Clinical Therapist I ES

Clinical Therapist I - Emergency Services

An exciting career path is waiting for you at the City of Portsmouth! You may be eligible for a $5000 sign on bonus upon completion of one year's employment.

General Statement of Job

Under general supervision, this position provides crisis intervention and short term counseling services to children, adolescents and adults in acute care psychiatric facilities and regional crisis stabilization residential programs. Reports to the Program Administrator.

Essential Job Functions

Conducts intake assessments and diagnostic evaluations; provides coordination and consultative services in cooperation with other community agencies; consults with psychiatrists and/or psychiatric nurses regarding medication and diagnoses; documents case records.

Conducts crisis intervention, responds to emergency situations; assists other units as needed and implements and maintains rules to provide for consumer safety; assesses disposition of consumers to determine level of intervention required and conducts group, individual and family therapy and works closely with school and hospital personnel on appropriate referrals.

Serves as a liaison to staff members to discuss consumers' progress; adjusts treatment plans accordingly and maintains accurate consumer records; serves as a liaison with other agencies to maintain consumer care and case management; ensures that consumers receive appropriate services and treatment; and works closely with families to develop interventions, referrals, and linkage into the community.

Performs other duties as assigned. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Has thorough knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of therapy, crisis intervention, case management, and children, adolescent and adult crisis intervention. Has considerable knowledge of the literature, trends and developments in the field of human services. Has skills in promoting the integration of services among a variety of service agencies. Skilled in assisting, coordinating, and supervising the activities of CMI, SED and at-risk children. Is able to compile information from a variety of sources and prepare clear and concise reports. Ability to respond quickly and effectively in a variety of emergency and non-emergency situations. Able to effectively express ideas orally and in writing. Able to exercise considerable discretion in handling confidential files and cases. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

Education, Experience & Special Requirements

Requires a Master's Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, Education or a related field and 1-3 years of experience providing clinical services or an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Certified Pre-Screener eligible at the time of employment or Certified Pre-screener Preferred. Certification status must be approved by Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) within 90 days post-employment.

Requires a professional certification in the State of Virginia as a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) or Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP). Qualified Mental Health Professional Adult (QMHP-A) preferred. Applicants may apply that are not currently licensed or certified but hold the appropriate educational attainment and minimum experience while being registered or in supervision with the appropriate professional board to become certified or licensed.

An acceptable general background check to include a local and state criminal history check and sex offender registry check.

A valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

Individuals in this position cannot be listed as having a founded child abuse or neglect complaint.

Must possess Red Cross First Aid and CPR certifications or have the ability to obtain certifications within 90 days from date of hire and maintain them as a condition of employment.

In the event of a declared emergency in the city of Portsmouth, individuals in this position may be called on to perform duties as required to provide for the safety and care of the citizens of the community.

Physical Demands

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office equipment which includes telephones, calculators, copiers, computer terminals, facsimile, etc. Must be able to exert up to 20 pounds force occasionally and up to 50 pounds to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects or resisting individuals.

Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communications: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments and/or directions to unit members, volunteers or assistants. Includes receiving instructions from immediate supervisor.

Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, documents, evaluations, assessments, summaries, forms, charts, etc. Requires the ability to prepare consumer records, reports, charts, reviews, and treatment plans, using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to interact with individuals and groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence.

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical thinking to define problems and emergencies, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret a variety of technical or medical instructions in verbal or written form.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of medical or professional languages, including counseling terminology.

Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to add and subtract, multiply and divide, and calculate percentages.

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment.

Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Sensory Discrimination: Does not require the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with persons acting under stress.

Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) REQUIREMENTS

The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the city to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

This is a class description and not an individual position description. A class specification defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification but is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list all the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.This class description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.