Therapist

Job Summary: Under general supervision this position Performs assessments, treatment planning/monitoring and discharge planning. Provides counseling/therapy to clients requiring complex intervention. Performs, coordinates and monitors the assessment, treatment planning process and follow up for each consumer. Provides social support needed to cope with chronic, acute mental illness and physical and/or developmental disabilities. May supervise or act as team lead.

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

• Conduct intake, screening, assessment, and referral of clients as appropriate.
• Provide appropriate & effective clinical assessments by gathering all relevant information to identify problems & determine if consumer meets core-customer eligibility criteria & assign service priority.
• Develop person-centered plans for service users.
• Based on the assessment, work with the client to establish an individual treatment plan outlining the goals of treatment.

• Provide individual, family or group counseling/training in the appropriate setting to facilitate recovery..
• Evaluates, facilitates and monitors services and client’s progress in relationship to established goals and objectives
• Maintain strict confidentiality of information at all times according to established departmental policies & procedures.
• Adjust techniques & interventions as needed to ensure barriers to progress are addressed and movement toward recovery/independence is facilitated.
• Ensure that all treatment plans are current and services are authorized before being provided.
• Deliver services that are clinically appropriate to consumer's needs as specified in the treatment plan and meet responsibilities to consumer and third party payor by providing only services that meet best practice guidelines.
• Oversee the discharge planning process.
• In all activities, coordinate closely with the interdisciplinary team to best help service users, including behavioral health specialists, Staff Psychiatrist, registered nurses, quality assurance specialists, paraprofessionals, Medical Director and the Clinical Director.
• Records services accurately that relate directly to the treatment outcomes, within approved timeframes. Completes required clinical documentation according to agency standards.
• Maintain all documentation in accordance with applicable policies, laws and instructions.
• Ensure that all services provided are within the guidelines and document care in compliance with agency requirements and standards.
• Ensure that all notes will be in CareLogic and signed no later than 10:00 A.M. the day after the service was provided.

• Maintain a minimum chart audit score of 93% or better for all consumers on case-load.

• Ensure all weekly reports have been addressed and cleaned up (if necessary) within 48 hours of receiving reports.
• Meet the minimum direct time requirements of 1,200 individual billed hours a year.

Required Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge of individual and group therapy techniques.
• Knowledge of agency and federal policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Knowledge of diagnostic impressions or criteria.
• Knowledge of client advocacy systems.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques.
• Knowledge of various therapeutic models and intervention as directly related to area of assignment.
• Knowledge of various types of medication and their effects.
• Knowledge of behavioral standards.
• Knowledge of DSM-IV criteria and diagnosis.
• Knowledge of treatment approaches relevant to your specific field.
• Knowledge of family dynamics.
• Knowledge of family support groups.
• Knowledge of confidentiality policies.
• Knowledge of behavior modification techniques.
• Knowledge of psychological tests and evaluations.
• Ability to implement treatment plan or behavioral plan to assist with resolving crisis or delivery services.
• Ability to establish and prioritize goals and objectives of assigned program.
• Ability to provide guidance and direction in the development of policies and procedures.
• Ability to oversee compliance with all applications and regulations of assigned program.
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with diverse populations.
• Ability to complete and interpret psychosocial assessments.
• Ability to develop treatment/care plans and measurable goals.
• Ability to work with all parties involved to assist with successful treatment planning.
• Ability to make appropriate referrals.
• Ability to facilitate family support groups.
• Ability to identify potential obstacles through interview and written documentation and assist consumers in overcoming obstacles.
• Ability to convey key concepts of behavior change to staff through effective teaching methods.
• Ability to identify training needs and ensure necessary job-related instruction is provided.
• Ability to maintain case files in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Ability to coordinate services of various inter/intra community resources across disciplines.
• Ability to identify needs and risks.

Competencies:

Communication

Accountability/Responsibility

Cooperation/Teamwork

Creative Thinking

Customer Service

Dependability

Flexibility

Initiative

Analytical Data Gathering

Job Knowledge

Judgement

Professionalism

Quality/Quantity of Work

Required Education & Experience: Master’s degree from an accredited program and Two years of related experience Or Master’s degree from an accredited program and pursuing licensure in the area of assignment. Valid GA driver’s license. Associate or fully licensed clinician who understand MH and SUD. LMSW, LCSW, LAPC, LPC, LAMFT, LMFT.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Work Environment:

This job operates in a variable business settings with trips into the community. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. This role provides basic employment support which requires employee to perform in loud/quiet environments, outdoors/indoors, etc. Some minor travel between Gateway sites and in the community is required.

Physical Demands:

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.

Employee is frequently required to walk, sit, stand or kneel and occasionally required to climb or balance and stoop. Employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Must have the ability to sit for long periods of time at a computer. Employee frequently uses fine hand/eye coordination, hearing and visual acuity. Lighting and temperature are adequate, and there are not hazardous or unpleasant condition caused by noise, dust, etc. Employee must be able to travel between Gateway sites. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Gateway CSB promotes a drug/alcohol free work environment through the use of mandatory pre-employment drug testing.