Medical Counselor

Provides direct clinical services including assessment and treatment planning, supportive counseling and supportive therapy, advocacy and psychoeducation, and linkage to community agencies and services, as required. Provides coordination of services between the varying providers for clients/members with complex psychiatric, substance use, and/or co-morbid medical conditions. Ensures access and linkage to the full array of necessary physical and behavioral health services and other community-based services to address social determinants of health. Works under general supervision.


• develops initial and ongoing clinical plan of care. Performs and maintains effective care management for assigned caseload of clients/members. Leads the care coordination for complex psychiatric clinical cases. Provides supportive counseling and/or supportive therapy as well as ongoing mental health services. Develops inventory of resources that meet the clients/members needs as identified in the assessment. • Provides linkage, coordination with, referral to and follow-up with appropriate service providers and managed care plans. Facilitates periodic case record reviews and case conferences with all providers serving the clients/members. • Provides information and assistance through advocacy and education to clients/members and family on availability and eligibility of entitlements and community services. Arranges transportation and accompanies clients/members to appointments as necessary. • Assists clients/members and/or families in the development of a sustainable network of community-based supports, utilizing identified strengths and tools designed to prevent future participant crises and/or reduce the negative impact if a crisis does occur. • Maintains case records in accordance with program policies/procedures, VNS Health standards and regulatory requirements. • Participates and consults with team supervisor in case conferences, staff meetings, utilization review and discharge planning meetings to determine if client/member requires an alternate level of care or is appropriate for discharge. • Acts as liaison with other community agencies. • Provides short term counseling (coping skills, trauma informed, decision making) and Risk Health Assessment/Safety Planning. • Collects and reports data, as required while adhering to productivity standards. • Leads and participates in “Network Meetings” with client, client/ member’s personal support network and other team members using the Open Dialogue Model. • SSA Disability Evaluation: Performs Social Security Administration sequential evaluation process for determining disabilities. • Document Review: Reviews medical and health-related documents and prior records. • Identifies limitations and determines employability or vocational rehabilitation needs. • Works with physicians and evaluating clinicians for additional medical or mental health assessments. • Compliance: Adheres to HRA policies and procedures; Participates in special projects and performs other duties as assigned.

 
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)
The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program delivers intensive, multidisciplinary behavioral health services to adults with serious mental illness who have a history of repeated psychiatric hospitalizations and difficulty engaging in traditional outpatient care.

 
Join a team that meets clients where they are and helps transform lives through innovative, recovery-focused care.
LMSW, LCSW, LMHC, RN or Certified Rehabilitation Counselor requiredFor CCBHC Program: LMSW, LCSW, LMHC, or Marriage and Family Therapist required AND CASAC certification requiredFor all others: LMSW, LCSW, LMHC, or Marriage and Family Therapist required
Master's Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, Family Therapy or related degree required
Work Experience:
Minimum of two years of mental health work experience providing direct services to clients/members with Serious Mental Illness (SMI), developmental disabilities, substance use disorders and/or chronic medical conditions requiredEffective oral/written/interpersonal communication skills requiredBilingual skills may be required as determined by operational needs.Basic computer skills required
VNS Health has been committed to meeting the needs of New Yorkers for over 130 years. We’re one of the largest nonprofit home- and community-based health care organizations in the country, and today, more than 11,500 team members work together to make a difference in the lives of more than 99,000 patients and members on any given day.