LEAD MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST

The Lead Mental Health Therapist is responsible for providing thorough and clinically appropriate, culturally competent and trauma-informed social work interventions including, but not limited to, psychosocial assessments, person-centered treatment planning, group and individual therapy/psychoeducation, crisis interventions, family/collateral engagement and coordination of aftercare. The Lead Mental Health Therapist achieves the expected productivity standard and thoroughly completes all documentation within the required timeframe. The Lead Mental Health Therapist serves as an integral member of the interdisciplinary team, communicating and escalating issues as they arise to help ensure excellent patient care. In the absence of a designated Supervisor, the Lead Mental health Therapist will temporarily serve in a Supervisor’s capacity.  The Lead Mental Health Therapist will assist with oversight of the department by facilitating and mentoring team members in the performance of their responsibilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Provides coverage throughout the department, in a supervisory capacity, when the Social Work Program Manager is away from the building or as needed.
• Complete monthly documentation audits and submit to the Social Work Program Manager in a timely manner for Quality Counsel and for supervision purposes as needed.
• Responsible for scheduling the department staff to meet the daily needs of the department and unit.
• Assists with supervising the department staff by facilitating and mentoring team members in the performance of their responsibilities.
• Communicates Departmental needs, updates and concerns to leadership.
• Assist in the orientation process of departmental staff.
• Individual evaluation and assessment : The Mental Health Therapist completes psychosocial assessment on assigned patients and assists treatment team in developing each patient’s individualized treatment plan. Reassesses patient’s progress with treatment team by conducting interviews with patients, families and collateral contacts. Facilitates program / treatment via individual, family, and group sessions.
• Treatment and discharge planning : Participate as a member of an interdisciplinary team to help determine appropriate, evidenced-based interventions, identify clinical needs for patients to be safely discharged; provides services in accordance with hospital policy and Federal/State regulations.
• Engagement and supportive counseling : The Mental Health Therapist rapidly builds rapport and establishes a therapeutic alliance with patients; provides crisis intervention and stabilization as well as brief supportive and solution-focused therapy to patients and their caregivers.
• Documentation of services : Maintains timely, ongoing and thorough documentation of social work assessments, interventions, planning and relevant communications with internal and external stakeholders .
• Participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team : The Mental Health Therapist works collaboratively, respectfully and effectively with others, communicating frequently and efficiently to coordinate timely and streamlined patient care.
• Functions as a liaison : Acts as a community and family liaison by initiating and maintaining contact with the patient’s family, outpatient providers identified collateral contacts and other relevant supports including, but not limited to, obtaining collateral information and notification of disposition.
• Provides culturally competent care : Mental Health Therapist demonstrate cultural competence, responding to the unique needs of minority populations and are sensitive to the ways in which people with disabilities experience the world. Within mental health services, cultural competence is a guiding principle, so that services are culturally sensitive and provide culturally appropriate prevention, outreach, assessment and intervention. Cultural competence recognizes the broad scope of the dimensions that influence an individual’s personal identity.
• Serves as a patient advocate : Acts in the patients’ best interest and advocates on the patients’ behalf. The Mental Health Therapist maintains patient confidentiality.
• The Mental Health Therapist practices according to the hospital and departmental policies and state and federal regulations.
• Cross trains and provides Mental Health Therapist coverage, as needed and assigned, in other parts of the hospital.
• Participates in continuing education and completes all mandatory hospital and department trainings before deadline.
• Represents their Department on Hospital committees and external meetings.
• Participates in Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement programs as appropriate.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

EXPERIENCE:

• One to two years post-graduate experience in a medical, mental health or human services setting as a member of a multi-disciplinary team, required.
• Three years experience, preferred.

EDUCATION:  

• Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) or Mental Health Counseling (MHC) from an accredited Graduate Program, required.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS:

• Licensed in New York as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), or as a Licensed Psychologist, required.

OTHER: 

• Demonstrates experience in one or more of the therapeutic treatment modalities, i.e. individual, family, group or couples’ therapy, case management and with cases that present the more difficult treatment issues.
• Excellent oral and written skills, basic computer skills, including typing, and has the ability to function independently with minimal selective use of consultation.

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