Outpatient Therapist

The Position

Incumbent works under the direction of the Director of the Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) or designee providing professional counseling services to CMHC Psychiatric Outpatient Program clients.

Essential Functions

• Lead and conduct therapeutic individual counselling sessions and group therapy using evidence-based techniques providing intensive psychiatric treatment as a treatment team member, responding to emergency phone calls from clients, providing guidance or referrals.
• Perform Mental Health Assessments with clients conducting assessment interviews, gathering psychosocial background and clinical information, determining danger level to self or others, and identifying current symptoms in coordination with the psychologist and psychiatric staff.
• Develop, update, and maintain treatment plans coordinating with the department physician, psychologist and other treatment staff collaborating with the client.
• Document client's mental health status objectively (e.g. client's behavior, words / actions, progress, treatment participation) complying with CMHC policies, procedures and accreditation standards.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, community organizations, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service policies and regulations, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies, and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Arrange, schedule, and conduct family meetings at the treatment team's recommendation, reviewing client's treatment plan,, involving family members in understanding and engagement in the client's treatment, and discussing discharge plans, community referrals, and follow-up care.
• Prepare and maintain accurate patient charts and records documenting progress, assessments, evaluations, diagnoses, treatment plans, treatment activities and discharge summaries.
• Prepare and maintain various records, reports, correspondence and other documents
• Interact and coordinate effectively with various agencies (e.g. County Attorney's Office, Board of Mental Health, Region 6 Behavioral Health, Nebraska Health and Human Services System).
• Complete billing and pre-authorizations.
• Attend multi-disciplinary clinical team meetings.
• Maintain a strong knowledge of state and federal guidelines surrounding co-occurring services.
• Perform assessments within established timeframes.
• Prepare and maintain various records, reports, correspondence and other department documents.
• Establish and conduct individual counseling sessions and educational and / or counseling groups.
• Maintain client confidentiality and safeguard records according to CMHC standards, state and federal laws, accreditation guidelines, and adhere to HIPAA 42 CFR Part 2 requirements.
• Assist in developing policy and procedures.
• Participate in intradepartmental and interdepartmental committees.
• Maintain assigned caseload and productivity based on CMHC criteria.
• Ensure all services provided comply with professional standards, state, and federal regulations and the policies and procedures of Douglas County and the CMHC.
• Perform quality assurance activities.
• Maintain knowledge of current trends, developments, skills and techniques e.g. webinars, seminars, research).
• Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business.
• Report to work with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned and / or directed.

Education and Work Experience and Other Requirements

• Master's Degree from an accredited university or college in Social Work, Clinical Psychology, Counseling, Human Services required.
• Licensed as a Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) / Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP) required.
• Licensed Alcohol / Drug Counselor (LADC) or Provisional LADC is preferred.
• Three (3) years of community behavioral health care preferred.
• Experience performing assessments and recommendations to community programs preferred.
• Knowledge of ASAM criteria preferred.
• Valid driver's license and own mode of transportation at the time of hire and throughout employment required.
• Completion of a pre-employment criminal records check and post-offer drug screen required.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform successfully the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work typically performed in both a locked and unlocked psychiatric facility or in a locked jail and / or community corrections setting with inmates and / or mental health consumers.

Incumbents assigned to specific shifts; however, schedules may vary (e.g. weekends, holidays, extra shifts, emergency-call-ins).

Noise level is usually moderate but could at times be extreme. Work may be stressful when dealing with multiple and changing priorities, limited resources, time constraints, irate / distraught individuals, and emergencies.

Work requires physical activity including extended standing and walking, frequent sitting and bending, and occasional reaching, kneeling, climbing, balancing, crouching and stooping.

Incumbents must have the ability to frequently lift and / or carry objects weighing up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds.

Incumbents must be able to participate in restraining mental health consumers in crisis situations and must be able to independently lift 50 lbs.

push 35 lbs., and pull 75 lbs. over seven (7) feet. Incumbents may be exposed to biohazards.

Required sensory abilities include vision, hearing and touch. Visual abilities, correctable to normal ranges, include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Communication abilities include the ability to talk and hear within normal ranges. Incumbents must possess the hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate computers and other equipment.

Douglas County is an EOE - Disability / Veterans