Intake Clinician

We are currently seeking multiple full time therapists who can provide comprehensive initial assessments to help evaluate the needs of clients seeking mental health services, provide professional consultation to clients about possible options for meeting their mental health care needs, and supporting clients successfully through the referral to treatment process, whether that be internal or external to the agency. Intake clinicians will spend about one half of their time in this evaluative and consultative role, and the remainder will be as a generalist mental health clinician providing evidenced-based, culturally responsive mental health treatment across the lifespan. The successful candidate for this position will have experience assessing and treating individuals and families in an outpatient setting with diagnosable mental health conditions based on DSM/ICD criteria and the corresponding interpersonal and systemic challenges that come with it. Clinicians hired into the position will have opportunities to work with a wide range of presenting concerns and acuity levels. Our agency is well known for providing clinicians with ample support including individual supervision, weekly clinical team for discussing cases with peers, as well as numerous other opportunities for case discussions and support. We are a NYS OMH licensed facility and follow all guidelines for clinical practice and documentation as set out in those regulations for MHOTRS programs. For more information on regulatory requirements in our setting please click here.

Responsibilities

• Conduct individual biopsychosocial and diagnostic assessments to identify client needs, including whether client meets DSM/ICD criteria for diagnoses treatable within OMH MHOTRS program and the medical necessity standard for insurance billable services;
• Assist clients in connecting to services to meet their mental health needs, including services provided for within and outside the agency;
• Develop treatment plans collaboratively with clients in order to help manage expectations for progress in treatment and when goals are met such that the current episode of care will end;
• Assess ongoing risk, including but not limited to threat to self or others, and develop safety plans that mitigate risk;
• Provide individual, couples, and/or family therapy sessions using evidenced-based interventions that are client-centered and drive toward treatment goals;
• Adhere to agency and OMH documentation standards, including both content covered and timeliness of completion.
• Demonstrate continued professional growth including deepening and broadening clinical practice through continuing education and supervision;
• Effectively use peer and supervisory consultation as needed, but especially in high risk situations;
• Respond after hours for urgent/crisis needs of agency clients as needed;
• Maintain full caseload and meet clinical billable hour performance metrics;
• Collaborate with internal partners, such as psychiatric team members, as well as external partners, such as PCPs and schools, in order to deliver coordinated care to clients.

Our Rewards & Benefits

Family & Children Services of Ithaca provides a supportive and dynamic work environment that is built on collaboration and professional growth. In addition to the salary, we also offer a comprehensive benefits package and opportunities for career advancement. We are also a certified NHSC site and therapists employed with our agency are eligible to apply for their student loan repayment program.

F&CS is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion and, in that spirit, actively encourages applications from members of groups whose exclusion from the mental health field has been longstanding. No individual will be discriminated against in application, hiring or employment on the basis of race, age, culture, ability, ethnicity or nationality, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marital status, religious affiliation, and socioeconomic status.

Application Submission Process

Please email a cover letter and resume to: Dr. Alecia Sundsmo, Director of Clinical Services, at asundsmo@fcsith.org.

• Master’s or doctorate degree in psychology, social work, mental health counseling, or marriage and family therapy;
• Ability to obtain independent clinical license to practice in the state of NY, including diagnostic privilege if required separately from standard scope of practice for license type, within three years of date of hire;
• Previous education, training, and clinical experience in differential diagnostic assessment and evidenced-based treatment of mental health conditions;
• Knowledge of a full range of evidence based clinical and non-clinical resources that can improve client mental health;
• Ability to perform clinical duties from a culturally responsive lens, including incorporating aspects of client identity throughout the assessment and treatment process.

Preferred Qualifications

• Independent clinical license, with diagnostic privilege if applicable for license type;
• Training and experience assessing and treating comorbid substance use disorders;
• Experience with referral coordination and/or case management;
• Capability to deliver mental health services in multiple languages;
• Additional certifications or formal training in a specific modality of evidenced-based care.