Masters Level Therapist

Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority is seeking a highly skilled and compassionate Masters Level Therapist to join our team. As a key member of our Behavioral Health department, you will provide comprehensive clinical assessments and treatment services for patients with mental health and substance abuse disorders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide clinical screening and comprehensive clinical assessment, treatment plan development, and provision of individual, group, and family therapy using evidence-based models.
• Refer and facilitate patients to high-level care, walk-in assessment, emergency, crisis intervention, and consultation and education services as needed.
• Serve individuals in various locations in the community as assigned, following policies and procedures developed for that unit.
• Collaborate with the treatment team to conduct comprehensive clinical assessments and develop treatment plans.
• Provide counseling to patients and families in matters directly related to patient care.
• Develop and implement discharge plans, follow-up care, and transfers to other behavioral health facilities.
• Responsible for comprehensive clinical assessment, development of treatment plans, recommendations for intervention, supervision of treatment plan implementation, and case management referral.
• Participate in clinical treatment team meetings to review data and adjust treatment plans as needed for client care.
• Responsible for conducting individual and family therapy sessions for identified behavioral health and substance use issues.
• Provide walk-in access to services, triaging clients to determine priority, emergent, urgent, routine, and working with the team to ensure client is served in a timely manner.
• Adhere to ASAM criteria when referring clients to appropriate levels of care for substance use services.
• Depending on the location of services, maintain knowledge of all policies and procedures relevant to the respective location.
• Participate as a member on the Cherokee Tribal Drug Court Team and provide updates, reports, and recommendations to the Drug Court team.
• Assist with observed urine drug screens as outlined in Analenisgi policies and procedures.
• Attend supervision sessions relevant to specific certifications, credentials, and/or licensure, such as LCSW, LCMHC, CDAC LCAS, CCS.
• Collaborate with other agencies as advocates for clients, such as Family Safety Program, Tribal Court, Probation and Parole, Drug Court.
• Follow the provisions contained in all applicable privacy/confidentiality policies, procedures, and practices for maintenance and release of patient records and clinical information, including EBCI, CIHA, IHS, DHHS, HIPAA, JCAHO, 42CFR, or other licensing bodies.
• Responsible for attending clinical staffing as an integral component of a treatment team, facilitating the discussion of patient data, and formulating changes to the treatment plan.
• Develop individual treatment plans, ensuring they are consistent with patient diagnosis, agency quality assurance guidelines, and level of care policies.
• Assist in attaining and maintaining accreditation by the Joint Commission of Health Care Organizations.
• Participate in department/program meetings to review and identify opportunities to improve the program and treatment provided, and recommend changes when problems are identified.
• Assist and/or make direct referrals to a higher level of care.
• Develop partnerships with community agencies and outside organizations to coordinate patient care.
• Timely record all treatment and clinically significant events in the medical record according to CIHA policies and procedures.
• Provide written, telephonic, and face-to-face consultation services to various persons and organizations involved in the patient's care, including schools, courts, probation officers, physicians, hospitals, medical care providers, law enforcement officers, social services, and community agencies.
• Represent CIHA and the behavioral health program at regular team meetings for progress review and during emergency meetings dealing with high-risk situations.
• Participate in community planning and implementation of programs.
• Expected to obtain continuing education through in-service training and access to tuition payment for approved training seminars and workshops.
• Participate in on-call service rotation.
• Provide clinical care and support to identified patients in other departments at Cherokee Indian Hospital.
• Cover other CIHA clinical locations when assigned, such as the Justice Center.
• Learn and effectively utilize an electronic medical record and other software required for operation in the CIHA system.
• Meet the productivity standard established for this primary therapist position, providing sufficient billable/reimbursable services.
• Operate in a support role as assigned in the Beauty for Ashes program and services.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Master's Degree in a behavioral health field, such as Social Work, Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy, or Counseling, from an accredited university accepted by licensing agencies in NC.
• NC license LCSW, LPP, LCMHC, or LMFT, with provisional or associate license accepted.
• Competence in Substance Use, either by licensure/certification from the NC Addictions Specialist Professional Practice Board or experience in substance abuse treatment.
• Medical credentialing, upon hire.
• Three years of diagnostic, therapeutic experience preferred.
• Specific experience working with Native Americans preferred.
• Valid driver's license.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of individual, group, and couples/family modalities, with expertise in crisis intervention with individual and families experiencing acute episodes of distress.
• Ability to ascertain the potential lethality of a situation and respond and refer accordingly.
• Ability to learn computerized treatment systems, such as the Electronic Medical Record, RPMS, and maintain records and files manually and on the computer.
• Displays originality and initiative to complete daily performance of tasks.
• Knowledge of principles, techniques, and practices, and their application to complex casework, group work, and community problems.
• Knowledge of a wide range of medical, behavioral, and psychosocial problems and their treatment.
• Knowledge of governmental and private organizations and resources in the community.
• Knowledge of the laws, regulations, and policies governing the program.
• Knowledge of medical terminology, disease processes, and their treatment as they relate to decisions regarding clinical interventions and appropriate therapies based on medical or psychological diagnosis.
• Knowledge of substance use, including diagnostic criteria for Substance Use Disorders, methods of evaluation and assessment, impact of behavioral health issues on patients' ability to negotiate treatment recommendations, current treatment approaches, modalities of care, and substance use treatment programs and services available to patients.
• Skill in establishing rapport with a patient and in applying techniques of assessing psychological, behavioral, and psychosocial aspects of patients' problems.
• Willingness to learn more about Cherokee culture/population and to have considerations for this when identified.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with members of caseload and their families, other professional disciplines, and a variety of governmental and private resources and organizations in the community.
• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and to plan and execute work effectively.

Complexity of Duties:

This position is responsible for assisting in maximizing the available resources to meet the behavioral health and substance use needs of the community.

Must have the ability to interpret policy, laws, and regulations in order to make decisions.

Duties require the application of clinical judgment and problem-solving skills in order to be effective.

Supervision Received:

Works under the direct guidance of the Adult Services Supervisor.

Position must demonstrate considerable initiative and ability to work independently within applicable licensing regulations.

Position must communicate effectively with supervisor to ensure alignment with organizational goals, mission, vision, and values.

Responsibility for Accuracy:

Failure to provide adequate clinical services or to properly manage and direct activities could result in poor client outcomes, delays in patient treatment, and negative patient and community relations.

Accuracy of data and research is critical in the allocation of tribal resources.

Employee is responsible for the adherence to policy and procedure.

Contact with Others:

Interacts frequently with coworkers, hospital staff, patients, stakeholders, and other health professionals for the purpose of exchanging information, obtaining, or providing assistance.

Serves on various local, community, and health committees, boards, and advisory councils, as appropriate.

Tact, courtesy, and professional conduct are required to maintain positive working relationships.

Utmost sensitivity and confidentiality are required when dealing with patients and families.

Confidential Data:

The provision of medical care requires that the incumbent maintain strict confidentiality regarding all patient information.

The employee will have access to patient records and highly confidential information and must function with utmost integrity to safeguard this information.

The employee complies with EBCI policy on confidentiality of patient records, Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority Confidentiality policy, HIPAA, 42CFR, and other federal law requirements.

Violations of confidentiality regulations may result in disciplinary action and other action as allowed by federal regulations.

Mental/Visual/Physical Environment:

Job duties can be mentally and emotionally stressful at times given the complexity of the duties.

Close mental concentration and attention to detail are required.

Physical activities require the ability to be mobile, sit, reach, bend, and be in front of groups and deliver training for extended periods of time.

Some physical exertion and stamina are required, such as required to transport training materials or to travel.

Must be able to lift 30 lbs.

Position requires: stand (under 1/3 time); walk (under 1/3 time); sit (to 2/3 time)

Work Environment:

The employee works primarily in a hospital, inpatient, or outpatient clinical environment but may be required to work at other offices and locations.

The work environment involves moderate risks of exposure to infectious disease, radiation, electrical hazards, and irritant chemical and explosive gases.

Employee must strictly adhere to OSHA guidelines and protocol for maintaining sterile conditions.

Some travel is required.

Infrequent overnight travel may be required for meetings or to attend training.

Emergency Privileges:

In the case of an emergency, any member of the Medical Staff, to the degree permitted by his/her license, shall be permitted to do everything possible to save a patient's life or save a patient from serious harm, regardless of the individual's clinical privileges.

This shall be defined as those situations in which a delay could result in serious harm or death and in which a more qualified member is not immediately available.

Customer Service:

Consistently demonstrates superior customer service skills to patients/customers by demonstrating characteristics that align with CIHA's guiding principles and core values.

Ensure excellent customer service is provided to all patients/customers by seeking out opportunities to be of service.