Clinical Therapist

Clinical Therapist Department:

Program Reports To:

Clinical Supervisor Classification:

Non-Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY

Provides assessment, treatment planning, individual, group, and family counseling, case management, utilization management, and discharge planning services to adolescents and their families. Within the scope of their license and discipline, acts as the central point of clinical information and decision-making for the internal treatment team, consumers of services, community providers, and third-party reviewers.

QUALIFICATIONS

Master's degree in the mental health field required. Licensure and SUDP in Washington preferred. Must obtain credential (AAC, associate clinical license, etc) compliant to licensure requirements prior to providing client care. One year experience working with adolescents, preferably in a residential or comparable treatment setting. Excellent communication skills and ability to work with individuals in crisis, a multidisciplinary team, referral sources, and insurance company reviewers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and

APTITUDES

Good moral character, including honesty, fairness, and respect for the rights of others. Knowledge of the age-specific, diagnostic-specific, and cultural-specific needs of the population served. Knowledge of client assessment, intervention, and treatment planning methods. Knowledge of client-centered, trauma-informed, and strength-based treatment approaches. Knowledge of behavior management techniques with the chemically dependent and/or mentally ill adolescent. Knowledge of clients' rights, abuse reporting laws, confidentiality, and crisis intervention/de-escalation techniques. Knowledge of applicable regulatory standards (e.g., federal, state, OSHA, Joint Commission). Excellent customer and public relations skills. Excellent organizational and interpersonal communication skills. Skill in organizing and prioritizing workload to meet deadlines. Skill in interacting with multiple individuals with diversified roles and perspectives. Skill in telephone etiquette, voice mail, and email procedures. Currently certified skills in CPR and basic First Aid. Ability to establish and maintain therapeutic rapport and appropriate therapeutic boundaries. Ability to focus on details, work rapidly, and follow-through in a busy, fast-paced environment Ability to operate in an unstructured environment; orchestrate a myriad of activities and to manage multiple priorities within complex systems. Ability to accept direction and to tolerate ambiguity, uncertainty, and change. Ability to carry out all code procedures and adhere to all policies and procedures. Ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing, with clients, family members, and co-workers. Ability to use good judgement and demonstrate tact, resourcefulness, patience, and dedication. Ability to maintain required records on individuals in care and their families. Ability to react calmly and effectively in emergency situations. Ability to work as a team leader as well as a team player. PHYSICAL, MENTAL, and

SPECIAL DEMANDS

The physical and mental 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. Ability to work and to concentrate amidst distractions such as noise, conversation, and foot traffic Ability to handle interruptions often and to be able to efficiently move from one task to another Ability to be flexible and not easily frustrated in dealing with differences of opinion or "difficult" individuals Ability to exercise self-control in potentially provocative situations such as being verbally or physically confronted in a threatening or aggressive manner Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, grasp, and be able to perceive the attributes of objects such as size, shape, temperature, and/or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of the fingertips Ability to stand, sit, or walk for up to six continuous hours Ability to communicate verbally, see well enough to read written materials, and to discern a variety of odors continuously Ability to hear/perceive the nature of sound with no less than 40 dB loss @ Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz with or without correction; ability to perceive detailed information through oral communication and to make fine discriminations in sound Ability to express and exchange ideas via spoken/written word during activities in which you must convey detail or important instructions to others accurately, sometimes quickly and loudly Ability to perform repetitive motions with wrists, hands, and fingers Ability to occasionally carry or lift program materials of up to 15 pounds. (i.e., brief case, clients' belongings, etc.) Ability to exert up to 75 pounds of force occasionally and to be able to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Ability to see with a minimum standard of visual acuity, with or without correction, that will enable people in the role to complete administrative and clerical tasks and visually observe clients on the unit and in therapeutic activities. While a worker might possibly be subjected to temperature changes, the worker is generally not exposed to adverse environmental conditions as the work is predominantly inside Ability to occasionally assist in the physical management of clients, requiring bending, stooping, twisting, grasping and lifting of up to 65 pounds from a squat. Ability to occasionally push/pull carts of 200 pounds. (i.e., client on Gurney or in wheelchair). Ability to follow policies, procedures, and program manuals. Ability to appropriately handle hazardous/infectious waste on an occasional basis. Work continuously in an environment where the noise level is frequently high, chemicals are frequently used for cleaning, mechanical and electrical hazards may be occasionally present, and dust, mist and steam are generated in showers or housekeeping tasks. MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT and

OTHER WORK AIDES

Electronic Health Records Telephone, paging, and voice mail system Email, cell phone, and other digital communication equipment Television, DVD, and other audio-visual equipment Computer Copy machine Fax Machine Shredder Policies, procedures, plans and program manuals Door locks First aid items Refrigerator Calculator

RESPONSIBILITIES

Utilization Management Ensures that pre-admission approval has been obtained from the payor Ensures that evaluations, examinations, tests, and procedures are completed within the organization's prescribed time frame and protocol. Ensures that the following are always completed and documented: the psychosocial assessment, treatment plan that includes measurable objectives, target dates, and interventions, clinical observations including progress notes and results of therapies, any records of communication with the client or family, such as telephone calls or e-mail, consents for releases of information, referral and transfer communications, a description of any injury or accident sustained during treatment and discharge/transfer summary which includes an aftercare plan. Ensures that progress notes clearly document the course of treatment for the client and family. Always participates in the development of the multidisciplinary treatment plan and coordinates weekly treatment teams. Ensures that treatment is provided as planned, client progress is realized as anticipated, or treatment strategies are revised, there is continued medical necessity for treatment and there is active discharge planning. Continually monitors the length of stay and the documentation in the client's record to support medical necessity and continued treatment. Coordinates corrective action when necessary and/or communicates possible financial concerns to the Business Office. Obtains/manages continued stay approvals from the payor or its representative. Coordinates with admissions, physician and nursing staff regarding pending discharges, and updates the discharge calendar regularly. Facilitates continuity of care Contacts the referring professional or other outpatient contact within three days of admission. Obtains background information on client as needed. Makes preliminary disposition plans. Determines the frequency of updates required by the referral, and provides those. With proper consents for release of information in place, includes referring professional in final discharge planning. Maintains contact with patient's family and provides interventions as appropriate to clinical goals. Contacts family within 72 hours of admission. Obtains information from family as needed for assessment and treatment planning. Provides family therapy at least weekly. When the family is unable or unwilling to attend, this is documented along with attempts to facilitate attendance. Within 24 hours of providing the service, always completes progress notes on family therapy, including the name of the person providing the therapy, when it was provided, and the duration of the session Provides quality, group and individual therapies in accord with the treatment plan Consistently demonstrates mastery of listening skills, empathy skills, problem-spotting skills, information-giving skills, and confrontation skills. Consistently demonstrates ability to effectively communicate respect/genuineness, effectively explore history and problems with clients, effectively formulate cases, formulate effective interventions, and effectively overcome resistance in clients. Ensures that progress notes are completed within 24 hours of each session and documented to include: a description of the interventions made by the provider in accordance with the treatment plan and the client's response in measurable, observable and/or quantifiable behavioral terms, Interpretations of the responses to treatment, justification, implementation, and interpretation of the effectiveness of interventions for behavior management, justification for changes in medication, and description of any side effects and adverse drug reactions, date and length of therapy sessions and name and credentials of provider. Always participates in peer and individual supervision. Plans discharge and aftercare with the treatment team, patient, family, and outpatient resource persons. Makes discharge plans which are comprehensive and addresses all areas of the individual's needs, within the limitation of existing resources. Ensures the completion of written Discharge Instructions, including treatment team recommendations for follow-up; individual, group, and family treatment; names, addresses, and dates; time of outpatient appointments; goals and issues to address; and medication instructions. Ensures that a timely, concise discharge summary is provided to aftercare providers. Evidences competency at tasks associated with job performance. Demonstrates knowledge of adolescent program rules and protocols. Monitors the implementation of the program and its protocols with their assigned clients and appropriately intervenes when protocols are not followed. Monitors the implementation of the clinical interventions by treatment staff and provides clinical input and direction on treatment of individual patients. Develops specialized, individual effectual treatment interventions within the program for assigned clients. Effectively coordinates any special treatment plans or interventions with affected personnel. Shows conscientious attention to clients' physical care functioning. Ensures that special precautions have been implemented as necessary and in accordance with established protocols, and physician's supervision and direction has been properly sought Ensures that all incidents are documented on the appropriate form and completed according to policy in a timely manner. Always follows policy and procedure (e.g., client rights standards, confidentiality, infection control standards, safety, environment of care standards, etc.) and observes legal and ethical norms. Always implements emergency procedures (Code Gray, Code Red, Code Blue) per policy and procedure. Adeptly practices and promotes guest relation practices with parents, clients, visitors, and phone callers. Demonstrates personal excellence and effective time management. Always makes every effort to ensure that services provided are top quality, especially as perceived by the customer (in every form) Always makes every effort to ensure the provision of superior service Always ensures that work meets or exceeds state, federal, Joint Commission, and applicable regulatory requirements. Actively and continually promotes a culture of safety and quality Always understands and facilitates performance improvement principles and initiatives Always maintains infection control, quality, and safety standards/practices Consistently demonstrates the effective use of resources and innovation in the face of change Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of all procedures of department and familiarity with the overall work flow of the organization. Always communicates clearly and effectively taking 100% of the responsibility for comprehension Consistently promotes professionalism through word, action and appearance. Consistently demonstrates and models friendliness. Consistently demonstrates poise, stability, and maturity. Effectively demonstrates and promotes enthusiasm. Consistently demonstrates initiative and ambition. Consistently demonstrates rapid rapport skills and appropriate, therapeutic boundaries. Consistently responds positively and cooperatively to changing work environment, work demands, and pressure. Always appropriately uses data and information to guide decisions Consistently wears organization's identification badge. Always demonstrates and promotes conscientious time management Consistently prioritizes responsibilities in an effective and productive manner Completes all work assignments within expected time frame. Is always punctual. Regularly seeks and does additional tasks when normal work pressure decreases. Always appropriately follows guidance and direction. Actively participates in all applicable meetings and inservice trainings. Is up to date on all mandatory inservices. Always demonstrates effort toward continual improvement and efficiency both personally and for work group Consistently identifies problems proactively and offers constructive suggestions for improvements on a regular basis Takes initiative and responsibility to obtain the knowledge and skill to improve job performance. Generates practical, innovative, new ideas on a regular basis Seeks and readily assumes greater responsibility on a regular basis Always readily accepts additional assignments given by superior Demonstrates effective trouble-shooting and problem-solving on a regular basis Always works positively and professionally with others regardless of interpersonal differences. Other Duties Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for their job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$33.65 - $37.50 per hour

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Application Question(s): We are a 24/7 residential facility; Are you available to work one weekend day?

Education:

Master's (Required) Ability to

Commute:

Brush Prairie, WA 98606 (Required)

Work Location:

In person