COMET Mental Health Professional

Lifeline Connections is a community-based behavioral health organization that specializes in providing confidential and compassionate care to individuals who experience a substance use and/or mental health condition.

Our Vision

As the premier provider of substance use and mental health services in the Pacific Northwest, we are respected and the most trusted resource for behavioral health treatment and whole person care. We provide a comprehensive continuum of coordinated quality services, foster enduring relationships, and empower our communities to truly thrive.

Our Mission

Through superior customer service, high quality programs, and a well-trained and dedicated staff, we inspire hope and support lifesaving changes for people affected by substance use and mental health conditions.

We are looking to hire a Mental Health Professional Today

Pay Range: 25.00 - 35.00 Hourly Non-Exempt Position

MAJOR DUTIES: This member of the ACT multidisciplinary team has training in one of the mental health professions (e.g., nursing, social work, rehabilitation counseling, or psychology) and clinical skill and experience to assess, plan, develop, coordinate, and provide treatment, rehabilitation, and support services to program clients with severe and persistent mental illnesses under the clinical supervision of the team leader and the psychiatrist. Functions as a clinical member of the multidisciplinary team and provides treatment, rehabilitation, and clinical support services or may be designated by the team leader to function as the lead mental health professional, lead registered nurse, a team vocational specialist, or substance use specialist.

1. Provide service coordination (case management) for an assigned group of clients including coordinating and monitoring the activities of the individual treatment team; assume primary responsibility for developing, writing, implementing, evaluating and revising overall treatment goals and plans in collaboration with the client and the ITT; provide individual supportive therapy, psychotherapy, and symptom management, ensuring immediate changes are made in the treatment plans as clients’ needs change; educate and support clients’ families, and advocate for clients’ rights and preferences.

2. Conduct comprehensive assessment of psychiatric history (e.g., onset, course and effect of illness, past treatment and responses, and risk behaviors), mental status, and diagnosis; physical health and dental health; use of drugs or alcohol; education and employment; social development and functioning; activities of daily living (e.g., self-care, living situation, nutrition, money management); and family structure and relationships.

3. Acts as liaison and consult with community agencies and families to maintain coordination in the treatment process.

4. Perform shift management in coordination with other ACT shift managers according to established policies and procedures.

5. Provide on-call crisis intervention covering nighttime hours and serve as a backup to evening and weekend staff.

6. Document client progress to maintain a permanent record of client activity according to established methods and procedures.

7. Provide treatment, rehabilitation, and support services, with some interventions directed or performed by staff with specialty training and skills (e.g., vocational specialists).

8. Take the lead role or participate in providing substance use and treatment services.

9. Provide ongoing assessment of clients’ mental illness symptoms and clients’ response to treatment. Make appropriate changes in treatment plans to ensure immediate and appropriate interventions are provided in response to changes in mental status or behavior which put clients at risk (e.g., suicidality).

10. Provide symptom education to enable clients to identify their mental illness symptoms.

11. Provide direct clinical services including individual supportive therapy and psychotherapy to clients on an individual, group, and family basis in the office and in community settings to teach behavioral symptom management techniques to alleviate and manage symptoms not reduced with medication and to promote personal growth and development by assisting clients to adapt to and cope with internal and external stresses.

12. Provide individual and group treatment in the office and in community settings in a stage-based treatment model that is non-confrontational, considers interactions of mental illness and substance abuse, and has client-determined goals.

13. Coordinate with outside inpatient services to detoxify clients and establish linkage to outpatient treatment, self-help programs (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous), outpatient services, and residential facilities.

14. Take a lead role or participate in the provision of rehabilitation services.

15. Provide individual vocational-supportive counseling to enable clients to identify vocational strengths and problems, establish vocational or career goals and plans to reach them, and recognize and target symptoms of mental illness that interfere with work.

16. Plan and provide work-related supportive services, such as assistance with grooming and personal hygiene, securing of appropriate clothing, wake-up calls, and transportation.

17. Teach job-seeking skills.

18. Develop individualized jobs based on clients’ needs, abilities, and interests.

19. Conduct on-the-job performance assessments and evaluations, regular work review sessions with clients and their employers, on-the-job support, and crisis-assistance contacts.

20. Perform job coaching, problem solving, and support on and off the job site.

21. Coordinate with state vocational rehabilitation and other employment services.

Position Requirements:

1. Post-secondary school education and training is required, including internships and other supervised practical experiences in a clinical or rehabilitation setting with persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses.

2. Must be licensed or certified to work in the field, abide by a code of ethical and practice standards, and be committed to a process of lifetime knowledge and skills development.

3. People with master’s or doctoral degrees in nursing, social work, rehabilitation counseling, or psychology are eligible as are registered occupational therapists.

4. Must have a strong commitment to the right and ability of each person with a severe and persistent mental illness to live in normal community residences; work in market jobs; and have access to helpful, adequate, competent, and continuous supports and services.

5. Skills and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses and respect for client rights and personal preferences in treatment are essential.

6. Must have a valid driver’s license for the state in which the program operates.

GUIDELINES:

This position requires that the incumbent meet all educational and supervised postgraduate experience requirements for a Mental Health Professional as defined in WAC 246-341;

COMPLEXITY:

The incumbent provides individual therapy, group therapy, case management and diagnostic services to clients who differ widely in age and socioeconomic status and who may possess a variety of chronic and serious social, behavioral and psychological problems. Strong clinical skills, sound judgment, and creativity are required to help implement and deliver treatment services that will meet the complex needs of the clients.

PERSONAL CONTACTS:

Contacts are with members of the treatment team, clients, significant others of the consumers, representatives of various community agencies specializing in the treatment of chemical abuse and mental illness, and related community representatives including hospital personnel, lawyers, probation officers, and other court officials. All personal contacts are carried out in accordance with federal and state laws dealing with the confidentiality of client records.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the essential functions of the job, the employee is regularly required to sit, speak clearly, hear and use hands and fingers to manipulate writing utensils and keys on a keyboard. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands or arms, stoop, kneel, crouch or lift and/or move maximum of 15 lbs. The employee may be required to effectively operate an automobile on a regular basis.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Working hours are spent indoors in offices or meeting rooms or in the community meeting with consumers in their homes or health clinics. Occasional supervision of outdoor activities, visits to community agencies, and participation in staff retreats and staff development activities may be required.