Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Description

At Forward Family Services, our mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals and families by empowering them to overcome challenges and achieve their full potential. We are committed to delivering highly effective, personalized treatment through continuous direct and indirect observation, setting the stage for success. Our comprehensive approach incorporates all facets and individuals in an individual's life, making us key contributors to their success and satisfaction.

The AMFT is supervised by the LMFT (supervisor).  

The AMFT does not supervise. 

The AMFT is expected to maintain a caseload of 35 client appointments scheduled weekly, with a billable expectation of completing 25 sessions per week.

The AMFT provides clinical support in the detox, residential social model program and per the American Psychological Association (APA) and California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) ethics.  The AMFT is guided by the licensed supervisor.    

The AMFT is ultimately responsible for care, treatment, and services and record of care, treatment, and services related to clinical as guided by the licensed supervisor.  

The clinical staff (LMFT, LCSW, AMFT, MSW, Counselors, and Psychologists) do not prescribe or administer medications.  

Responsibilities include meeting with residents during the resident’s treatment. AMFT will have a case load assigned to them and will be responsible for facilitating groups/psychoeducation as well as one on one sessions, perform intake, and utilization review (UR). The responsibility of the position requires that this individual assist residents in recognizing that drug and alcoholism as a disease.  The AMFT is to motivate residents to actively participate in their own recovery process, assisting them with learning skills, and gaining knowledge to improve their lives so they may live without drugs or alcohol.  They will maintain positive, professional boundaries, relationships with residents, staff, physicians, visitors, and support staff.  The AMFT will collect information about residents, using techniques such as testing, interviewing, discussion, and observation.  They will maintain confidentiality of records relating to residents' treatment, and they will prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports.  They will counsel residents individually and in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, maladjustment aiding them in making positive changes.  The AMFT will collaborate with other staff members to perform clinical assessments.  They will attend Treatment Team staff meetings, and act as resident advocate to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.  They will perform ongoing evaluations of residents' physical or mental condition based on review of resident.  The AMFT will conduct family and/or couple sessions with residents to establish extended support, understanding through psychoeducation and resources for the system to learn how to comply with changes in residents' status. They will provide referral resources to residents and/or family members when necessary.  They will document interactions with residents using the resident management system. They will secure the appropriate release of information with a residents’ personal and professional support systems in order to establish a confidential continuum of care. They will be provided individual, group and/or triad supervision on a weekly basis.  The AMFT is responsible for his/her attendance of supervision as supervision affects the hours, he/she is able to count in the BBS paperwork on a weekly basis. The AMFT is responsible for maintaining and providing the supervisor with all necessary paperwork throughout the contracted supervisor/supervisee relationship. The AMFT is responsible for maintaining The AMFT will be responsible for all duties agreed upon and assigned within his/her scope of practice and competency. 

Duties

• Reports to the licensed supervisor
• Participates in weekly individual, group and/or triad supervision. 
• Tracks clinical AMFT hours weekly.
• Collects resident data in a timeline manner and per organization policy, DHCS laws and regulations, and The Joint Commission standards.  
• Quality documentation in secure EHR
• Ability to perform Utilization Reviews (UR) 
• Documents progress notes and including progress towards goals and interventions  
• Gathers information regarding resident surveys
• Gathers clinical data to measure program objectives 
• Ensures no blanks are in EHR documentation or contacts appropriate support to have forms updated
• Ensures Suicidal Ideation, Homicidal Ideation, self-harm, trauma, and abuse have been screened and assessed and handled per laws and regulations and supervisor direction 
• Ensures discharges are completed and signed
• Ensures treatment plans and updates are completed in time frames and signed
• Ensures treatment plan goals are written to include quotes in the resident’s words. 
• Provides individual sessions, educational sessions, group sessions, and recovery planning and referrals
• Provides family group sessions, couples counseling, family individual sessions  
• Attends Treatment Team and staff meetings 

May do when applicable or needed:

• Case management, intakes/admissions 
• Other duties as assigned 

The AMFT maintains resident Electronic Health Records (EHR) documents in the resident file per the APA ethical codes, organization policies, state and federal regulations, and The Joint Commission standards.  

Requirements

Competencies and Abilities 

• Identify symptoms of alcohol and drug abuse and withdrawal (PAWS)
• Gather, interpret, report, and use information to support resident detox
• Determines when a referral is needed and how to coordinate 
• Can collaborate with residents to create treatment plans
• Can perform screenings and assessments regarding alcohol and drugs and mental health
• Abide by ethical codes of the APA and CCAPP
• Able to take direction from clinical supervisors for learning purposes

Qualifications

Experience working with dual diagnosis, substance abuse, chemical dependency, psychiatric, or detox programs.     

• Registered by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as California AMFT 
• Passed the BBS Law and Ethics Exam and/or can provide proof of attempts. 
• Provide proof of Liability Insurance   
• Two (or more) years clean and sober if in recovery
• Current CPR and First Aid Certification on file
• Current TB skin test and health screen report

Knowledge

• Twelve Step Recovery Program
• Social Model detox 
• Community resources and referral techniques, treatment plans, recovery plans, discharge plans
• Running process group, educational sessions, individual sessions, family group and sessions, and couples
• Assessments, bio-psycho-socials, mental health exams, screenings, writing progress notes 
• Working with addiction and dual diagnosis
• Mental health treatment 

Knowledge shall include the signs and symptoms of alcohol and other drug intoxication and withdrawal.  

Skills

• Good communication
• Works well with a team and supervisor 
• Works well under pressure 
• Ability to assess for safety and security 
• Able to calmly handle any emergencies