Program Therapist

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Thrive Behavioral Health is to provide quality mental health services to individuals and families with a focus on reducing traditional barriers to accessing treatment and ensuring a high level of collaboration with our community partners.

We are committed to treating patients and their families with the highest regard and respect for patients to work toward reaching their highest growth potential in their therapeutic process. This is accomplished through the strict adherence to the highest ethical standards of care and policies and procedures set forth by the Maryland State Department of Health and the Joint Commission.

• Thrive Behavioral Health ensures all clients are treated with compassion, respect, and dignity regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit based factors.
• Thrive Behavioral Health employees are competent and responsible personnel who adhere to a strict code of professional ethics which include but are not limited to the prohibition of fraternization with patients, exploitation of patients, or any criminal behaviors.
• Thrive Behavioral Health provides clients with accurate and complete information regarding the available services including the program rules, regulations, goals and objectives of the program.
• Appropriate provision or referral to alternative treatment modalities is made at any time before, during, or after treatment if they are requested or the clients needs are out of the scope of our practice.
• Thrive Behavioral Health will ensure that discharge from treatment is conducted in accordance with Maryland COMAR and the Joint Commission standards.
• Thrive Behavioral Health adheres to both COMAR and Joint Commission environment of care standards.
• Thrive Behavioral Health will take all necessary and appropriate measures to maintain individual client records and information in a confidential and professional manner.
• Thrive Behavioral Health strives to maintain positive relations with the surrounding community and pursues every reasonable action to encourage responsible behaviors and community safety.
  

SUMMARY

The therapist at Thrive Behavioral Health is responsible for providing mental health treatment to patients in the outpatient and the off-site program. As part of a multidisciplinary team, the therapist will perform direct services including individual, family and group therapy, assessments, consultations and crisis interventions within the scope of the respective individuals license.

AGE/PATIENT POPULATIONS (S) SERVED

Age of Patient Population Served: Children (3 -18 years old) Adult (19 years old & up)

Populations Served: Persons meeting the DSM 5 criteria for mental health disorders and individuals with co-occurring psychiatric illness

EXPECTATIONS OF ALL STAFF

1. Adheres to all Thrive Behavioral Health Policies and Procedures.

2. At all times, conducts self in a manner that represents Thrive Behavioral Health values.

3. Maintains a positive and respectful attitude with all work-related contacts.

4. Communicates regularly with supervisor about departmental and Thrive Behavioral Health concerns.

5. Consistently reports to work and meetings on time, prepared to perform the duties of the position.

6. Meets productivity standards and performs duties as workload necessitates, including two (2) evenings until approximately 7:30-8:00 pm, unless otherwise approved.

7. Consistently demonstrates an accurate understanding and application of his/her specific role in the surveillance, prevention, and control of infections to children, families, visitors, and staff according to Thrive Behavioral Health policies and procedures.

8. Promotes a safe environment through:

• Performing duties in a manner that upholds OSHA standards
• Following infection control policies and procedures
• Adhering to facility and department safety policies
• Reporting all potential safety risks
• Completing incident reports in a timely manner as defined in Thrive Behavioral Healths policies and procedures
• Supporting company health and infection control policies
• Responding correctly to codes and drills
• Utilizing supplies in a cost effective manner
  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Keeps abreast of current literature and developments in the field and attend or complete required agency trainings.

2. Timely enters clinical documentation using electronic medical records (EMR) software. 48 hours for clinical notes and 72 hours for Diagnostic Evaluations.

3. Ensures to use the utmost of care in protecting the confidentiality of client records in accordance with State and Federal laws.

4. Ensures client and family involvement in treatment planning. Provides ongoing support and consultation to families and guardians of client.

5. Provides professional and ethical therapy to patients in treatment through group, individual counseling, family counseling and education.

6. Documents service notes in an accurate manner and in compliance with agency policy and procedures, including writing objective progress notes, discharge summaries, Individual Treatment Plans, and other timely status reports as requested by supervisor and according to COMAR and Joint Commission standards.

7. Consults with treatment team members and other internal and external professionals working with the client to discuss and coordinate services.

8. Understands and adheres to Thrive Behavioral Health compliance standards as they appear in Thrive Behavioral Health Corporate Compliance Policy, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy.

9. Stays aware of all pertinent federal, state and Thrive Behavioral Health regulation, laws, and policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified.

10. Engages in clinically and ethically appropriate termination with clients upon discharge from Thrive Behavioral Health.

11. Performs other duties and tasks required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

1. Knowledge of industry standards: organization, theory, principles, and research processes, accreditation and regulatory standards, ability to assess clinical care requirements based on psychotherapeutic and human development principles, scope of practice and regulatory standards.
2. Treatment knowledge: Provides therapeutic treatment to assigned caseload consistent with treatment plans and conducts effective therapy sessions on a regular basis using appropriate modalities.
3. Able to work effectively with the client to implement solutions and model appropriate behaviors.
4. Professional readiness: Issues related to self-awareness, diversity, ethics and continuing education.
5. Knowledge of PC software programs, including Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook is preferred.
6. Understanding: code of ethics for respective profession and seeks consultation with supervisor when necessary.
7. Written and oral communication skills; must be able to concentrate on work amid distractions such as noise, conversations and foot traffic.
8. Must be able to work independently with little direct supervision in an unstructured environment with multiple demands.
9. Reading and writing level that can clearly express or understand complex concepts, assessments, directions and processes or sequences of events-level equivalent to at least four years of college.
10. Ability to represent the program well in interactions both inside and outside the facility
    

11. Working knowledge of DSM 5 diagnoses & has the ability to asses and diagnose according to DSM 5 diagnostic criteria.

AGE SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES (CHILDREN, 3-18 YEARS, & ADULT 19 years old and up)

1. Demonstrates the ability to systemically collect, record and analyze data and other relevant interactive social systems, including mental status, special precautions (suicidality, homicidality, elopement); physical problems/medical acuity (withdraw and nutritional needs); and ethical concerns (social, religious, or cultural needs).
2. Initiates/develops a treatment plan with specific goals and interventions unique to the needs of the patient.
3. As guided by the treatment plans, implements appropriate interventions that promote, maintain, or restore physical and mental health and restores developmental progression in childhood & adulthood.
4. Recommends special precautions (such as safety planning or crisis intervention) for children & adults, as needed.
5. Evaluates the response of the child/adult/family to interventions in order to revise the plan, including discharge criteria.
6. Knowledgeable of normative developmental milestones in accordance with chronological age.
   

MINIMUM JOB REQUIRMENTS

Education, Training, and Experience Required:

1. Active, unrestricted and independent to practice in Maryland as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC), or Licensed Graduate Marriage and Family Therapist (LGMFT).

2. Prefer CPR/FFA Certification.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS:

• The essential functions of this job include the following physical and intellectual demands:
  
  • Frequently sit, stand, and or walk
  • Regularly driving a motor vehicle
  • Frequently hearing, seeing and speaking
  • Regularly typing
  • Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
  • The ability to work in a fast pace environment with potential for stressful situations
  • Comprehends and performs job duties at a reasonable pace while using attention to detail
  • Concentrates, formulates plans, and makes decisions
    
  
  
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The organization cannot control all environments in which a therapist may encounter outside of the Thrive office space, however, staff are encouraged to notify management to determine if there are reasonable options available. Examples to consider include but are not limited to, temperature/humidity of the site, places to sit while providing therapy, smoking and/or pets in the home, and a private environment to provide therapy. You may be exposed to other allergens.
• Due to the nature of the industry, working in the evenings, approximately 7:30-8:00 pm, may be expected
  

EEOC STATEMENT:

It is our policy to abide by all Federal and State laws, as well as, the requirements of 41 CFR 60_1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5 (a), prohibiting discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non-merit based factors.