Behavioral Health Therapist

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.

Additional

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 m.