POSITION SUMMARY/FUNCTION
Provides therapeutic services to individuals of the Crisis Stabilization Unit and/or in the community via Mobile Crisis Teams employing various clinical and social treatment skills and approaches. Provides psychotherapy, documentation, coordination with agency services and response to emergency situations. Travel will be required if placed on Mobile Crisis Team. Position will be required to work holidays.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBLITIES/FUNCTIONS/TASKS:
1. Provides therapeutic services for individuals with the Crisis Stabilization Division and/or in the community via Crisis Mobile Team.
- Manages all clinical needs of CSU individuals during assigned shift, providing consultation and/or prevention services.
- Perform triage of referrals, intakes, Mental Illness and/or Substance Use Assessments and diagnostic interviews making appropriate after assessment evaluations regarding services. Provide contact to individuals and direction in seeking services or in placing them in appropriate services to include temporary observation, extended observation, etc. Monitors level of functioning of individuals in the CSU.
- Assists individuals within the CSU to identify self-determined goals and jointly prepare individualized service plan.
- Develops and performs individual, couple, family and/or group psychotherapy to individuals. Employs therapeutic techniques and, in conjunction with supervisory staff, determines a course of treatment action involving psychotherapy, medication, temporary observation, extended observation, etc.
- Responds to crisis intervention emergencies as needed at the facility and/or in the community minimizing self -harm and/or harm to others.
- Develops and follows treatment plan establishing individualized goals for individuals in the unit.
- Will work with law enforcement regarding individuals in the CSU with goals to minimize potential commitment, hospitalization, while providing care in the least restrictive environment.
2. Performs administrative functions in support of client case load.
- Operates a system for monitoring the individual progress of each individual and/or family through progress notes upon contact for treatment.
- Coordinates with community agencies and programs, such as half-way houses, State Employment Service, VRS and DHR, the delivery of substance use services as described in an individual’s comprehensive treatment plans and makes referrals as appropriate. Will work with the Care Coordinator to see services are coordinated.
- Will serve as part of the clinical treatment team - participates in case staffing sessions as
scheduled through presentation of cases to develop comprehensive treatment plans
and enhance professional competence.
- Completes Substance Use / Mental Illness / Crisis intake in accordance with all
requirements of SpectraCare Clinical Policy including but not limited to Alabama Administrative Code, CMS, and all other applicable regulating and contractual entities. Completes in a timely manner in the EMR system
- Represents individuals and the System in court and/or legal proceedings.
3. Maintain proper and up to date documentation in a timely manner as required by SpectraCare Personnel Policy, SpectraCare Clinical Policy including but not limited to Alabama Administrative Code, CMS, and all other applicable regulating and contractual entities.
- Ensure privacy and confidentiality of all records in accordance with HIPAA, 42 CFR and all other applicable state or federal laws.
- Ensure all written documentation is completed accurately and in a timely manner.
- Ensure that all records are staffed within standard time frames.
- Ensure that all progress notes, discharge summaries, etc are completed promptly, written in a professional manner and in accordance with policies and procedures.
- Ensure that goals are appropriate, specific, and the focus of treatment.
4. Performs other duties assigned by supervisor including but not limited to:
- Develops working relationship with interested groups in the community, e.g. Alcoholics Anonymous, Regional Alcoholism Council, law enforcement agencies, civic and religious groups, etc., in the care and treatment program.
- Takes part in continuing in-service training which includes First Aid, CPR, diagnostics, client assessment and behavior modification techniques, review current literature and participate in activities to promote professional development.
- Initiates and assists in the preparation and submission of required System, State, and Federal reports.
- Prepares for and assists in the inspection and responds to the recommendations resulting from periodic facility and program site reviews conducted by the Alabama Department of Mental Health and the Department of Human Resources.
- Conducts community group sessions discussing or employing different types of therapy with individuals, civic organizations or other interested parties on a contractual basis.
- Keeps Program Director informed of relevant program issues in his/her absence.
- Conforms to System policies and procedures.
- Provide coverage during crisis moments with or without notice.
- Travel within or outside the catchment area for meetings as necessary.
- Provide backup coverage in other programs as assigned.
- Performs duties independently.
- To ensure safety, functions within professional boundaries with clients and others.
- Works well with other staff and individuals to ensure safety of program, individuals, and other
staff
- Functions and performs well in stressful environments and manages work related stress to ensure safety of those within the unit and/or community.
- Maintain time sheet accurately and turn in appropriately.
- Documentation and other job tasks completed and up-to-date before annual leave or comp time is taken.
- Applies seclusion, protective holds and/or restraint per SpectraCare policy and procedures.
- Documents crises, protective holds, seclusions and restraints.
- Participates in beginning/end of shift unit reporting.
- Demonstrates willingness to work on any unit / program at SpectraCare based on facility needs as directed.
- Other services, tasks, functions and responsibilities deemed necessary.
5. Provides crisis counseling as scheduled on Helpline.
6. Regular attendance with timely arrival and departure according to scheduled hours.
- Must be able to work full time with rotating assignments as necessary to include but not limited to overtime hours, nights, holidays and/or weekends as scheduled.
- To ensure patient/employee safety while on duty, must remain awake during scheduled working hours.
NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBLITIES/FUNCTIONS/TASKS:
- Attend all required job-related/system training.
- Assist in other areas as needed.
- Assumes other related duties as assigned.
- Conforms to System’s policies and procedures.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS/KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:
- Ability to respond professionally in a crisis situation.
- Ability to communicate with substance abuse, mentally ill, and/or development disability individuals as well as community agencies, other professionals and the public at large.
- Knowledge of principles and methods of counseling.
- Knowledge of substance use and/or mental health issues and their social implications.
- Skills in leading and directing group activities.
- Ability to develop interpersonal relationships with clients.
- Ability to counsel persons who are maladjusted or drug/alcohol addicted.
- Working knowledge of Business English, spelling and arithmetic.
- Ability and knowledge of the clinical aspects of system requirements.
- Ability to maintain unit files with the Electronic Medical Record.
- Ability to operate office machines such as computers, copier and fax machines.
- Ability to understand and follow moderately complex oral and written instructions.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality under SpectraCare Policy, HIPAA laws and 42 CFR.
- Ability to establish effective working relationships with all levels of organizational staff.
- Ability to make arithmetic computation and tabulations accurately and with reasonable speed.
- Ability to understand and interpret SpectraCare Personnel Policy, SpectraCare Clinical Policy including but not limited to Alabama Administrative Code, CMS, and all other applicable regulating and contractual entities, regarding record keeping requirements.
- Ability to attend to detailed assignments and follow through with task until completion.
- Ability to use discretion, independent action and judgment.
- Ability to adapt to conditions which may vary considerably.
- Ability to travel within catchment area and/or statewide as needed.
- Ability to work independently.
- Ability to function and perform well in stressful environments and manage work related stress to ensure safety of those in the unit
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries with patients and others.
- Ability to perform all duties in a safe manner, without endangering any employee or asset.
- Ability to demonstrate initiative.
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:
- Complete initial new hire training.
- Complete required on the job training (OJT) training by department.
- Obtain proper certifications needed to perform job duties.
- Complete annual training as required by the Alabama Administrative Code, CMS, and all other applicable regulating and contractual entities.
WORK ENVIRONNMENT / PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Work location is primarily in a temperature-controlled office with extended periods of computer use at a desk with associated repetitive motions. Must understand and practice good ergonomic movements to avoid injuries.
- If placed on Mobile Crisis Team, will travel within the community to provide services to individuals in need and may be exposed to various weather conditions.
- Must be able to travel to system facilities with exposure to changing weather conditions.
- There is an occasional need to maintain back extension while being on stomach with one’s own body weight on hips and legs. This position is maintained for several minutes.
- Occasionally, be able to put one’s own body weight on one knee and one elbow on the same side of one’s body.
- Occasionally, be able to kneel and reach to same side toward the floor.
- Strong grasp is needed to open doors throughout the facility, and to maintain constant contact with an individual during a restrain procedure or with other hold techniques.
- There are times that require the employee to be able to ambulate as quickly as possible to assist coworkers with an individual in a restraint procedure.
- Employee may be exposed to one or more of the following: disagreeable odors, chemicals such as disinfectants, cleansers, soaps, etc; latex, plastic and other materials used for personal protective equipment; noise and distractions; unpleasant sights; unpredictable behaviors; body fluids; contagious diseases; and/or wet floors.
- Job requires occasional use of office equipment and ability to correctly lift up to fifty (50) pounds on an infrequent basis.
- Job requires occasional and limited bending, twisting, lunging, squatting, and reaching.
- Required to talk to or hear staff, clients, and/or others.
- Required to train professional staff through verbal and visual presentations.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
- Master’s degree or above from an accredited college or university in psychology, social work, counseling, or related field.
- Has successfully completed a clinical practicum, and/or
- Holds a substance use counselor certification credential from the Alabama Association of Addiction Counselors, National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, Alabama Alcohol and Drug Association, or International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, Inc. or
- Willing to obtain a substance use counselor certification credential within 30 months of hire or transfer into position if employee does not have one.
- Minimum of one year clinical experience in substance use/mental illness required.
- Possess a valid Driver License with good MVR.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:
- Licensed in the State of Alabama as a Professional Counselor, Certified Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist, etc.
- Three years clinical experience in substance use/mental illness preferred.
- Preferred experience in a Crisis Stabilization Unit.
Benefits:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
Paid Time Off - personal, sick, vacation
Company paid life insurance
AD&D and dependent life insurance
Alabama State Retirement Available
