Clinician - Urgent Crisis Center

Job Description

Job Description

About us: The Village was one of the first agencies in the country to provide homes for neglected children. Today, we continue to achieve our mission “to build a community of strong, healthy families who protect and nurture children” by providing a full range of behavioral health, early childhood and youth development, substance use treatment and support services for children, adults and families in the Greater Hartford, Connecticut region.

Named a Connecticut Top Workplace for six consecutive years with national distinction for workplace culture and diversity, equity and inclusion practices, you can be sure you’re joining an organization that’s just as committed to your success as we are to those we serve.

Starting yearly salary: 

Unlicensed Clinician: $54,000, $56,000 if bilingual 

Licensed Clinician: $67,200, $69,000 if bilingual

**Work schedule: 3 days 12-8pm, 2 days 8am-4pm **

The Urgent Crisis Center (UCC) is a walk-in, police or ambulance psychiatric crisis stabilization program designed to triage, stabilize, and assess youth who are experiencing psychiatric crisis, and then link the youth/family to a lower level of care within the community. 

As part of an interdisciplinary team, the UCC clinician is providing mental health services to individuals experiencing emotional distress or behavioral problems, including those with chronic mental illness or substance abuse problems, assessing  clients’ needs and ensuring they receive appropriate treatment, establishing a therapeutic relationship with the youth and family to help them identify problems, set goals, and develop plans to achieve those goals, documenting in medical records and providing crisis intervention services, including assessing risk of harm to self or others, and providing follow-up and discharge services

JOB SUMMARY

Unlicensed:

The Clinician provides direct services to clients, in the office, school, or other identified setting to meet the unique needs of families served.  Unlicensed clinicians are hired prior to obtaining their license to practice as mental health practitioners (i.e. psychology, social work, LMFT, LPC, LADC).  Unlicensed clinicians will receive supervision by a licensed clinician and may be offered training opportunities. When eligible, all unlicensed clinicians are expected to obtain licensure in order to be considered for ongoing employment at The Village.

Licensed:

The Licensed Clinician is responsible for coordinating all aspects of clinical treatment for assigned clients. Engages with clients firsthand. May provide individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy and crisis intervention. The Clinician renders diagnostic and psychotherapeutic services to children, adolescents, adults, and/or families; Maintains contact with and consults with relevant collaborative parties. Participates as full member of the clinical team and the program and is responsible for maintaining client records.

  KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Direct services may include, but not limited to:
   1. Conducts comprehensive clinical assessments and engagement
   2. Determines DSM V Diagnosis in consultation with Supervisor and Medical Director or designated Psychiatrist, as needed
   3. Develops treatment plans and contracts for services
   4. Implements treatment plans, modifying it as appropriate during the course of treatment
   5. Discharge planning, which may include linkages to community support services
   6. Provides case management services
   7. Completes clinical documentation required by agency and program policies, HIPAA regulations, and funding sources
   8. Maintains productivity targets determined by service
2. Participates and presents in Peer Consultation and Quality Assurance Reviews.
3. Fosters collaboration with other clinical and administrative staff to respond to client and programmatic needs, including the implementation of agency policies, procedures, and initiatives. 
4. Partners with other program or clinical staff to identify and develop approaches to address clients’ unmet needs or service gaps.
5. Acquires and maintains the needed skills in evidenced based models that the agency/program ascribe to.
6. Partners with Supervisor to identify and develop plans for professional growth. 
7. Contributes to program functioning by assuming responsibility for special tasks or leadership in special projects as appropriate. 
8. Contributes to agency organizational life by participating in agency wide task forces, committees or problem solving teams as appropriate.
9. Contributes to agency visibility and development of community linkages by representing the Village in community groups or committees. 
10. Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

EDUCATION

Unlicensed:

• MSW or equivalent required with a minimum of 3 years’ post graduate clinical experience preferred
• Clinical degree in social work, psychology, or other licensed-eligible counseling degree
• LMSW or equivalent required and licensed eligible

Licensed:

• Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or other licensed counseling degree.
• State of CT license required (i.e. LCSW, LPC, LMFT, Psychologist)
• Minimum of 2+ years of experience postgraduate in an outpatient setting (depending on program*)

EXPEREINCE/QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be able to function independently and be able to seek guidance when necessary
• Strong diagnostic, assessment and treatment skills for individual, family and group therapy
• Extensive experience working with culturally diverse urban populations, a wide age range, and a variety of clinical presentations; Cultural competency to serve a diverse population
• Knowledge of behavioral health, child welfare systems, and community resources
• Ability to write professional/clinical reports and correspondence
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization
• Knowledge of and ability to use Microsoft Office Suite and web browsers effectively
• Knowledge of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV)
• Good knowledge of a variety of therapeutic interventions and models emphasizing empirically validated interventions
• Skill to maintain a professional, confidential work environment
• Ability to manage multiple tasks at one time in an efficient manner
• Ability to relate to children and families in a positive manner
• Ability to establish and maintain appropriate boundaries with children and families
• Good organizational and communication skills 
• Bilingual/bicultural skills preferred