Integrated Mental Health Therapist III

Sea Mar Community Health Centers, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) founded in 1978, is a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington State. Sea Mar proudly serves all persons without regard to race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, or sexual orientation, and regardless of ability to pay for services. Sea Mar's network of services includes more than 90 medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics and a wide variety of nutritional, social, and educational services. We are recruiting for the following position: Sea Mar is a mandatory COVID-19 and flu vaccine organization.

Position Summary

The Integrated Mental Health Therapist III (IMHT III) works within a medical setting to provide diagnostic assessments, referrals for psychiatric services, and case management, in coordination with other teams or parties involved in treatment. The IMHT III functions as a core member of the Clinical Care Team. They understand chronic conditions that can include substance use disorders and behavioral health concerns that contribute to a patient’s inability to adequately address their medical needs, and an understanding of chronic medical conditions that can, in turn, lead to depression and other mental health concerns. The IMHT III provides brief, strength based, and solution-focused services to adults, children, and families, and will assist with emotional and behavioral stabilization, including but not limited to suicide prevention, de‑escalation of patients and/or referral for crisis services when needed. The IMHT III also provides motivational-based wellness coaching, works with patients to create self‑management goals, and helps patients increase their level of motivation to meet goals. The IMHT III educates staff on the process for mental health service referrals and on psycho educational topics (suicide risk assessment, behavior modification, etc.) as directed by BH protocols. The IMHT III maintains documentation of mental health services and follow through in patient charts with strong emphasis on communication with the care team located in the medical clinic.

Duties and Responsibilities

The core values of, and the services offered at Sea Mar are based on the belief that everyone deserves to be respectfully treated in a way that preserves dignity and enhances self-worth. Sea Mar is an advocate for its patients, and aims to achieve industry-leading, patient centered, culturally aware services. Sea Mar employees serve as an extension of this mission and demonstrate their commitment to an excellent patient experience by:

• Understanding and empathizing with patient needs
• Surpassing patient expectations
• Demonstrating a high level of integrity and work ethics
• Exhibiting compassion and commitment
• Advocating for social justice
• Taking pride in individual work as well as that of the team
• Continually learning to stay current with industry standards, best practices and technology
• Utilizing AIDET skills at all times

As a Sea Mar employee, the individual in this position commits to adherence to these values to their utmost ability and endeavors to strengthen and embody this mission daily. The duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Actively participate in the interdisciplinary team huddles and work to identify patients' social and behavioral health needs. Huddles may be virtual and/or in-person as time and number of care teams allow.
• Identify patients’ needs and work with patients to create self-management goals utilizing Motivational Interviewing skills.
• Develop treatment plans with patients, in consultation with other staff, to address identified emotional needs and behavioral problems.
• Work with patients to create self-management goals utilizing Motivational Interviewing skills. Create self-management goals for no less than 90% of all patients within the first two visits.
• Gather information regarding past mental health services to be used in the individual’s treatment plan development.
• Conduct follow up visits in-person or by telephone to determine progress of self-management goals.
• Refer patients to psychiatric services as appropriate. Gather records and background information as needed by the community mental health center (See Policies and Procedures).
• Attend sessions with psychiatric service providers to insure accuracy of presentation and that identified needs are addressed. Provide monitoring regarding the effects of medications, and feedback to the psychiatrist regarding effects/side effects.
• Provide brief individual counseling, in coordination with other systems, as needed.
• Provide suicide risk assessment and develop treatment plans to address suicidal ideation or gestures. Use case management, as needed, and build community support to provide follow through. Provide other crisis stabilization as needed.
• Provide mental health service referrals to patients prior to or following admission, and exchange information with outside service providers.
• Ensure that quality and performance requirements based on grants, contracts, and organizational priorities are met. (i.e. Clinical Quality Measures, Patient Satisfaction Measures, and Meaningful Use Measures.)
• Conduct required assessment screenings and follow up interventions as per protocol. Perform additional screenings such as AUDIT/DAST for substance and alcohol use/abuse when indicated to identify care needs.
• Monitor patient for medication adherence and relay findings to the medical provider and/or specialists of other disciplines involved in patient care. Encourage the patient to discuss issues regarding education adherence with their provider at their next visit.
• Participate in weekly caseload consultation sessions with a BH Clinical Supervisor. Facilitate treatment referrals to Behavioral Health sites as needed, assist in the step down or step up process to the appropriate level of care, and maintain active communication with other members of patient’s care team.
• Actively coordinate with community providers and case managers on behalf of patients.
• Coordinate/facilitate communication between patient, family/natural supports, primary care physician, consulting psychiatrist and members of the Clinical Care Team.
• Document all encounters according to organizational policies and procedures utilizing appropriate electronic health records system. Close encounters within 24 hours of service.
• Gather and monitor outcome measures as part of quality improvement process. Participate in the Health Home meeting and participate in all PDSA activities related to depression screening and medication management.
• Participate in Patient Centered Medical Home recognition application process.
• Attend all quarterly joint team meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Performance Metrics

• Must have 10 or more patient encounters a day, schedule them in Cerner, and chart care plan in EHR. A least 5 encounters should be face-to-face direct services, each no more than 30 minutes. Remaining encounters will be phone calls to clients.
• Adhere to schedule and be prepared to provide services by 8am each day.
• Apply AIDET skills at all times while providing services to clients.
• Adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Bidirectional Model of Care.
• Create Self-Management goals with 90% of patients who have a face-to-face direct service encounter.
• Have at least two encounters a month for each patient in caseload as dictated by medical necessity.
• Resolve patient needs within six months or coordinate the transition of care to a higher level of service.
• Conduct one PHQ9 per client per month. If patient does not show improvement in PHQ-9 score by five points or 50% by the end of a six-month period, then patient should be staffed with Clinical Supervisor and transferred to a higher level of care.
• Attend weekly consultation sessions with the Behavioral Health Clinical Supervisor and send summary to the Clinical Care Team.
• Close chart notes within 24 hours of service.
• Communicate with PCPs via clinical case summaries sent on a quarterly basis.

Qualifications

• Ability to provide diagnostic assessments for each patient in the program (including adults and children), document outcomes, justify diagnoses, and communicate with the primary Chemical Dependency Counselor and Clinical Care Team regarding outcomes and recommendations.
• Knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served.
• Knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span.
• Ability to identify and categorize each patient’s age-specific grouping of needs, such as those for infant, adolescent, or geriatric patients.
• Ability to support medical staff regarding the management of patients’ mental health needs.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, encourage a positive and collaborative work environment by promoting healthy communication between staff and patients, and offer concrete ideas on handling challenging situations.
• Experience working with underserved populations such, but not limited to, those who have limited English speaking skills, are homeless, or are migrant and seasonal workers.
• Ability to work with an inter-disciplinary care team. Members of the team may include medical providers, nursing staff, care coordinators, behavioral health and support staff.
• Working knowledge of chronic disease management interventions and evidence-based chronic care guidelines.
• Working knowledge of mental health, substance abuse, employment, housing and other resources needed by the population being served.
• Knowledge about brief intervention techniques such as Motivational Interviewing Skills (Knowledge of evidence-based screening tools (PHQ 9, GAD 7, AUDIT, DAST, etc.) and ability to use these tools as part of a framework to make appropriate assessments and level of care referrals for patients.
• Ability to maintain effective relationships and professional rapport with patients and members of the care team.
• Knowledge of the Patient Centered Health Home Model of care.
• Effective computer skills to be able to document patient visits in our electronic health record system and external registries.
• Comfort with the pace of primary care and ability to handle a variety of tasks simultaneously, with excellent organizational skills.
• Language Skills: Bilingual English/Spanish preferred. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Basic knowledge of computers and programs such as Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and electronic health care records. Possess the ability to learn new programs as they may pertain to use of electronic health records.
• Must have typing proficiency of at least 35 wpm.
• The IMHT III must sign a permanent oath of confidentiality covering all patient related information.

Education, Certificates, Licenses, Registrations, and Medical Screening

Must have and maintain a current Employee Health Screening.

Must pass a Washington State Patrol background check.

Must hold a CPR certificate within 90 days of hire date and is required to maintain a current CPR certificate throughout employment.

Must hold and maintain an active Washington State Agency Affiliated Counselor License (may be pending for up to 60 days if applied for within 7 days of being offered employment) or mental health Associate License (includes Marriage and Family Therapist, Mental Health Counselor, and Clinical Social Worker).

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may work with challenging patients. Additional evening/weekend work may be required to fulfill the duties and performance metrics of this job.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit, and occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee may be required to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Compensation

$33.23 Hourly Wage with a full benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, 24 Paid Time Off days annually for associate level clinician. If Licensed, hourly base wage is $36.41.

Additional Requirements

Annual influenza vaccine required. Only exception is for employees with a medical or religious exemption approved by Administration. Employees with an approved medical or religious exemption must wear a mask at all times during the flu season. Full initial COVID vaccination series required.

Hourly - Hourly Plan, 33.23 USD Hourly

What We Offer

Sea Mar offers talented and motivated people the opportunity to work in a dynamic and growing community health organization. Working at Sea Mar Community Health Centers is more than just a job, it’s a fulfilling career with opportunity for advancement. The fringe benefits surpass most companies. For example, Full-time employees working 30 hours or more, receive an excellent benefit package of: Medical Dental Vision Prescription coverage Life Insurance Long Term Disability EAP (Employee Assistance Program) Paid-time-off starting at 24 days per year + 10 paid Holidays. We also offer 401(k)/Retirement options and an exciting opportunity to work in a culturally diverse environment.

Sea Mar is an equal opportunity employer. Please visit our website to learn more about us at

SeaMarCommunityHealthCenters, founded in 1978, is a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington State. SeaMar proudly serves all persons regardless of their ability to pay for services. SeaMar’s network of services includes more than 90 clinics.