Behavioral Health Therapist (OPS La Mesa)

Behavioral Health Therapist (ASW, AMFT, APCC)

Are you interested in working in a fast-paced, challenging behavioral healthcare organization? Are you interested in a position that is rewarding and makes a difference in the lives of others? Do you like to be challenged and work in a setting that allows you to grow? Then Alvarado Parkway Institute wants to hear from you!

Alvarado Parkway Institute (API) is a free-standing psychiatric hospital in La Mesa, California with three Intensive Outpatient/Partial Hospitalization Programs. Alvarado Parkway Institute (API) provides comprehensive adult inpatient behavioral health and addictive disorders services in a 66-bed hospital setting located in La Mesa, California. At Alvarado Parkway Institute, we are committed to improving the mental health and well-being of our community. Alvarado Parkway Institute in La Mesa is San Diego County's leading provider of comprehensive mental health and substance abuse care. API offers a variety of Outpatient Services designed to assist patients in functioning at the highest level. API provides Partial Hospitalization services and Intensive Outpatient services. These programs emphasize symptom management, community integration, and prevention of hospitalization or re-hospitalization. Value-added services enhance the patient's treatment experience.

Alvarado Parkway Institute is seeking a Behavioral Health Therapist (ASW, AMFT, APCC) to join our team at our IOP Program located in La Mesa. The Behavioral Health Therapist is responsible for providing quality case management and psychotherapeutic services to the adult psychiatric patients who are participating in the OPS program and to their families and members of their social support network; to serve as a member of an interdisciplinary team supporting the organization's treatment program and philosophy; and to assure the deliverance of quality treatment to adult psychiatric patients and their families.

Behavioral Health Therapist Responsibilities:

• Familiarity in developing treatment plans, self-harm intervention plans.
• Conducting psycho-social assessments
• Establish and maintain a good rapport and working relationships to foster intra and inter-departmental communications necessary for the delivery of quality patient care; responds to requests for information from patients, families, and caregivers; provides directions as necessary; reflect the confidentiality of patient and organization information; communicates pertinent information as necessary by telephone and/or writing.
• Provides individual and group psychotherapy, psycho education and where appropriate, family counseling to facilitate patient attainment goals; makes use of recognized, effective interventions; provides crisis intervention as needed; adheres to billing and documentation guidelines.
• Completes psycho-social assessments as well as other required assessments and screenings to document relevant patient history and identify preliminary issues for treatment focus by interviewing the patient and family member(s) of support network.
• Develop and coordinate individualized treatment plans for the patient based upon physician order; patient-derived data, treatment team recommendation, records of previous treatment/chart review, and ancillary sources (e.g., family members, etc.); identify and assess community-based resources to facilitate development of concurrent, ancillary support; identify and develop appropriate discharge plans based upon patient need, treatment team recommendation(s), and available resources.
• Attend regular treatment team meetings to provide Behavioral Health Therapist perspective to total case management of the patient by reading and discussing written program notes from charts and communicating any state or local agency legal requirements for case management with the interdisciplinary team.
• Complete all mandatory third-party notifications per organizational policies and procedures and community/legal requirements; represent facility in any legal proceedings.
• Display cultural sensitivity with regards to patients and staff.
• Provide appropriate referrals to inpatient and/or outpatient settings; complete or assist in the completion of assessments to facilitate from one level of care to another.
• Participate in activities than enhance professional growth and development.
• Perform all other related tasks as required.

Required Skills and Experience:

Knowledge of:

• Knowledge of acute adult psychological disorders; advanced principals of abnormal psychology as specifically as applies to adults.
• Related regulatory compliance and reporting requirements.
• Computer software applications.
• The programs and objectives of the department/division.
• The rules, regulations, laws, policies, and procedures governing activities, such as the Affordable Care Act.

Skill in:

• Skills in case management, time management, and crisis intervention common to patients with acute psychosis as well as to non-violent crises intervention practices
• Identifying and producing innovative ideas and thinking strategically.
• Promoting best practices in all areas of work.
• Meeting and exceeding customer/client needs and satisfaction.
• Skills in conducting individual and group psychotherapy.
• Skills in maintaining information as highly confidential.
• Must demonstrate the ability to treat other age populations as needed or have the capacity to develop skills through the organizations cross-training, orientation program.

Ability to:

• Ability to clearly summarize pertinent clinical information via written correspondence and medical records documentation.
• To be adaptable and flexible.
• Work effectively and collaborate with others within a team environment.
• Ability to problem solve and initiate resolution to problems.
• Read, analyze, and interpret business periodicals, professional journals, or governmental regulations.
• Write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals.
• Effectively present information and respond to questions from government officials, management, union leaders, and employees.
• Analyze and identify problems and to develop feasible solutions.
• Apply technical knowledge to work duties.
• Analyze complex information and applies expert knowledge of health plans to produce high quality work, products and service.
• Take responsibility for actions, projects and people.
• Make quick, clear decisions which may include tough choices, after considering the risks.

Required Education, Experience, and Certifications:

• Master's degree in social work, MFT, psychology, or equivalent master's degree in a recognized mental health field.
• Must be licensed eligible.
• Registration/license with the Board of Behavioral Sciences or Board of Psychology required.

Preferred Education, Experience, and Certifications:

• Experience in outpatient or inpatient setting preferred

Physical Requirements:

• Use standard office equipment and access, input, and retrieve information from a computer.
• Use computer keyboard with manual and finger dexterity and wrist-finger speed sufficient to perform repetitive actions efficiently for extended periods of time.
• Communicate effectively in person or via telephone in a manner which can be understood by those with whom the person is speaking, including a diverse population.
• Give and follow verbal and written instructions with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Perform complex mental functions and basic arithmetic functions; interpret complex laws, regulations, and policies; collect, interpret, and/or analyze complex data and information.
• Vision sees details of objects at close range.
• Coordinate multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Reach forward, up, down, and to the side.
• Sit or stand for minimum periods of one hour at a time and come and go from the work area repeatedly throughout the day.
• Walk and/or stand for long periods of time (3/4 of the workday).
• Lift up to fifteen (15) pounds.

Conditions of Employment

In compliance with API's policies and guidelines, all API employees are required to adhere to the following:

Background/Reference Check & Licensure/Certification

• Completion of a satisfactory background and reference checks.
• Employee signed employment non-compete/confidentiality agreement
• Individuals whose position may require licensure, registration or certification must maintain such as current and valid. It is the employee's responsibility to send updated copies to Human Resources before the expiration date. It is the employee's responsibility to notify Human Resources of any changes or proposed changes in status to licensure, registration, or certification. Failure to do so could result in employee suspension.

Flu Vaccinations; Medical

• Annual Flu vaccination is required as a condition of hire and ongoing employment. Only those who are allergic to the vaccine or meet contraindications as indicated on the current CDC Vaccine Information Statement shall be exempt from this condition of hire and ongoing