Registered Nurse - North Sound (PACT) - $5,000 New Hire Bonus!

Behavioral Health Clinician

Lifeline Connections is a community-based behavioral health organization that specializes in providing confidential and compassionate care to individuals who experience substance use and/or mental health conditions. Our vision is to be the premier provider of substance use and mental health services in the Pacific Northwest, respected and the most trusted resource for behavioral health treatment and whole-person care. We provide a comprehensive continuum of coordinated quality services, foster enduring relationships, and empower our communities to truly thrive. Our mission is to inspire hope and support lifesaving changes for people affected by substance use and mental health conditions through superior customer service, high quality programs, and well-trained and dedicated staff.

Major Duties

This member of the team works under the Team Lead and is responsible for conducting psychiatric assessments; assessing physical health needs; making appropriate referrals to community physicians; providing management and administration of medication in conjunction with the ARNP and/or psychiatrist; and providing a range of treatment, rehabilitation, and support services. This position provides clinical services to agency patients. In fulfilling these duties, the incumbent performs the following duties independently:

• Participate in ongoing psychosocial assessment of the goals and needs of the patients;
• Assist in development and implementation of a transdisciplinary treatment plan in collaboration with the patients, mental health and substance use clinicians, and others at the patients request;
• Under the direction of the team lead and in consult with the team ARNP/psychiatrist, develop, revise, maintain, and supervise team psychopharmacologic and medical treatment including transcribing, administering, evaluating, and recording psychotropic medications prescribed by the team psychiatrist;
• Evaluate and chart psychotropic medication effectiveness, complications, and side effects; and arrange for required lab work according to protocol;
• Conduct regular assessments of therapeutic responses to prescribed psychotropic medications, and complications and side effects;
• Educate patients regarding psychotropic medications;
• Under the direction of the team ARNP/psychiatrist, organize and manage the system of getting medication to clients, including management of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies and integrating medication administration tightly into patients' individual service plans;
• In collaboration with the team ARNP/psychiatrist, coordinate, schedule, and administer medical assessments of patient physical health, making appropriate referrals to community physicians for further assessment and treatment, and coordinate psychiatric treatment with medical treatment;
• Ensure that treatment planning and interventions are patient centered, culturally competent and age appropriate. Considers all aspects of the patients, their families, and their community's psychosocial, economic and cultural needs.
• Provide mental health care with respect for patient's confidentiality, safety and self-determination;
• Utilize community and natural supports to supplement services, with the intent to better integrate the patients into their community, and to eventually graduate the patients from services when possible and clinically indicated;
• Initiate and/or facilitate admission to inpatient psychiatric treatment as needed; communicates with the attending psychiatrist and collaborates in the planning and implementation of treatment and discharge to the community.
• Collaborate with patient and team in making referrals to community physicians for assessment and treatment of medical issues, and for coordinating psychiatric and medical treatments;
• Complete all required documentation in an accurate, complete, and timely manner per agency policies and procedures.
• Participate in the implementation of agency tracking systems and chart audit procedures.
• Take the initiative to seek supervisory or collegial assistance with follow-through or methodology if problems with documentation quality or timeliness persist.
• Independently identify program needs and take responsibility for realizing those needs through collective processes.
• Actively contribute to program development by participating in agency meetings, serving on working committees, and undertaking agreed upon independent projects for the improvement of the agency and enhancement of services.
• Maintain the safety, security, and confidentiality of patients and their families;
• Ensure own professional development and maintain licensure and/or certification requirements.
• Contribute to the overall professional development of the agency. Contributes to the functioning of the agency as a training institution; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

• Licensed as a registered nurse, and should have at least one year of work experience in an inpatient or outpatient psychiatric setting;
• Must have a strong commitment to the right and ability of each person with a severe and persistent mental illness to live in normal community residences; work in market jobs; and have access to helpful, adequate, competent, and continuous supports and services;
• A strong commitment to working collaboratively, assertively and interdependently with co-workers;
• Skills and competence to establish supportive trusting relationships with persons with severe and persistent mental illnesses and respect for client rights and personal preferences in treatment are essential;
• Competency in adult psychopathology and pharmacology; clinical treatments of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, individual crisis intervention and psychotherapy; professional ethics, and client rights;
• Demonstrated ability to effectively plan and organize work to satisfactory completion;
• Current unencumbered driver license and proof of current car insurance is required;
• Good verbal and written communication skills;
• Great attendance; and
• Ability to work well with others.

The position performs duties in accordance with Washington Administrative Codes, Federal regulations governing confidentiality, and all of Lifeline Connections Policies and Procedures. The position requires that the incumbent maintains certification with the Department of Health. The incumbent relies on specialized training and/or equivalent experience in the field of psychiatry, addiction medicine, co-occurring disorders, WACs and RCWs of Washington and the performance standards developed for the position.

The incumbent provides individual therapy, group therapy, case management and diagnostic services to patients who differ widely in age and socioeconomic status and who may possess a variety of chronic and serious social, behavioral and psychological problems. Strong clinical skills, sound judgment, and creativity are required to help implement and deliver treatment services that will meet the complex needs of the patients.

Contacts are with members of the treatment team, patients, significant others and supports of the patients, representatives of various community agencies specializing in the treatment of chemical abuse and mental illness, and related community representatives including hospital personnel, lawyers, probation officers, and other court officials. All personal contacts are carried out in accordance with federal and state laws dealing with the confidentiality of patient records.

While performing the essential functions of the job, the employee is regularly required to sit, speak clearly, hear and use hands and fingers to manipulate writing utensils and keys on a keyboard. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with hands or arms, stoop, kneel, crouch or lift and/or move maximum of 15 lbs. The employee is regularly required to effectively operate an automobile.

Working hours are spent indoors in offices or meeting rooms or in the community meeting with patients in their homes or health clinics. Occasional supervision of outdoor activities, visits to community agencies, and participation in staff retreats and staff development activities may be required.

Immediate Supervisor: Team Lead/Program Supervisor