventions

• Evaluate the outcome of interdisciplinary interventions and modify the Care Plan accordingly.
• Assist with the development and evaluation of treatment needs.
• Participate and/or facilitate interdisciplinary staffing for treatment planning, updating and progress review.

Communicate professionally and accurately

• Refer to and work with other departments and agencies as needed and according to Social Services policies.
• Report pertinent data to the attending provider and others on the treatment team, verbally or in writing as necessary, and use discernment in situations requiring immediate attention versus postponement.
• Communicate immediately difficult problems with referents, patients, family members/significant others and co-workers.
• Ask for supervision to assist with problem resolution, when appropriate.
• Attend and participate in all department meetings and provide feedback concerning departmental or clinical issues.

Demonstrate strong interdisciplinary approach, facilitating effective communication among

Departments

• Display a positive attitude and participate as a team member.
• Communicate in a respectful and assertive manner to treatment team members and other System personnel.
• Follow through with program philosophy.

Conduct self in a professional manner

• Demonstrate organizational skills that promote timely responses.
• Communicate with all individuals in a positive and professional manner.
• Identify concerns and provide input for resolution.
• Use solutions focused mindset in situations, and resolve individual issues with peers in a positive, calm manner.
• Promote positive team-oriented approach to patient care. Maintain a supportive and collaborative environment with all disciplines.
• Demonstrate a positive and professional attitude toward parties outside the facility (patients, families, visitors, vendors, etc.)
• Use courteous, cooperative, and respectful behavior when working with patients, families, physicians, visitors, and employees.
• Display leadership and positive role-modeling.
• Project a professional image in attire, grooming, and presentation.
• Display professionalism in all aspects of the position.
• Arrive on time, prepared for work responsibilities.
• Adhere to Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct, maintain confidentiality, and abide by professional license code of ethics.

Support changes in staffing/scheduling when program and patient care needs require

• Accept reassignment in a positive manner.
• Demonstrate willingness to adjust work schedule to meet patient and program needs.
• Recognize need for support, seek appropriate assistance when needed, and continually remain alert to peers who need assistance, and offer assistance when needed.
• Apply good practice principles to job duties.
• Complete orientation, annual competencies, educational requirements, and required training relevant to the position.
• Provide appropriate, timely documentation in the patient medical record. Attend and participate in staff meetings, group and individual supervision meetings, and in-services relevant to position.
• Participate in projects, tasks, and opportunities to improve skills and expand competency.
• Comply with the organization’s policies and procedures.
• Adhere to all established standards of practice.
• Participate in on-call phone rotation if applicable.
• Demonstrate acceptance and training of students/interns in the department as requested.
• Promote Mission and goals of the organization.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Participate in site committees

• Be punctual and prepared.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills and good organization skills.
• Actively participate in discussions, recognize, and contribute to activities leading to improvement.

Rogers Operating System (ROS)

• Gain understanding of the ROS and MDI process.
• Participate in the ROS program on an ongoing basis.
• Create and apply ROS projects that lead to improvement.
• Apply the ROS model to your department’s activities.
• Demonstrate measurable goals and achievement.
• Participate in daily huddles with team(s) assigned.
• Demonstrate understanding of Joint Commission, State, and other regulatory agency compliance regulations.
• Be knowledgeable in the application of standards relevant to outpatient behavioral health program.
• Increase knowledge and awareness of regulations and involve self in educating others.

Provide for patient safety and the safety of the facility

• Intervene appropriately to maintain patient safety.
• Communicate any patient safety concerns to the treatment team and document accordingly.
• Ensure patients are in appropriate areas at all times.
• Report any safety hazards promptly to the Director of Operations and/or Operations Manager.
• Document safety incidents via the incident reporting portal.
• Adhere to all System guidelines for safety.
• Follow emergency protocols.

Additional Job Description:

Physical/Mental Demands:

• Position involves exposure to aggressive/combative patients. Must be able to successfully complete aggression control training.
• Verbal and hearing ability required to interact with patients and employees. Numerical ability required to maintain records and operate a computer.
• Ability to plan, control and direct all aspects of employee relations. Tact required to deal effectively with employees and professional staff. Logical thinking and discretion required to make decisions in initiating and implementing policies and procedures and standards.
• Ability to read and communicate through written, verbal and auditory skills and abilities.
• Physical/mental ability to perform job duties as verified by a physical exam by a licensed physician, per post-employment physical.

Education/Training Requirements:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work, or related field, from an accredited school of Social Work Professional Counseling, or Family Therapy with experience in health care and in a psychiatric setting, preferred.
• In-training as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC-IT), Marriage and Family Therapist Training License (MFT-TL), Social Worker Training Certificate (SWTC), Advance Practice Social Work (APSW) or equivalent in state practicing.
• A SAC-IT, SAC, or CSAC required in WI. A substance abuse specialty authorization applicable to the state hired in is required.
• Working knowledge of therapeutic intervention and techniques for all age groups, as well as the dynamics of human growth and behavior.
• Per program description, this job may include duties of cognitive behavioral therapies in addition to social services.
• American Red Cross Professional Rescue is required within thirty (30) days of date of hire. Bi-annual re-certification is required.
• Formal training in the management of the aggressive patient (NCI) is required within sixty (60) days of date of hire. Annual re-certification is required.
• Attend all mandatory in-services and other in-services relevant to the position. Be responsible for all educational requirements and related obligations pertaining to the license of the program/unit license regulatory requirements governing the program(s).

The System also includes Rogers Behavioral Health Foundation, which supports patient care, programs, and research; and Rogers InHealth, an initiative that works to eliminate the stigma of mental health challenges.

EOE/MFDV

Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action – Rogers Behavioral Health (rogersbh.org)

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